EXCLUSIVE: Beach Pictures, the nascent Ireland-based distributor, has picked up UK-Ireland theatrical rights for Brian Durnin’s Irish feature debut Spilt Milk.
The film is Beach Pictures’ first UK-Ireland acquisition and will be released in Ireland on March 20 2026, with a UK release date also imminent.
Spilt Milk follows 11-year-old Bobby O’Brien, a boy who dreams of becoming a great detective like his TV hero Kojak. Bobby sets up his own private-investigation enterprise with his best friend Nell and they embark on a quest to find Bobby’s older brother Oisín.
Cast includes Cillian Sullivan, who also plays the young Stephen Sondheim in Blue Moon, alongside Naoise Kelly, Danielle Galligan, Laurence O’Fuarain, Pom Boyd and Lewis Brophy.
The film world premiered at Tallinn Black Nights in 2024, and won the audience award at Glasgow earlier this year.
Laura McNicholas of Ireland’s 925 Productions produces alongside James Heath for the UK’s Randan. Cara Loftus wrote the script, with Cormac Fox of Vico Films as executive producer.
Spilt Milk was backed by Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, RTÉ and Screen Scotland.
Former Element Pictures and Warner Bros Irish executive Dave Reid launched Ireland-UK distribution venture, Beach Pictures, earlier this year, with a focus on acquiring animation, independent cinema and non-English language films, as well as being the local Irish distributor for international studio releases.
“Spilt Milk has had a long and wonderful international festival run and picked up best film awards in Croatia, Luxembourg, Czechia and Greece along with IFTA [Irish Film and TV Award] nominations and audience awards at home in Ireland and Scotland. We are thrilled that Beach Pictures will release the film theatrically,” said the filmmaking team.
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