Kildare Town actor set for a landmark year with two films at the Galway Film Fleadh
Colin Malone from Kildare Town will appear in two productions screening at the Galway Film Fleadh
Kildare Town actor Colin Malone is set for a landmark year at the Galway Film Fleadh, with appearances in two productions screening at Ireland's most prestigious film festival.
Malone stars as Father Malachi in the horror feature Hollow Trees, directed by Cathal Fitzpatrick. Set in a bleak post-war landscape, the film follows survivors navigating a dangerous world while facing a terrifying creature capable of imitating human beings. The independent Irish horror feature stars Tom Kerrisk, Louis Kirwan, Rosey Hayes and Colin Malone.
In a rare feat for an actor, Malone not only plays one of the film's principal characters but also performs all of the creature work featured in the film. Bringing the monster to life required an intensive physical performance combining movement, characterisation and practical effects work.
The creature itself was designed and built by renowned special effects artist Roisin Murphy, whose craftsmanship helped create one of the film's most striking screen presences. Malone's dual contribution to the production highlights a unique area of expertise that has become a defining part of his career.
Alongside his appearance in Hollow Trees, Malone will also feature in HRTeaze, a short film screening as part of the Galway Film Fleadh programme. Directed and produced by MK Quane and written by Annie Sherry, HRTeaze tells the story of Annie, a trans woman aspiring to global pop superstardom. As she performs a song about her experience accessing hormone replacement therapy, memories of invasive medical scrutiny begin to resurface.
The film explores themes of identity, self-expression and the challenges faced by transgender people navigating healthcare systems, making it a timely and thought-provoking addition to this year's festival programme. Its selection for Galway Film Fleadh reflects the festival's continued commitment to showcasing diverse voices and stories from contemporary Ireland.
For Malone, having two very different productions selected for the same festival demonstrates the breadth of his work as an actor. While Hollow Trees showcases his ability to combine dramatic acting with physically demanding creature performance, HRTeaze highlights his involvement in meaningful character-driven storytelling.
A professional actor with an increasingly impressive list of screen credits, Malone has recently appeared in Rumpelstiltskin, FOX's Going Dutch and Channel 4's Hunting Alice Bell. His career spans film, television and genre productions, where he has earned a reputation for his versatility both in front of the camera and beneath extensive prosthetics and creature suits.
His talent has also been recognised internationally. In 2025, Malone won Best Actor at the International Film Awards for his performance in Those Who Feel Haunted, further establishing himself as one of Ireland's emerging acting talents.
Beyond his acting work, Malone is also the founder of Celtic Creatures, a platform dedicated to showcasing professional creature performance and practical monster work for film and television productions.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Malone said he was honoured to be representing Kildare at Galway Film Fleadh with two very different projects.
"To have both Hollow Trees and HRTeaze screening at the same festival is incredibly special. They are completely different productions, but both challenged me as a performer in different ways. Galway Film Fleadh has always been one of the most important events in Irish filmmaking, so it's a privilege to be part of this year's programme."
With two films screening at Galway Film Fleadh, a growing international career, and an award-winning performance already to his name, Colin Malone continues to build a reputation as one of Kildare's most versatile and distinctive screen actors.