Cillian Murphy, ‘Small Things Like These’ Lands at Lionsgate

Lionsgate has landed domestic distribution rights to “Small Things Like These,” the first film in which Cillian Murphy appears since he won his Oscar for “Oppenheimer.”

Murphy stars in and produced “Small Things Like These,” which made its world premiere at this year’s Berlin Film Festival as the opening night film in competition. The film earned strong reviews, with IndieWire saying Murphy gives another “staggering performance” and that it is “a surprisingly understated film, dour and difficult to watch in places, and firmly rooted in Irish culture and history.” It even won co-star Emily Watson the Silver Bear for her performance.

Lionsgate will partner with Roadside Attractions to release “Small Things Like These” in North America, and Lionsgate also acquired rights in the UK and Ireland. No release date has been set.

Based on Claire Keegan’s novel, “Small Things Like These” takes place over Christmas in 1985, when devoted father Bill Furlong (Murphy) discovers the startling secrets being kept by the convent in his town, and some shocking truths about his own life as well.

Tim Mielants, a director on “Peaky Blinders,” directed the film and reunited with Murphy for the first time. The script comes from Enda Walsh, who has also been a longtime collaborator of Murphy’s.

The film was produced by Murphy, Alan Moloney, and Catherine Magee through their Big Things Film banner and was financed and put into…