The Irish actress, who is hot news on the screen these days in the BBC’s ‘Lead Balloon’ (starring opposite Jack Dee) will fly into Dublin to be a special guest at FilmOffaly5, the 5^th birthday celebrations of the Offaly Film Commission and the launch of their Vendor Discount Card Scheme, the first of its kind in Ireland.

 

Campbell-Hughes first came to attention on the silver screen following her role in the Irish film ‘The Other Side Of Sleep’which was shot entirely in Offaly in 2010. Haunting and visually stunning ‘The Other Side Of Sleep’, premiered in the prestigious Cannes Directors Fortnight in 2011 winning director Rebecca Daly an award for best Director. The film went onto be screened internationally at festivals and had a general release in 2012. In 2011 Antonia was named one of the Screen International Stars of Tomorrow and in 2012 the Shooting Stars Award at the Berlin Film Festival, ensuring she had the pick of roles to come.

 

Speaking of her upcoming visit to Dublin, Antonia said “I am delighted to come back to Ireland for FilmOffaly, my time in Offaly was a deeply profound, immersive project that fully embraced the tone of the community. A unique and soulful place.... and their new vendor card scheme is a great initiative for encouraging more productions into the county. While I am here I will also be working on the development of a film with Irish roots, using time in Ireland for parts of the research”.

 

During the event, at Filmbase on November 14^th, FilmOffaly5 will host an interview with the exciting young star to discuss her experiences as an actor and the opportunity to film in Offaly in a role that Antonia herself has said ‘changed’ her. There will also be a chance to discuss several of her other highly acclaimed films such as the German ‘3096 Days’ and British made ‘Kelly + Victor’. The event will also include a food and drinks reception, as well as screenings of films that have been made in the county since the birth of FilmOffaly.

 

Campbell-Hughes is one of several stars who’s careers have been propelled forwards by working in Offaly. Dohmnall Gleeson, star of Richard Curtis’ latest film ‘About Time’ won the first FilmOffaly Award in 2010, winning funding to make his writing and directoral debut with the short film ‘Noreen’ which starred Dohmnall’s father Brendan Gleeson. Other high profile actors who have worked in Offaly include Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Jonathon Rhys Myers, Michael Harding, Pat Short and Gary Lydon.

 

FilmOffaly friends, old and new, will have the opportunity to come together to see the work of the film commission over the past five years and everything that Offaly has to offer. The event takes place at Filmbase, Dublin on 14th November at 6pm and anybody is welcome to come along and attend. More details of the event and about FilmOffaly itself can be found at www.filmoffaly.ie.