Recently nominated for the 2018 Irish Film & Television Awards, in the prestigious George Morrison Feature Documentary award section, ‘The 34th – The Story of Marriage Equality’ was shown in Belfast, late December 2017.   At a private screening hosted by Love Equality, The Social Change Initiative and Belfast Film Festival, Linda Cullen’s documentary was presented to an audience of activists and supporters of marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

The 34th tells the story of the people behind the organisation Marriage Equality who campaigned tirelessly for the extension of civil marriage to same sex couples in Ireland. From the KAL (Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan) case and the emotional love story behind it, to a YES vote on 22nd May 2015, the documentary spans a decade culminating in the 34th amendment to the Irish constitution, allowing same sex marriage.

The screening was followed by an illuminating panel discussion which gave the audience a unique opportunity to speak with and hear from director and producer, Linda Cullen, and some of the campaign’s key protagonists including Katherine Zappone (Irish Minister for Children and Youth Affairs), Dr Grainne Healy (founding Co Chair of Marriage Equality and co-director of Yes Equality) and Denise Charlton (founding Co Chair of Marriage Equality).  The panel was chaired by Martin O’Brien.

Click on the link above to watch the panel discussion.

A release date for the film is yet to be announced.