Spilt Milk
Ireland/UK | 2024 | English | 91 min | Drama | DCP
Synopsis
SPILT MILK follows the POV of eleven year old BOBBY O’BRIEN, a precocious and energetic boy obsessed with becoming a great detective like his TV hero KOJAK. Bobbys’ home is inner-city Dublin in 1984 – a place where BOBBY and his best pal NELL torment their family and friends as they set up their own private investigation enterprise. But when BOBBY’s big brother OISIN disappears, this story of childhood adventure stumbles into the darkness of addiction. A new drug, heroin, is ravaging his working class community and his mother MAURA is struggling to protect her family and shield him from the harsh reality of their world. Based on a true story, SPILT MILK challenges preconceptions about class and addiction as a community fights back against the dealers. SPILT MILK is a deeply moving film which tracks the end of innocence as Bobby unravels the mystery of his missing big brother and in doing so, discovers his own strength and the love of his family, friends and community.
Credits
Original Title | Spilt Milk |
English Title | Spilt Milk |
Country | Ireland, UK |
Exhibition Format | DCP |
Director | Brian Durnin |
Producer | Laura McNicholas, James Heath |
Screenplay | Cara Loftus |
Cinematography | Cathal Watters |
Cast | Cillian Sullivan, Naoise Kelly, Laurence O’Fuarain, Lewis Brophy, Danielle Galligan, Pom Boyd |
Company
925 Productions
Laura McNicholas
925productions@gmail.com
Director
Brian Durnin
Ireland

Brian Durnin is an award winning filmmaker from Dublin, Ireland. He recently directed 80’s set Irish feature film Spilt Milk which had its premiere at Tallinn Black Nights in Estonia in November 2024. The film was nominated for 4 awards at the 2025 IFTAs including best Picture and Best Director. It also picked up the prestigious Mubi Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival & the Golden Slipper at the Zlin International Film Festival in the Czech Rep. His short films have screened at numerous prestigious international festivals including TriBeCa and Raindance. He has won awards at Cork, Kerry, Galway, Belfast, Raindance and Rome (Filmare).