'Hunger' Set For UK Release On October 31

'Hunger', the winner of the Camera d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival and the directorial debut of acclaimed British visual artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen, is to be released in cinemas on October 31, Pathé Distribution has announced.

'Hunger' is an intimate portrayal of life in Northern Ireland's Maze Prison at the time of the 1981 IRA hunger strike, led by Bobby Sands.

The film explores what happens when the morality of people, whether prisoners or prison guards, is tested to the limit, when the body itself is used as a weapon for people not being heard.

Co-written by Enda Walsh and Steve McQueen and produced by Laura Hastings-Smith and Robin Gutch, 'Hunger' stars Michael Fassbender as Bobby Sands, Liam Cunningham as Father Dominic Moran and Stuart Graham as prison officer Raymond Lohan.

The cast also includes Brian Milligan. Liam McMahon and Lalor Roddy.

'Hunger' is a Blast! Films production developed and majority funded by Film4 and Channel 4 and filmed on location in Northern Ireland with finance from Northern Ireland Screen.

'Hunger' also received support from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland 'Sound & Vision Fund') and the Wales Creative IP Fund.

'Hunger' received its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year where Steve McQueen won the prestigious Camera d'Or for best first feature. The film was also awarded the Fipresci International Critics Prize at the festival.

It also won the Sydney Film Prize at this year's Sydney Film Festival.

(KMcA)