If you’re looking for a life-affirming comedy bromance, look no further than The Spin. Starring Tara Lynne O’Neill (Derry Girls), Brenock O’Connor (Game of Thrones, Alex Rider) and Owen Colgan (Hardy Bucks), this charming Irish movie centres around a pair of hapless heroes from Omagh, who embark on an epic road trip across the Emerald Isle.
The multi award-winning film will receive its London premiere at the Genesis Cinema in Mile End on Friday 17 October, where the cast, film director Michael Head and The Spin’s executive producer, British Turkish Cypriot Ismail ‘Isy’ Ismail will be present.
Described as “the feelgood film of the year” by one film critic, The Spin has played to packed screenings at film festivals around the world over the past 12 months, including in Chicago, Toronto, Rome, Istanbul and of course Ireland, winning a bucketload of Best Feature Film awards in the process.
“The response to the film from audiences all around the world has been incredible,” said Enfield-based Isy Ismail, who was an accountant before stepping into the world of film.
“It’s been challenging because this is our first film project and there have been so many elements and unexpected issues we’ve had to navigate, but the cast and crew have been magnificent, and we’re delighted to have won so many awards. We can’t wait to share the film with the wider public,” he added.
The Spin’s script is inspired by the semi-autobiographical story of musician Mark McCausland (half of acclaimed Americana duo The Lost Brothers), and centres on Dermot (O’Connor) and Elvis (Colgan), two quirky friends from Tyrone who own a record shop.
Life is not going well for the pair: Dermot's dream of a career in music is faltering, while Elvis is going through a tough divorce. To top things off, they are set to be evicted from their much-loved record shop by scheming landlady Sadie (O’Neill, pictured above in The Spin) after falling behind on the rent. Yet a chance discovery of the sale of a rare box of records in Cork at a rock-bottom price could transform their luck. Dermot and Elvis have two days to collect their prize, but they don’t have any cash and their car is older than the hills…
Alongside the capers and cameo appearances, including from Joe Savino (The Crying Game, Braveheart), Maura Higgins (Love Island), Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, and Irish music legends Barry Devlin (Horslips) and Steve Wickham (The Waterboys), audiences also get to savour Ireland’s stunning scenery while listening to the film’s outstanding musical soundtrack.
“I wanted a story that isn’t about the world’s problems. Something full of community and wonderful Irish spirit that just makes you smile. Life’s a bit poxy; if our film brightens ten minutes of it, job done,” said director Michael Head.
The independently produced film is due for a theatrical release across Ireland and Great Britain early in 2026. But why wait if you’re in London?
Join the film’s cast, crew and guest celebrities at The Spin’s London premiere at Genesis Cinema on 17 October. General admission tickets to this glitzy affair are priced at £15 or upgrade to a premium ticket and enjoy a pre-screening free bar, plus the chance to mingle with the stars. Tickets are available online from Ticketebo.co.uk.
