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Old Friends and Other Days

The viewer is instantly plunged into an atmospheric, decaying, beautiful world where ambiguity reigns supreme and the stream of consciousness is governed by the world of song. Is it a sanctuary to enrich your senses or could it be purgatory? Our four muses take us through these fleeting moments of reflection, discipline, loneliness and joy where they tempt and entice us to remember what has gone before. What happens once everyone’s cases are packed? Does it all just go back to the beginning again?

Original concept and direction by Cameron Menzies, Old Friends and Other Days takes the music of Irish composer William Vincent Wallace and one of his contemporaries William Balfe and theatricalises each piece into epic storytelling through song: taking the ordinary into extraordinary and back again. Four of Northern Ireland’s shining lights in opera are featured in this film, Mary McCabe, Emma Morwood, Carolyn Dobbin and Sinéad O’Kelly.

  • Cameron Menzies
    Director
  • Chris Patterson
    Producer
    BFI Vision Awardee 2020, Hostage to the Devil, Time and Again, Childer, Quantum of Solace, Hellyboy 2,
  • Carolyn Dobbin
    Key Cast
  • Mary McCabe
    Key Cast
  • Sinéad O'Kelly
    Key Cast
  • Emma Morwood
    Key Cast
  • Bryan Evans
    Key Cast
  • Cameron Menzies
    Writer
  • Aidan Gault
    DOP
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Opera, Theatre, Music, Drama
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 25, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    150,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Belfast Film Festival
    Belfast, Northern Ireland
    United Kingdom
    November 10, 2021
    Home Premiere
    Official Selection
  • British Short Film Awards
    London
    United Kingdom
    December 6, 2021
    None
    Nominee for Best Long Short
  • London International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 29, 2021
    London
    Selection
  • Prague International Short Festival

    Czech Republic
    October 24, 2021
    None - Private online screening - Judges only
    Selection
  • Paris Short Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    January 16, 2022
    French
    Best Narrative Short, Best 1st Time Director, Best Art Direction/Costume
Distribution Information
  • Bluefinch Films
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Cameron Menzies

Australian born Stage Director, Cameron Menzies works consistently across Opera, Music Theatre, Theatre, Cabaret and with many International Festivals where his work has been seen all across the world. He has worked for Shakespeare’s Globe, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Short Black Opera Company, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra & Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

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Director Statement

My intention is to instantly plunge the viewer into an atmospheric, decaying, beautiful world where ambiguity reigns supreme and the stream of consciousness is governed by the world of song. Is it a sanctuary to enrich their senses or could it be purgatory?

Our four muses take us through these fleeting moments of reflection, discipline, loneliness and joy where they tempt and entice us to reminisce on what has gone before. What happens once everyone’s suitcases are packed?

Where will our muses take us next?