kviff.com
News
Festival Guide
  • Tickets and Festival Pass
  • Accommodations
  • Transportation
  • Festival cinemas
  • No Barriers project
  • Kids at the festival
  • Festival Shop
Program
  • Catalogue of films
  • Accompanying programme
  • Archive of films
  • Audience award
  • KVIFF Talks
  • Film Entry
Film Industry
  • Industry accreditation
  • Film Industry at KVIFF
  • Industry Days Programme
  • KVIFF Eastern Promises
  • KVIFF Talents
Press
  • Press accreditation
  • Press Service
  • For download
  • Press releases
  • Photogallery
  • Videogallery
About the festival
  • Festival description
  • Programme sections
  • Awards
  • History
  • We support non-profits
  • Photogallery
  • Partners
  • Why We Support the Festival
  • Contacts
CZ
Sign in
Film Archive

A Dark Song

Midnight Screenings 2017 / A Dark Song / Ireland, United Kingdom 2016

Two strangers meet in an old house in order to undergo an occult ritual that no one has tried for centuries. In their utter isolation, which must be maintained for months, they become aware that their strengths and even their very lives are hanging by a thread. This minimalist movie makes use of a carefully constructed atmosphere to really get under your skin.

A Dark Song A Dark Song

Synopsis

Sophia is gripped by a secret wish that means the world to her. In desperation, she rents a house miles away from civilization, and, under the guidance of black magic practitioner Joseph Solomon, she undergoes an occult ritual in order to make her wish come true. They pour a circle of salt around the entire building as a sign that they will have only each other to rely on for the next several months – and crossing the line will bring on dire consequences. As time passes, however, the ritual’s two participants discover that their faith in one another, their strength, and their very lives are hanging by a thread. And once they pass from the real world into the world of angels and demons, it’s too late to turn back… The carefully composed atmosphere of this highly disturbing minimalist film puts the viewer through a similarly intense experience: Once the film has gotten under your skin, it is too late to leave the darkened theater.

Hubert Poul

About the film

99 min / Color, DCP

Director Liam Gavin / Screenplay Liam Gavin  / Dir. of Photography Cathal Watters / Editor Anna Maria O'Flanagan / Art Director Conor Dennison / Producer David Collins, Tim Dennison, Cormac Fox / Production Samson Films / Coproduction Tall Man Films / Cast Steve Oram, Catherine Walker / Sales Kaleidoscope Film Distribution

About the director

Liam Gavin

Liam Gavin is an Irish-Welsh filmmaker, author, and talented storyboard artist. He studied graphic design and illustration at St. Martin’s Art College in London, and he directed his first projects with First Foot Films, which produced two of his shorts: Day of Reckoning (2002) and Shooting Blanks (2003 – Best Film at the Portobello FF). But he earned wider recognition with the short movies he shot in cooperation with Samson Films. Sunshower (2009), for instance, was shown in the main program at the Palm Springs and Raindance festivals. His next work Jericho (2009) was shown at numerous festivals and won the Special Jury Award at the Ozu IFF. A Dark Song (2016) is his feature debut, and he is already preparing several other feature projects.

Contacts

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution
16 Dufours Place, 6th Floor, W1F 7SP, London
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 203 397 4410
E-mail: [email protected]

Other partners
Newsletter

First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.

Follow us on the web:

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
is part of the KVIFF Group family, which covers other projects as well:

© 2025 KVIFF GROUP

Rules for Visitors / Website visitors privacy policy / GTC / Personal Data Protection / Rules for Claim / Rules and Regulations / Contacts