Celtic Utopia Documentary selected for Locarno Film Festival 2025
Congratulations to the Swedish and Irish producers of Celtic Utopia documentary which has been selected for Critics' Week at Locarno Film Festival 2025. The project was supported in development by Creative Europe MEDIA's Co-development funding.
Celtic Utopia is a feature documentary that tells the story of a new Ireland, following a resurgent wave of alternative folk and traditional musicians who are making music 'to scare priests and politicians.' As they produce their strange new sounds, they are redefining and problematising the form and reshaping the culture in their own image. The bold, outspoken and humorous young musicians pass the narrative to each other as the film progresses, just as they would pass the melody to each other in a traditional music session.
Some of the Irish musicians featured in Celtic Utopia include The Mary Wallopers, The Deadlians, Poor Creature, Negro Impacto, and Lankum. The documentary has been selected for Critics' Week at Locarno Film Festival 2025 in Switzerland.
The project was supported in development by Creative Europe MEDIA's European Co-development funding awarded to Swedish company, MDEMC and Irish company, Plainsong Films, with Irish producer Clare Stronge leading the co-development.
Celtic Utopia | Credits
- Writers & directors: Dennis Harvey & Lars Lovén
- Producer: Elin Lilleman Eriksson, MDEMC
- Co-developed by Clare Stronge, Plainsong Films Ltd
- Photographers: Tuva Björk & Jamie Goldrick
- Sound design: Thomas Jansson
- Colorist: Nanna Dalunde
- Graphics: August Håkansson
- FAD: Lilí Ní Dhomhnaill
With support from The Swedish Film Institute, Creative Europe, SVT, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, The Swedish Arts Grants Committee and The Helge Ax:son Foundation.