Celtic Utopia is Grand Prix Winner at Critics' Week, Locarno Film Festival 2025

Celtic Utopia is a feature documentary, supported by MEDIA's European Co-development funding, 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, these musicians 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 musicians in Celtic Utopia include The Mary Wallopers, The Deadlians, Poor Creature, Negro Impacto, and Lankum.

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

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.