In this episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, we speak to IFTA-nominated director Gavin FitzGerald about LOMU, his latest feature documentary exploring the extraordinary life, legacy and cultural impact of rugby icon Jonah Lomu.
Widely regarded as rugby’s first global superstar, Lomu transformed the sport with his unique combination of size, power and speed. From becoming the All Blacks’ youngest-ever player to emerging as an international cultural icon, his influence extended far beyond the rugby pitch.
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https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-director-gavin-fitzgerald-on-lomu
Following its London premiere at the London Breeze Film Festival on Thursday 3 September, LOMU comes to UK and Irish cinemas for one night only on Monday 7th September.
Book tickets here: lomu-doc.com
Lomu is a theatrical documentary about the legendary All Black, Jonah Lomu. An intimate and heartfelt character study tracing his Tongan upbringing, meteoric rise to fame, and the complicated personal and health battles he faced at the pinnacle of world rugby.
Gavin FitzGerald
Gavin is an IFTA-nominated film director whose slate of internationally acclaimed documentaries and television series has established him as a leading Irish voice in factual storytelling. His work often explores compelling sporting worlds and subcultures, driven by exceptional characters and crafted with a cinematic, intimate style. He began his career directing commercially successful, access-driven feature documentaries including Conor McGregor: Notorious and Liam Gallagher: As It Was, both of which went on to be acquired by Netflix. He followed these with the award-winning festival favourite Million Dollar Pigeons and a four-part boxing series Stable: The Boxing Game, later acquired by BBC. He is currently completing Soul of the Sea, an Irish-language documentary about a declining rowing tradition in the west of Ireland, supported by Screen Ireland and TG4. His latest feature, LOMU, explores the complexities of identity and Tongan culture through the life of one of rugby’s most iconic figures, Jonah Lomu, and is currently screening at festivals worldwide.
Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.
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