Halal for Beginners

by

Conor McDermottroe, Irland/Germany, 2017, 100 min, in English
Saturday, 4 November 2017, 5:00 PM, North American Premiere

Partly based on true events, this warm-hearted comedy about Ireland’s first Halal meat factory tells the
story of young Muslim Raghdan Aziz trying to find his place in the world of small town Sligo. While
managing a rundown abattoir, he stumbles through cultural chaos and generational conflicts, dealing
with enraged fathers, stoned buddies and his girlfriend’s alleged ex-lover.
Described by writer-director Conor McDermottroe (“Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne”) as a feel-good
migrant story, HALAL FOR BEGINNERS is a culture clash working class comedy. This uplifting adventure,
celebrating multiculturalism in modern day Ireland, stars Nikesh Patel (“London has fallen”), Sarah
Bolger (“In America”, “The Tudors”), Colm Meany (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), Art Malik (“James
Bond- The Living Daylights”) and David Kross (“The Reader”).