Cork teenager Michael Keane will have his short film screened at the Indie Cork 2020 Film Festival, just before Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions kick-in across Ireland.

Following its success on Amazon Prime over the summer, Covid Éire will be shown on what will be the last night of screenings at the Gate Cinema.

“I’m really grateful that the festival is going ahead for one more night. We were haunted by the restrictions coming into place tonight,” said Michael Keane from Cobh.

“So, I’m really glad for it to be going ahead and to be able to have an actual physical screening. It’s fantastic.” 

The short-film follows a Cork teenager who sees his life deteriorate after contracting Covid-19.

"Covid Éire follows a young person whose life, mentally and physically unravels due to contracting the Covid-19 virus,” said Michael Keane.

The story was inspired by Michael’s own experiences and encapsulates the emotions felt by many people in Ireland during the lockdown period.

The short film was directed, shot and edited by the 16-year-old, and due to Covid-19 restrictions, Michael was also the sole actor.

Despite taking on the project alone, Covid Éire was completed in about one week.

“It only took me a train ride up and back from Cobh to Cork to film it and then about a week to edit it,” he explained.

Following its success over the summer, Michael is thrilled to have the short-film featured on the big screen in his home county.

“It feels incredible just to be on the big screen. It's every film-makers dream, to be honest.”