Enniskillen actor Ciarán McMenamin is back on the golden screen with new Northern Ireland-based feature film ‘Grace and Goliath.’ The film has been produced by Belfast-based Cinemagic, the award-winning film and television charity for young people and aspiring young film trainees from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Los Angeles.

Set in Belfast, the feel-good family film tells the story of Hollywood ‘big shot’ Josh Jenkins as he sweeps into the city to make a film, but it isn’t long before his world comes crashing down and he loses everything. Hotel cleaner Lily invites him to stay with her eccentric family and gradually the people of this ‘strange’ city touch his heart forever. It’s a powerful tale of how one man’s ‘Goliath’ ego is brought down by one single blow...of ‘Grace.’

Ciarán, who plays hotel manager Marcus in the film, was pleasantly surprised by his casting for this role. “When I first read the script having been told by the Cinemagic girls to take a look at the part of Marcus, I actually laughed out loud. A lot. Marcus is not the kind of character I often get to play or would be considered for and I applaud them for thinking outside the box casting wise,” he said.

Explaining how he approached the role which he described as a “proper challenge,” Ciarán said: “Marcus is so deeply flawed and so bitter, yet you can’t make characters one dimensional and I wanted to find what had gone wrong with him and why, rather than playing a stereotypical bad guy.”

With most of his scenes filmed in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, Ciarán felt right at home. He said: “The Europa has been very central to my career- I have lost count of the number of jobs I filmed while staying there. I know a lot of the staff on first name terms and have spent many great evenings in the hotel bar. So, to come and pretend to be the manager and get in behind the scenes into the parts of the hotel the punters don’t see was great fun.”

Commenting on how the film will appeal to audiences on a local and global level, Ciarán said: “The film is full of heart and reminds us that, whoever we are, the journey is never over in terms of working out which is the best version of ourselves to offer the world, and ultimately, how to be happy with who we are in ourselves.”

The world premiere of ‘Grace and Goliath’ will take place on Tuesday October 2, 2018 at Odyssey Cinemas, Belfast from 6.30pm. The premiere will mark the official launch of this year’s Cinemagic Film Festival in Belfast, the largest film and television festival designed for, and by, young people in the UK and Ireland. Both events are in association with Hagan Homes.

‘Grace and Goliath’ will also be shown in Enniskillen at the IMC Cinema from Friday October 5.