A host of Hollywood stars are expected to turn out at the European premiere of Neil Jordan's
Breakfast on Pluto
in Dublin tonight.
Golden Globe nominated Cillian Murphy, director Jordan, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, Stephen Rea, Eva Birthistle, Gavin Friday and Ruth Negga are due to attend the red carpet event in aid of the charity, Unicef.
Cork-born Murphy was nominated for a Golden Globe for his part as young Irish transvestite, Patrick 'Kitten' Braden, in Breakfast on Pluto- a collaboration with The Butcher Boyauthor Patrick McCabe.
In the film, cross-dressing Braden is born out of of an affair by the village priest, Fr Bernard, played by Liam Neeson, and his housekeeper, Eva Birthistle.
Adopting the name, Kitten, he leaves the fictional town of Tyreelin for London in the 1970s to find his mother, but he finds himself caught up in a series of misadventures.
Brendan Gleeson also stars in the film as a man determined to hire Kitten to wear a furry Womble suit, while Gavin Friday plays Billy Hatchet, the lead singer in a glam rock band.
Jordan and McCabe wrote the script for the film several years ago, and Jordan screen-tested Murphy, concluding he was the only actor for the role.
The film was shot in Northern Ireland , as well as Kilkenny, where diocesan authorities gave the director permission to shoot in a Catholic church in Callan.
The film, which goes on release in Irish cinemas this Friday, is a collaboration between the Irish Film Board, the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, Pathe Pictures Limited, Parallel Films and Number 9 Films.