WATCH Limerick City European premiere of major feature film Bonhoeffer

Limerick City hosts European premiere of major feature film Bonhoeffer.  Pictured above are Paul C Ryan, Film in Limerick and Todd Komarnicki, director at the premiere.

Limerick City hosted an exclusive European premiere of Bonhoeffer at Belltable on Tuesday, February 25 ahead of its global with director Todd Komarnicki saying it has “been a complete blessing” shooting in the region

The red carpet was rolled out at Limerick’s Belltable for an exclusive premiere of Bonhoeffer, a major feature film inspired by the life of German theologian and anti-Nazi resistance figure Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 

The screening of the €22 million Irish-Belgian co-production took place at The Belltable on February 25, ahead of its official cinematic release in Ireland and the UK on March 7 with director Todd Komarnicki saying he would “be thrilled to make movie after movie here”.

Filmed extensively across Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary, the region saw locations transformed into 1940s Germany for the filming of the major feature film set during World War II.

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Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Todd Komarnicki (Elf, Sully), the movie has already received critical praise for its compelling story as well as its historical significance.

Speaking at the premiere, Film in Limerick Regional Manager, Paul C. Ryan said, “We’re delighted to have the director, Todd Komarnicki, over from New York for the premiere of his film, Bonhoeffer, as well as having the Minister for Arts and Culture, Patrick O’ Donovan and the mayor, John Moran in here with us tonight in Limerick to celebrate this film and celebrate the growth of the film industry in the Midwest.”

Jonas Dassler (The Golden Glove, Never Look Away) steps into the title role of Bonhoeffer, a pastor who risked his life to oppose Hitler’s regime, working tirelessly to save Jewish lives before ultimately paying the ultimate price for his convictions.

Starring alongside Dassler is an impressive cast that includes Flula Borg (The Suicide Squad), David Jonsson (Industry, Alien: Romulus), August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds), and Moritz Bleibtreu (Run Lola Run). Two-time Academy Award nominee John Mathieson (Gladiator, Logan) served as Director of Photography, while John Beard (Brazil, The History Boys) handled Production Design.

Several locations around the Mid-West were used for filming including Castle Oliver, a red sandstone baronial style residence in County Limerick; O’Brien’s Bridge and the Shannon River doubling as the Danube River; Fanore beach and Kinturk in Clare; Swiss Cottage in Tipperary; and the Georgian Streets in Limerick City standing in for 1940’s London. The production team, based at Innovate Limerick’s Engine building, worked closely with Film in Limerick to bring this ambitious project to life.

Speaking at the exclusive event, Director and screenwriter Todd Komarnicki said, “We were supposed to shoot in the Czech Republic and they did not vote in their tax rebate in the middle of us prepping the movie. We had a movie with no country, and only Ireland was nuts enough to say yes!

“If I could do screenshots of how many times Sean Flynn looked at me through the Zoom and I knew that he thought, ‘That does not exist in Ireland or anywhere,’  And I said, ‘I know, but you’ll find it,’ and he did. And Paul Ryan steadfast in his support and, and so encouraging and the collection of crew members and actors and, you know, we talk about punching above its weight.

“There’s no gap between working professionally in the States and working here. You’re not short selling yourself or you’re making up for some deficit. I’d be thrilled to make movie after movie here. It’s, it’s been a complete blessing.”

Speaking at the time of production, Film in Limerick Regional Manager, Paul C. Ryan said, “It’s just brilliant to have Todd and his team filming in Limerick and Clare and Tipperary. We’re delighted to see so many locally based crew working on this film and to showcase all that the Mid-West has to offer as a film-friendly location for such major productions.”

The European premiere will feature special guests, including Komarnicki himself as the Belltable Theatre will host the exclusive event.

KOVA Releasing will be brining BONHOEFFER to Irish and UK cinemas from the 7th March. For more information and to book your tickets go to www.bonhoefferfil.com

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick