Projects in genres: Northern Irish

Synopsis

During the conflict in Northern Ireland a practice developed that saw actors hired to dub those associated with the IRA on broadcast media. Via unseen archive footage and interviews with key figures, THE BAN reflects on the British government’s use of the threat of ‘terrorism’ to justify censorship. Official Selection International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2024 - International premiere Official Selection CPH:DOX 2025 Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival 2025

Synopsis

In the underground world of diffing, a community finds solace in their passion, as they navigate personal struggles and challenges both on and off the road. Official Selection PÖFF Shorts - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024 - Winner Best Film (New Talents Live-Action) Official Selection Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2025 Official Selection SXSW Film & TV Festival 2025

Synopsis

As the world shuts down due to COVID, Orla (‘Socks’) decides to leave Belfast and travel across the Irish Sea for access to a safe abortion. ‘Travel Socks’ follows this spirited young woman on her journey, as she overcomes numerous and sometimes farcical obstacles in her path - whilst attempting to keep the truth from her overbearing yet loving family.

Synopsis

The race to get a climate change act for Northern Ireland. Usually laws are written by anonymous civil servants in government departments, Northern Ireland’s first climate change bill was developed by activists, NGOs and academics. Members of the Climate Coalition Northern Ireland tell the nail biting story of their battle with a minister determined to deny, delay and distort their bill. A glorious mixture of humour, contemporary footage, animations and heartfelt testimony brings to life a narrative from Northern Ireland for once not mired in the violence of the troubles.

Synopsis

When fate brings disillusioned music teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed ‘low life scum’ Naoise and Liam Og, the sound of Irish music is changed forever. Under the name Kneecap, their band begin moulding the language to fit their tough, anarchic and hedonistic lives. A language encumbered with forty words for stone now has one for stoned. But to get their voices heard the trio must overcome police, paramilitaries and politicians as the future status of the Irish language erupts into the public arena. Yet their worst enemies are often themselves, as their illegal exploits, families and relationship pressures threaten to pull the plug on their dreams. Across the globe a language dies every two weeks. This is a darkly comic story about our intrinsic human urge for identity; whether personal, political or artistic. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2024 - NEXT - World premiere Official Selection SXSW Film Festival 2024 Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival 2024

Synopsis

In his tower-block apartment in New Lodge, Joe reenacts memories from his childhood amidst the Troubles. In this Catholic area of Belfast, the number of deaths was tragically significant. Joe is joined by neighbours Jolene, Sean, Angie, and others, all willingly participating in this process of revisiting the collective memories that shaped their lives, and the district they live in. Official selection CPH:DOX 2024 International Competition - World premiere

Synopsis

In spring 2020, five art students and two lecturers went missing in a remote forest in Ireland. What happened to them has remained unknown - until now. Their last movements are pieced together from footage recovered from a police operation almost two years later, where it becomes clear that what started out as an innocent prank became a horrific fight for survival in the cold darkness of Glenarma Forest. Presented as a true crime/found footage film, THE GLENARMA TAPES is the latest film to be produced through Northern Ireland Screen's New Talent Focus. Official Selection FrightFest London 2023

Synopsis

During the winter of 1969, young boys started to disappear from the streets of Belfast, never to be seen again. By 1974, as the Troubles were reaching a bloody and vicious peak, five boys in total had vanished within a five-mile radius. Fifty years later, as the disappearances remain unsolved and families continue to search for answers, filmmaker Des Henderson (How to Defuse a Bomb) reopens these largely forgotten cold-cases, unearthing disturbing revelations in secret state documents to tell an extraordinary tale of abuse, trauma and potential cover-up. Official selection Belfast International Film Festival and Irish Film Institute Documentary Festival 2023 - World premiere

Synopsis

As grief and regret pass through Elliott he imagines moving back to simpler times. Official Selection Cork International Film Festival 2023

Synopsis

A bleak, surreal silent short film that references Beckett’s ‘First Love’ monologue, isolation and ghosts. The film is loosely based on the story of Denis McCabe, a musician and employee of the Castle Caldwell Estate, Belleek and The Fiddler’s Stone - a tombstone made in his memory.

Synopsis

Never Mind Walnut Street is Marta Dyczkowska’s heartfelt letter to her dear friend, walking him through the changes in the city they once shared together. Edinburgh International Film Festival 2023 Bridging the Gap - World premiere

Synopsis

In the aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship, an unstable Joe seeks couples counselling with a sock puppet likeness of his ex-boyfriend, Malcolm.