Project Detail

No Mean City

Synopsis

Two workmen and an apprentice drive through Belfast at night, replacing old sodium street lights with LED. Beneath their glow, the city grapples with change, as progress marches on.
Official Selection PÖFF Shorts - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2025
Official Selection Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2026

Visit Film Website

Details

Year: 2025
Type of project: Shorts
Running time: 14 min
Director: Ross McClean
Producer: Conal Clapper, Heidi Fleisher, Mike Paterson
Editor: Ross McClean, Phil Harrison
Director of Photography: Ronnie McQuillan
Sound: Tamás Varga

Genre

Climate / Environment Docufiction Science

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

US, UK coproduction

Sandbox (US), Elemental (UK)

Elemental

c/o Ross McClean

Visit Website

Page updates

This page was last updated on 22nd January 2026. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

Ryan is brimming with optimism to work on a sheep farm in anticipation of his release from a Northern Irish prison. But the harsh realities that await him on the outside soon threaten to unravel his ambitions. Filmed on two sides of the prison walls, the film contemplates whether Ryan’s path is destined by the weight of his community and history, or if it is within his power to break the cycle.

Northern Irish

Echo

Director: Ross McClean

Year: 2023

An operation 10 years ago left Allister with damaged vocal cords and an obstacle to communication. His unusual solution reminds us that community thrives in surprising places. Official Selection True/False Film Fest 2023 Official Selection Sheffield DocFest 2023 Official Selection IDFA 2023

Northern Irish Disabilities

Hydebank