An actress from a short film based in Belfast has expressed her pride in being involved, following the project's win of an Irish Film and Television (Ifta) award.
Nostalgie won the Best Short Film award in the live action category on Friday evening.
The movie has also received a nomination at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) awards, set to occur on Sunday.
"It holds significant importance for Belfast," remarked Jessica Reynolds, one of many local actors featured in the show.
She mentioned that global audiences are "just beginning to feel a strong desire" for narratives from Northern Ireland because "they are truly distinctive."
Nostalgia, featuring Dublin native Aidan Gillan, follows the journey of a once-popular 1980s musician during his initial trip to Northern Ireland.
The locally produced film is adapted from a short story written by Belfast-based author Wendy Erskine and was directed by another woman from Belfast, Kathryn Ferguson.
"I'm just a tiny part of Nostalgie, but I'm absolutely delighted for Kathryn," Reynolds said to zaianewsNews NI.
I believe she is someone worth paying attention to. What she has accomplished with her first fictional film is truly remarkable, it's a very elegant short.
Reynolds, who grew up in Holywood, County Down, has previously appeared in shows like Outlander, the House of Guinness, and Kneecap.
What is Nostalgie about?
Nostalgie presents the fictional account of Drew Lord Haig, an aging British pop musician who once achieved fame in the 1980s but has now fallen into anonymity.
He is lured back from retirement by an unexpected invitation to perform at an anniversary event in Northern Ireland.
Wishing to experience his past success, Drew agrees to perform without raising many concerns.
The invitation was issued by a Belfast paramilitary group celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Following his most famous song, the crowd shows no reaction.
But on the initial notes of the song's long-forgotten B-side - Nostalgie de la Boue - the audience becomes ecstatic.
Later, Drew discovers the reason – the battalion had incorporated his song during the Troubles and utilized it as a motivational chant.
The movie includes original songs composed by Dan Smith, the lead vocalist of Bastille.
What might Tina Turner think?
The writer of Nostalgie, Wendy Erskine, mentioned that the concept of music and who "controls" it fascinated her.
She referenced the case of Tina Turner's song "Simply The Best," which is utilized by loyalist groups in Northern Ireland.
"What do you think Tina Turner would say? Did she ever realize how that song could have been taken in a different direction?" she ponders.
Writers frequently lose some control when their narratives transition from books to movies, but Erskine is delighted with the cinematic adaptation of Nostalgie.
"It's better than I had envisioned it in my mind while I was writing this story," she said.
She mentioned that the fact the main cast and crew were locals greatly assisted in comprehending how the film should appear and how its characters should talk.
It's possible to find an outstanding individual from elsewhere who can grasp the subtleties of situations, certainly that is feasible.
"But... I was confident it would be in very capable hands with everyone from here, who would grasp the ambiance I was aiming for," Erskine stated.
It was amazing for me that it turned out that way.
"View of an Englishman" of Northern Ireland
The movie's director expressed her happiness with the audience's responses during viewings of Nostalgie in the United Kingdom.
"They truly understand the stoic humor from Belfast," Ferguson remarked.
There was a worry, I suppose, that this might not be understood by everyone, but it appears to have been received well, which is excellent.
Ferguson currently resides in England, having moved away from her hometown of Belfast over 20 years ago.
She mentioned that one aspect of Erskine's narrative that intrigued her was examining the perspective of "an Englishman" in relation to present-day Belfast.
She mentioned that Northern Ireland and the entire island of Ireland are "enjoying significant cultural influence at the moment, especially across the sea."
But she remarked: "It appears to be deeply rooted in our music, art, and literature, as well as our cinema, yet without truly grasping its origins or the forces behind it."
The filmmaker mentioned that she believed there has been a particular "lack of interest" in Northern Ireland and its "post-conflict past," and Nostalgie offered a "different" perspective on the consequences of that indifference.
I suppose all of that was very powerful for me to investigate as a director. It has been intriguing to present the film in England.
The 2026 Bafta Awards will be held on Sunday, February 22, and a complete list of Bafta nominees is available.here.
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