Producer Nathalie Lichtenthaeler on the Co-development of Once Upon a Time in a Cinema

Once Upon a Time in a Cinema Project Details

• Project Type: Feature film
• Title: Once Upon a Time in a Cinema (May 2026)
• Release Date: 01 May 2026
• Irish Partner: Wide Eye Films
• Co-development Partner: Egoli Tossell Pictures, Germany
• MEDIA Funding Scheme: European Co-development funding 2022

About Once Upon a Time in a Cinema (2026)

Once Upon a Time in a Cinema is a European co-production from Ireland's Wide Eye Films, Germany's Tossell Pictures, and Belgium's Umedia. Backed by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and the Los Angeles-based Myriad Pictures. Co-funded by MEDIA's European Co-development funding scheme.

It's a feature drama, shot in Limerick, that explores community, courage, and resilience during crisis inspired by writer-director David Gleeson’s childhood memories of growing up in rural Ireland. Colin Morgan (Belfast, Merlin) stars as Earl Clancy, the manager of a small-town cinema who is dealing with a Friday night from hell while contemplating the sale of his cinema to a shady politician. Shot on location in Limerick city and in the former Royal Cinema in Limerick.

Once Upon a Time in a Cinema will be released released theatrically in Ireland by Break Out Pictures on Friday, 1 May, 2026.

Film Credits

• Written and directed by David Gleeson (Tolkien, Don't Go, The Front Line, Cowboys & Angels).
• Produced by Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Wide Eye Films, Ireland) and Judy Tossell (Tossell Pictures, Germany).
• Stars Colin Morgan, Calam Lynch, Stanley Townsend, India Mullen, Clara Crichton, and Niamh Cusack.
• Photography: Hyun De Grande
• Editor: Bertrand Conard
• Production Design: Tracey O'Hanlon.

About Wide Eye Films

Wide Eye Films (WEF) emerged in the early 2000s, founded by producer Nathalie Lichtenthaeler and writer/director David Gleeson. Their mission is to craft exceptional European stories with global appeal, combining original concepts with strong partnerships across borders including the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, and Macedonia. WEF is known for co-productions, innovative storytelling, and a commitment to nurturing new talent and writers.

Interview with Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, Producer, Wide Eye Films

1. What drew Wide Eye Media to produce Once Upon a Time in a Cinema?

The film is essentially a film set in a cinema during a movie told in real time. When writer & director David Gleeson pitched that to me I first had to wrap my head around what it meant but when it finally clicked, I thought it was such a great idea and was immediately on board. Especially with David's background growing up in a cinema-owning family in the West of Ireland in the 80s, I knew the film would be authentic, full of specificity, and these are always qualities I look for in projects.

2. The project received MEDIA Co-development funding in 2022. How did you find EU partner companies to work with?

I did it the old-fashioned way. I went to the Cannes Film Festival and met with a bunch of potential co-producers in the Grand Hotel. It's not called The Grand anymore but everyone still calls it that. I was particularly interested in a company in Germany called Egoli Tossell Pictures, who are known for making quality English language feature films. I had met one of their CEOs Jens Meurer a while ago when we were both attending as producers on the move so there was a connection. Jens had just done a documentary about celluloid and is big into analogue so I knew that this project would appeal to him. He and his business partner Judy Tossell loved the script, so we decided on the terrace of the Grand Hotel to try and make it together and my search for a co-producer was over.

3. What was your experience of the co-development process and what were the benefits of receiving this award?

The decision to go for co-development funding came after we decided to co-produce. Neither Wide Eye Films nor Egoli Tosell had ever co-developed before so this was a new experience for us. The application alone really focused us to determine what our goals were and how best to develop this project together. In terms of the actual benefits, the funding enabled us to do a huge location search for the cinema, not just all over Ireland but also in Germany and other parts of Europe.

We ended up finding the perfect location in Limerick, which coincidentally is where writer & director David Gleeson is from. Beyond that, it supported development casting and script writing and development among many other things. From the outset we determined a tight and focused timeline and stuck to it, which I think was key.

All of this really helped us lay the groundwork for what became a very smooth and productive co-development process, and I honestly think it sped up the whole development phase because not even two years later we were fully financed and on set shooting.

4. Do you have any tips on applying for European Co-development funding?

What made our application strong, I think, was that our two companies really complemented each other. Wide Eye Films is a relatively small, creative Irish company while Egoli Tossell Pictures brings ample experience producing high-profile English-language films.

Partnering with an established European production company that has a strong track record of not only getting English language films made but, most importantly, distributed, was key to the strength of our application. So my tip would be: take stock of your own company's strengths and weaknesses, and seek out a co-development partner who is strong where you are weak.

One thing worth noting is that our eventual producing partner was Tossell Pictures rather than Egoli Tossell Pictures. This is an important distinction. You don't necessarily need to produce with the same partner you developed with, so don't let that put you off pursuing a co-development partnership.

5. Can you tell us when Once Upon a Time in a Cinema will be released in Ireland? Will it have international distribution this year?

Once Upon a Time in a Cinema will be in Irish cinemas nationwide from 01 May followed by releases in the USA, Australia, and multiple European territories beginning July.

Book tickets for IFI Dublin screenings here.

The next call for MEDIA's European Co-development funding will open in 2027.