Wildfire (2020 film)

{{short description|2020 Irish drama thriller}}

{{use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Wildfire

| image = Wildfire 2020 poster.jpg

| director = Cathy Brady

| writer = Cathy Brady

| producer = {{ubl|Carlo Cresto-Dina|Charles Steel|David Collins (producer)}}

| starring = {{ubl|Nika McGuigan|Nora-Jane Noone|Martin McCann|Kate Dickie}}

| music = {{ubl|Gareth Averill|Matthew James Kelly}}

| cinematography = Crystel Fournier

| editing = Matteo Bini

| studio = {{ubl|Tempesta Film UK|Cowboy Films|Samson Films}}

| released = {{Film date|2020|09||Toronto|ref1={{cite web|url=https://tiff.net/events/wildfire|title=Wildfire|website=tiff.net|access-date=13 December 2020}}}}

| country = Ireland
United Kingdom

| language = English

}}

Wildfire is a 2020 Irish drama thriller film directed by Cathy Brady.{{Cite web|last=Cole|first=Jake|title=Review: Wildfire Vibrantly Entwines Personal and Political Trauma|website=Slant Magazine|date=17 September 2020|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-wildfire-vibrantly-entwines-personal-and-political-trauma/|access-date=2020-12-05|language=en-US}} It is about two reunited sisters (Nora-Jane Noone, Nika McGuigan) who discover secrets from their mother's past. It was acquired by Modern Films for distribution in the UK.{{Cite web|last=Rosser|date=2020-11-10|first=Michael|title=Modern Films acquires Cathy Brady's 'Wildfire' for UK (exclusive)|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/modern-films-acquires-cathy-bradys-wildfire-for-uk-exclusive/5154780.article|access-date=2020-12-05|website=Screen|language=en}} Martin McCann and Kate Dickie also star in supporting roles.

The film has received critical praise for its direction, writing, and performances, particularly that of the late McGuigan. {{Metacritic film prose|72|six|ref=yes|access-date=September 7, 2023}}{{Cite Metacritic |id=wildfire |type=movie |title=Wildfire |access-date=September 7, 2023 }} The film holds {{a or an|{{RT data|score}}}} approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.{{Cite web|last=Clarke|first=Stewart|date=2019-05-10|title=First Look at Cathy Brady's 'Wildfire' Ahead of Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/cathy-bradys-wildfire-image-nora-jane-noone-and-nika-mcguigan-1203210911/|access-date=2020-12-05|website=Variety|language=en-US}} The critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads, "Anchored by the believable bond between its leads, Wildfire tells a heartfelt and realistic story of sisters peering into their family's past."{{Citation|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wildfire_2020|title=Wildfire (2020)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=iso}}}} It was in the Great 8 Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival and debuted in the Discovery Showcase at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.{{Cite web|title='Wildfire': Film Review {{!}} TIFF 2020 {{!}} Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wildfire-film-review-tiff-2020|access-date=2020-12-05|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=17 September 2020}}{{Cite web|date=2020-09-18|title=Four movies from Toronto, via Philly|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/sep/18/four-movies-from-toronto-via-philly/|access-date=2020-12-05|website=Arkansas Online|language=en}} It won the IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award at the London BFI Film Festival.{{Cite web|title=Winners announced for Virtual LFF Audience Awards 2020|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival/news/lff-awards-winners-2020|access-date=2020-12-10|website=BFI|language=en}} The award is worth £50k, for outstanding first or second time UK writer, director or writer/director presenting work at the BFI London Film Festival.{{Cite web|title="Wildfire" Writer-Director Cathy Brady Wins £50,000 Bursary at BFI London Film Festival|url=https://womenandhollywood.com/wildfire-writer-director-cathy-brady-wins-50000-bursary-at-bfi-london-film-festival/|access-date=2020-12-10|website=womenandhollywood.com|language=en-US}}

McGuigan was posthumously honoured with the Lead Actress - Film award at the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Film & Drama Awards on for her final performance in this film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2021/0704/1233034-nika-mcguigan-posthumously-honoured-at-ifta-awards/|title=Nika McGuigan posthumously honoured at IFTA Awards|website=RTÉ.ie|date=4 July 2021}}