Irish cinema continues to make an impact on the international stage, with The Lost Children of Tuam heading to the Toronto International Film Festival this September.
Directed by Frank Berry, the film tells the powerful story of local historian Catherine Corless and her investigation into the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co. Galway. Following its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh earlier this summer, where it won Best Irish Film, the film now continues its journey to one of the world’s major film festivals.
A Story That Needed to Be Told
At the centre of The Lost Children of Tuam is Catherine Corless, whose research into the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home uncovered death certificates for 796 children who died there between 1925 and 1961, without corresponding burial records for almost all of them. Her discovery led to a campaign for answers, justice and recognition for the children and survivors connected to the home.
The film follows Corless as she continues her investigation, facing resistance from powerful institutions and her local community while refusing to let the questions surrounding the home disappear.
It is a deeply Irish story, but its themes of truth, persistence and the importance of remembering those who have been overlooked give it a much wider resonance.
A Strong Irish Creative Team
Directed by Frank Berry, whose previous films include Michael Inside and Aisha, the film is written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and is based on Dan Barry’s 2017 New York Times article of the same name.
The cast is led by award-winning actor Monica Dolan, who plays Catherine Corless, alongside Andrew Bennett and Ian McElhinney. The film is produced by Liam Neeson, Jules Daly, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, Andrew Lowe, Ed Guiney and Martina Niland, with Element Pictures, Big Red Films, El Paso Pictures and Port Pictures among the production companies involved.
The result is an impressive collaboration of Irish and international talent, bringing together some of the country’s most respected filmmakers and performers.
A Vital Casting Team
Casting director Fiona Weir played the pivotal role in bringing the film’s ensemble together, helping to find the performers who could bring this deeply human story to life, using Fishpond as part of the casting process to help discover and connect with performers for the project. Fishpond provides casting professionals with access to a broad pool of Irish and international talent, making it possible to search for actors based on experience, credits, location and other relevant criteria..
With her extensive experience across film and television, Weir has worked on a wide range of acclaimed productions, and her contribution to The Lost Children of Tuam adds another significant name to the film’s impressive creative team.
The casting is particularly important in a story where the performances need to balance the personal and emotional weight of the subject matter with the quiet determination at the heart of Catherine Corless’s journey.
From Galway to Toronto
The film’s world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh was a particularly fitting beginning for a story rooted so deeply in County Galway.
The sold-out screening at the Town Hall Theatre was attended by Catherine Corless, Frank Berry and Monica Dolan, alongside survivors and members of the local community. The film received a powerful response from the audience before going on to win the festival’s Best Irish Film Award.
Now, The Lost Children of Tuam will travel to Canada as part of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival’s Centrepiece programme, where it will receive its International Premiere. TIFF runs from 10–20 September.
It feels especially important to see Irish film taking a distinctly Irish story to an international audience.
Opportunities for Actors
At Fishpond, we’re passionate about helping performers connect with opportunities across the Irish screen industry. Films like The Lost Children of Tuam are a great example of the range of work being made here, from intimate Irish dramas to productions that go on to reach major international festivals.
For actors, it’s also a reminder that there are opportunities at every stage of the industry. Keeping your Fishpond profile current, making sure your credits and photographs are up to date, and continuing to apply for suitable roles can help put you in the best position when casting teams are looking for talent.
You never know where an opportunity might lead.
Celebrating Irish Film
From its world premiere in Galway to its upcoming screening in Toronto, The Lost Children of Tuam is another strong example of Irish filmmaking making an impact both at home and abroad.
We’d like to congratulate the entire cast and crew on this fantastic achievement and on bringing such an important Irish story to audiences at home and internationally.
And, as always, we encourage audiences to support Irish film and the talented people working behind and in front of the camera. There are some incredible stories being told here in Ireland, and The Lost Children of Tuam is one of them.