MancMade Productions has released its short film The Visit, a fictional story based around the actual 1996 Manchester IRA bombing exec produced by Jack Reacher author Lee Child, to stream for free.
The 20-minute short can now be viewed for free on the MancMade website following a successful run on the global film festival circuit. The film landed official selections at the well-respected Madrid and Barcelona Indie International Film Festivals, and lead Cal MacAninch (Mayflies, Trigger Point, Time) picking up a Best Actor nomination at both.
The Visit was also named Best Short Film at the Liverpool Shorts Independent International Film Festival and a finalist at the Rome Prisma Film Awards.
The story follows Tommy McDaid, a fiercely dedicated IRA volunteer, when he and his best friend and fellow IRA volunteer Martin McDonagh drive a 1500kg lorry bomb into Manchester City Centre on Saturday 15th June 1996.
That was the same day as England played Scotland at Euro ‘96, which Mancunians of a certain age will recall made getting into town to watch the Wembley face off in the pub rather challenging, and the day before another old grudge match took place between Germany and Russia at Old Trafford.
The Visit picks up the story when an older and now seriously ill Tommy returns to Manchester for the first time since that fateful day 25 years earlier – a day that had huge implications for both the future of Manchester and for Tommy.
MacAninch is joined in the cast by Manchester actors James Quinn (Apostasy, Early Doors) and Trevor Dwyer-Lynch alongside a supporting cast of emerging talent. Jake Murray directed, while MancMade CEO Paul Ludden wrote and produced.
Ludden said: “I decided to release The Visit for free on our website because I want to showcase the work of the actors and crew to a global audience. I also don’t want to exclude people from watching who can’t afford a rental fee or don’t have access to the streaming platforms generally used by filmmakers.”
He added: “It’s also an opportunity to show the level of ambition we have as a company to create and produce top quality films in Manchester, working with a mix of experienced and emerging talent, both actors and crew [and] a global call-out to any writers, actors, crew, producers and investors interested in working with MancMade Productions.”
EP Child said ahead of filming last year: “Manchester was a big part of my life for a long time, and I grew to love the kind of smart, committed, creative underground scene there. The MancMade people are today’s version, and a friend tipped me off about a project they had called The Visit, which looked like it could be a real jewel, sharp, complex, and emotionally resonant, and I wanted to get involved, and I’m delighted they let me.”
