Cillian Murphy’s latest film, Steve, will have its European premiere in his hometown of Cork this September as part of the Sounds from a Safe Harbour (SFSH) festival.

The psychological drama, in which Murphy plays the lead role of a reform school headteacher, will be screened at the Arc Cinema during the city’s annual multidisciplinary arts festival, which runs from September 11 to 14. Following the screening, Murphy will join writer Max Porter and director Tim Mielants for a post-film Q&A.

Now in its 10th year, the SFSH festival will also see Murphy take on the role of co-curator alongside festival founder Mary Hickson, composer Bryce Dessner of The National, Max Porter, and folklorist Billy MagFhlionn.

Speaking ahead of the event, Murphy said he was "thrilled" to be involved in the festival’s first-ever film programme.

“There has always been such a natural crossover between cinema and music, and these delightfully diverse films very much speak to the philosophy and heart of what this festival is all about,” he said.

“It is very meaningful for me to have the European premiere of Steve in my hometown. It’s a film Max wrote while listening to ‘90s Jungle, and its score is deeply influenced by the rhythms and patterns of drum and bass.”
In addition to Steve, the festival will host two major Irish premieres: Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton and scored by Dessner, and It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, a documentary exploring the life and legacy of the iconic American musician.

Murphy praised the music documentaries included in this year’s programme, which also features works on Broken Social Scene, Donal Lunny, Brian Eno, and Conor Walsh.

Following its premiere, Steve will open in select Irish cinemas in September, ahead of its international release on Netflix on October 3.

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