I Hope We Can Still Be Friends is the innocent-sounding title for a new, revenge thriller filmed around Galway to be premiered tonight, Thursday, July 10.
A high-powered executive wakes up alone, trapped inside a wooden cell. He has food, water, and a bed, but absolutely no idea how he got there. As days pass, he discovers a woman trapped in the box next to his. Will co-operation aid escape…?
Caroline Morahan (Fair City ) and Emmett Hughes (The O’Briens, Axis, Advent ) star in this two-handed exploration of isolation, self-knowledge, gender politics and revenge, directed by Aisha Tyler.
Craic House Pictures, Hot Machine Films and Breathe have announced this worldwide premiere to be screened at the Galway Film Fleadh, and the 90-minute film was shot in Claregalway’s Studio @5, and other locations around the county.
Morahan made her TV debut as a teen in Fair City. She is a prolific television host on chat, quiz and makeover shows, has hosted the IFTA’s, and has judged numerous talent shows. Television highlights include ABC’s Once Upon A Time, Netflix’s Disjointed, and ABC’s The Real O’Neals.
Hughes is a prolific West of Ireland filmmaker. I Hope We Can Still Be Friends marks his third film shot entirely in Galway. His first Galway feature, The O’Briens, won the Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking Award at the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival. His most recent feature, Advent, won the Best Actress award for Bríd Ní Neachtain, as well as the Jury Prize at the 2023 Richard Harris Film Festival in Cork.
Hughes collaborates once again with producing partner Jordan-Lee McGrath after their successful collaboration on Advent, which had its world debut at the prestigious Newport Beach Film Festival. It was released globally by Gravitas Media in February.
This is Aisha Tyler’s (Archer, Criminal Minds, Fear the Walking Dead ) second time helming a film in Galway, after Ar Scáth Le Chéile in 2014. The Californian is an award-winning director, actor, New York Times bestselling author, comedian, podcaster, and entrepreneur.
Tyler and Hughes last collaborated on the psychological thriller Axis, for which Hughes wrote the script and was the sole actor; Tyler directed.
Axis was an official selection at eight major American festivals, winning Outstanding Achievement in Feature Filmmaking at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Tyler has directed multiple episodes of award-winning hit television, including Criminal Minds: Evolution, The Walking Dead, The Wonder Years, Roswell NM, Elsbeth and Evil.
