Project Detail

Fifty Dead Men Walking

Synopsis

Fifty Dead Men Walking is a fast-paced action thriller set in the treacherous world that was Northern Ireland in the 1980s. Inspired by a true story, Jim Sturgess gives a raw, mesmerising performance as young Martin McGartland, a young lad from West Belfast who is recruited by the British police to spy on the IRA. His handler, the mentor/father figure Fergus (Sir Ben Kingsley), promises what protection he can as Martin works his way up the ranks as a volunteer for the IRA in order to feed information to the British. Martin lives his life in constant danger, wary of discovery which would lead to torture and death, and bringing his young bride and family into the firing line. His vital information saves many lives until, during what is supposed to be his final ‘job’, he is uncovered. Captured by the IRA he is tortured within an inch of his life but bleeding and barely alive he makes a dramatic escape. True to his word, Fergus breaks all the rules and protocol to save his young friend, but is he too late.

Details

Year
2009
Type of project
Features
Running time
110 mins
Format
35mm
Director
Kari Skogland
Producer
Guy Collins, Michael Ryan, Stephen Margolis, Nicole-Carmen Davis
Co-Producer
Guy Collins, Michael Ryan, Stephen Margolis, Nicole-Carmen Davis
Editor
Jim Munro
Screenwriter
Kari Skogland
Director of Photography
Jonathan Freeman
Production Designer
Eve Stewart
Sound
Anke Bakker, Kris Fenske
Composer
Ben Mink
Principal cast
Sir Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess, Natalie Press

Genre

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

Future Films

76 Dean Street
London W1D 3SQ
UK

T +44 (0)20 7518 8230

Sales Company

Handmade Films International

38 Albemarle Street
London W15 4JG
UK

T +44 (0)20 7518 8230

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

A muddied dishevelled man looks into the camera Kibera Hustle

Director: Janet Wells

Year: 2026

When his estranged half-brother is kidnapped in Kibera, a hapless British outsider plunges into Nairobi’s largest slum. Out of his depth and desperate, Steve teams up with Mshai, a streetwise hustler with plans of her own. As double-crosses mount and loyalties shift, Steve must decide whether he’s come to save his brother — or himself.

Maleek sits against a soft furnishing, wearing a cream knit top. He has a shaved head and beard, and his expression is contemplative and emotional. Natural light falls across his face. Between Realms

Director: Romaine Reid

Year: 2026

Guided through shifting realms shaped by memory, spirit and emotion, Maleek is forced to confront the unresolved wounds that continue to echo across generations. As reality blurs and time slips away, what begins as a search for connection becomes a journey of healing and transformation. Official Selection, S.O.U.L Festival 2026

A blonde woman in a white dress holds a baby at the top of a staircase Unspeakable

Director: Corinna Faith

Year:

Lil, a young mother, struggles to connect with her newborn baby. Ashamed and exhausted, she tells no one not even her domineering mother, Judith. But something terrifying already senses the void between them. Drawn to mothers who are uncertain or overwhelmed, an ancient creature begins to circle, waiting for an opportunity to rid her of her burden. When the family relocates to Judith’s childhood home, isolated deep in the countryside, buried tensions erupt and old secrets surface. The creature closes in, and a primal battle begins between a now-desperate mother and a relentless, all-consuming force.