History can be very painful, especially in the case of long-buried injustices. The Missing Children of Tuamproduced by Liam Neeson and directed by Frank Perry, tells a harrowing real-life story from Ireland.
Monica Dolan (Sherwood, Mr. Bates v. Post Office) depicts history lover Catherine Corliss, who researched the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, for a local historical society, only to uncover the devastating prospect that as many as 796 children were buried in unmarked graves on the property.
The horrific discovery led to massive cries and a campaign for justice for both victims and survivors of the home, “confronting the deep wounds that continue to shape Ireland today,” according to press notes. Excavations began in the mass grave in the summer of 2025.
The Missing Children of Tuamwhich had its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in July, will screen in the main program of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), beginning Sunday, September 13. The film won Best Irish Film in Galway.
“The Missing Children of Tuam Galway Film Fleadh programmer Charlene Lydon said of the film: “It is a deeply moving and important work of filmmaking. Frank Perry approaches this story with enormous sensitivity, empathy and humanity, creating a film that honors the lives of children and the experiences of survivors while confronting a painful chapter of our shared history.”
Neeson optioned the rights in 2017 New York Times Article titled The Missing Children of Tuamcreated by Dan Barry on which the film is based. Frank Perry (Aisha, Michael is inside(The film, for which the screenplay was written, was directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz)She said: The salt road). Along with Dolan, the cast also includes Andrew Bennett (God’s creatures, the quiet girl) and Ian McElhenney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls).
Cinematographer was Kate McCullough, with editing by Colin Campbell and Nathan Nugent. Element Pictures, Big Red Films and El Paso Productions produced the film in association with Port Pictures and co-producer Along with Pictures. The Missing Children of Tuam It is presented by Screen Ireland and BBC Film in association with Fremantle, Media Commission, MK2 and RTÉ
MK2 handles global sales. Volta Pictures Distribution will release the film in Irish cinemas on September 25, while Picturehouse Entertainment will release it in the UK on October 9.
Although the story may be Irish, the film touches on universal themes such as memory, the treatment of children who may be deemed “undesirable,” and institutional accountability.
“Driven by an unwavering sense of moral justice, Corliss exposed one of the darkest chapters in modern Irish history and sparked a profound national reckoning,” the TIFF website says. The Missing Children of Tuam. “The Perry Mines caused great tension because of Corliss’s painstaking archival work, patient persistence, and determination to ensure that the deceased children did not remain unseen. As Corliss’ inquiries were met with indifference, skepticism, and even resistance, she refused to give up the evidence until it proved impossible to ignore.”
THR A trailer can now be viewed exclusively for The Missing Children of Tuam Before its international premiere at TIFF. Get to know Dolan as Corless and – well, see for yourself!
