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    IGNITE-DOCS DOCUMENTARY TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

    A joint initiative of Cork International Film Festival & Docs Ireland, Belfast, supported by TG4, the Arts Council of Ireland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet, Coimisiún na Meán, Northern Ireland Screen, and Arts & Business NI.

    About

    IGNITE-Docs Programme Year 5 Participants Announced

    2024-2025: Year Five Participants & Projects

    More about IGNITE-Docs 2024-25

    IGNITE-Docs Programme Year 4 Participants Announced

    2023-2024: Year Four Participants & Projects

    More about IGNITE-Docs 2023-24

    2022-2023: Year Three Participants & Projects

    2021-2022: Year Two Participants & Projects

    2020-2021: Year One Participants & Projects

    Testimonials

    About Cork International Film Festival

    About Docs Ireland

    About

    IGNITE-DOCS is a bilingual talent development programme led by Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland and directed towards emerging Irish and Northern Irish documentary filmmakers embarking on their first or second non-fiction feature film.

    The programme is a cross-border partnership that aims to foster a new generation of documentary filmmakers, an innovative collaboration between the island’s first and newest film festivals, Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland.

    IGNITE-Docs Programme Year 5 Participants Announced

    Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland are delighted to announce eight new projects for Year Five (2024-25) of its cross-border Documentary Talent Development Programme, IGNITE-Docs.

    2024-2025: Year Five Participants & Projects

    All the Lovely Animals

    Director: Kathleen Harris

    Three women devote their lives to rescuing abused animals from across Ireland – a harrowing, heartwarming and sometimes hilarious task that makes us wonder: what is an animal?

    June 1982: A Massacre

    Director: Rabie Mustapha
    Producer: Andy Wilkinson

    The memories of an under-documented massacre haunt the inhabitants of a Palestinian neighbourhood in South Lebanon.

    Saint Michael

    Director: Niall Sheerin
    Producer: Emma Keane

    A grief-stricken brother uses home videos, diary entries, tattoo art, and paintings left by his late older brother to reconcile himself with his one-time childhood hero, their sometimes difficult relationship, and the huge loss his passing has left behind.

    Savin Sodomy From Ulster

    Director: Lewis Doherty

    At the height of The Troubles, a generation of queer people battle their erasure against a homophobic political campaign and oppressive police treatment, formulating a path to peace.

    Sex Education (For Adults)

    Director: Nicola Leddy

    In Ireland we have never known what to do about sex, let alone how to embrace it, but one woman is on a mission to completely change that forever.

    Shades of Blue

    Director: Katie McFadden
    Producer: Simeon Costello

    Through the lens of his fading eyesight, a visually impaired man takes to the ski slopes with a group of friends, proving that even as vision decreases, his determination and lust for life does not.

    Tape Me Away From Home

    Producer: Austin Kenny

    In a pre-telephone era, a story of emigration (and much more besides), is recorded to cassette by those who left, and by those left behind.

    An Tigh

    Director: Medb Johnstone, Seán Keeley

    The story of how a small pub in the Connemara Gaeltacht changed music forever.

    More about IGNITE-Docs 2024-25

    Year Five of the IGNITE-Docs Documentary Talent Development Programme follows the success of the previous four editions, through which feature documentary projects from emerging filmmakers were developed through training, workshops and one-to-one mentoring. 

    This is a project-led scheme, which supports the progression of the selected projects and their teams through training focused on the development process of documentary from inception to exhibition. The scheme fosters a new generation of creative non-fiction talent from all over Ireland to pursue their first or second feature, and to provide them with a platform to develop the spectrum of skills and knowledge required to succeed as a feature documentary filmmaker on an international level.

    During this comprehensive training initiative, participants will gain a grounding in all facets of project development. They will acquire market knowledge of the documentary industry, learning about the current trends in non-fiction film production, and an expansive understanding of the sector. The programme will include workshops, masterclasses, and in person conversations with established documentarians, broadcasters, funders, sales agents, and other industry professionals. All training will take place in a relaxed learning environment to allow for maximum learning potential and the opportunity to network and foster new relationships. 

    The 2024/2025 programme will provide a long-term engagement, comprising:

    • Training days at Cork International Film Festival in November 2024, and Docs Ireland in June 2025
    • Regular online training days from November 2024 – June 2025
    • The opportunity to attend Sheffield Doc Fest in June 2025

    IGNITE-Docs Programme Year 4 Participants Announced

    Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland are delighted to announce eight new projects for Year Four (2023-24) of its cross-border Documentary Talent Development Programme, IGNITE-Docs.

    IGNITE-Docs is a talent development programme directed towards emerging Irish and Northern Irish documentary filmmakers embarking on their first or second non-fiction feature film. It is a cross-border partnership that aims to foster a new generation of cinematic documentary filmmakers, an innovative collaboration between the island’s first and newest film festivals, Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland. The participants and projects for year four are listed below.

    2023-2024: Year Four Participants & Projects

    Amanda

    Director: José Miguel Jimenez Gonzalez

    “Amanda” intimately explores Irish painter Amanda Cullen’s life, from teenage institutionalisation to her transformative journey through art-making. The film is a visually immersive, non-linear diary, which crafts a portrait of the artist’s resilience

    Canine

    Director: Paul Webster

    As time runs out for the Black Rhino in South Africa, an elite dog trainer in Cork trains a specialist anti-poaching dog for delivery to another Irishman, a conservationist working on the frontline.

    Jamie Griffin: Merlin Twist

    Director: Nathan Griffin

    An isolated yet ingenious teen skater in rural Ireland uses social media to propel himself from tricks in his cramped country shed to winning one of skateboarding’s biggest tournaments.

     

    Our Lady Rebecca

    Director: Nicky Larkin

    From celebrity stylist at the Eurovision to heroin-addicted sex-worker in Soho, Rebecca Tallon DeHavilland was Ireland’s first trans person. Ireland never forgave her for it.

    Seamus Ennis: The Last Notes of an Era

    Director: Feilimí O’Connor
    Producer: Aisling Ni Fhlaithearta

    “Embark on a captivating journey into the heart of Irish music in ‘Seamus Ennis: The Last Notes of an Era.’ This biographical documentary explores the extraordinary life of Seamus Ennis, the ‘Godfather of Irish Music,’ whose quest to preserve tradition during the Second World War era shaped global musical landscapes.

    Slane

    Director: Garret Daly
    Producer: Martina McGlynn

    An up-close portrait exploring 40 years of rock n’ roll at the iconic venue Slane Castle, a natural amphitheatre by the banks of the River Boyne and home to the best loved concert series Ireland has ever seen.

    From Belfast to Palestine

    Director: Peadar Ó Goill
    Producer: Ainle Ó Cairealláin

    Night raids and tear gas attacks are among the challenges of life as a Belfast native sets out to open a gym in the Aida Refugee Camp.

    The Worst and the Best

    Director: Cathy Dunne
    Producer: Maggie Ryan

    This cinematic documentary follows a professional dancer throughout her first pregnancy and interrogates what it means to be a woman whose identity is so interwoven with their career, on the cusp of motherhood.

    More about IGNITE-Docs 2023-24

    Created in collaboration between Cork International Film Festival (Ireland’s first and largest film festival and destination for cinematic documentary) and Docs Ireland (the all-Ireland documentary focused festival from Belfast Film Festival), this cross-border partnership seeks to foster a new generation of Irish documentary filmmakers from the north and south of Ireland.

    Feature documentary in Ireland has developed exponentially over the past decade, with countless award-winning non-fiction films gaining traction and being showcased both nationally, and on an international level; through festivals, cinema releases, television broadcast and VOD. The aim of IGNITE-Docs is to aid in the long term sustainable growth and artistry of talent in the Irish documentary film community, through training and skills development, mentorship and drawing from the resources and expertise of both festivals.

    The scheme is project-led, and supports the progression of the selected projects and their teams, through training that focuses on the development process of documentary, from inception to exhibition. The scheme aims to foster a new generation of non-fiction creative documentary talent from all over the island of Ireland to pursue their first or second feature, and to provide them with a platform to develop the spectrum of skills and knowledge required to succeed as a feature documentary filmmaker on an international level.

     During this comprehensive training initiative, participants will gain a grounding in all facets of developing their project, and will acquire market knowledge of the documentary industry, learning about the current trends in non-fiction film production, and giving them an expansive understanding of the sector. The programme includes workshops, masterclasses, and in person conversations with established documentarians, broadcasters, funders, sales agents, and other industry professionals. All training takes place in an intimate environment, which will allow a hands-on approach; facilitating maximum learning potential and the opportunity to network and foster new relationships.

    The 2023/2024 programme provided a long-term engagement, comprising:

    • Training days at Cork International Film Festival in November 2023, and Docs Ireland in June 2024.
    • Regular online training days from November 2023 – June 2024
    • The opportunity to attend Sheffield Doc Fest in June 2024.

    Previous IGNITE-DOCS editions:

    2022-2023: Year Three Participants & Projects

    Answering the Call: The Corncrake Project

    Director: Martin Danneels
    Producer: Laura Cranley

    Set on Ireland’s rugged north-west coastline, Answering the Call follows an audacious plan to save a tiny population of corncrakes by changing the mindsets of farmers. Writer: Geoff Power

    And There We Were

    Director: Christina Bennett
    Producer: Bonnie Boyle

    An exploration of how a housing estate in the west of Ireland came to be known as Little Belfast.

    If Love Be Blind

    Director: Bob Gallagher
    Producer: Bob Gallagher

    The film explores the role of visual media in shaping our attitudes towards desire, the experience of attraction through blindness, and the invisible part other senses play in the process.

    Mo Mheantóir Seán McGuire

    Director: Méabh O'Hare
    Producer: Karol Lynch

    An Irish language feature documentary looking at the real legacy of the Irish fiddle maestro Seán McGuire. Who was this tour de force? What was the truth behind the many stories that surrounded his life? Who was the real man? Myth or legend?

    Searching for Samantha (Ar Thóír Samantha)

    Director: Ciara Hyland
    Producer: Ciara Buckley

    When a young girl turns up outside the General Post Office in Dublin unable to speak, it sparks an international hunt to reveal her identity. But that’s just the start of the story.

    Try!

    Director: Oisín Mistéil
    Producer: Claire McCabe

    Try! follows the colourful and diverse mixed ability rugby community in Ireland on their journey to the World Cup.

    2021-2022: Year Two Participants & Projects

    Asking For It

    Grace Sweeney (Director), Anna Callan (Producer)
    Imagine a world where a man accused of a brutal murder is acquitted because he claims his female victim asked to be killed. Crime fiction? Asking For It examines the reality of the “rough sex defence”.

    Chinese Takeaway Kids

    Diana Cheung (Director), Sam Howard (Producer)
    Three generations of Chinese immigrants in Ireland explore their relationships with identity, culture and belonging as they navigate their struggle to stop the dilution of their Chinese heritage.

    Girls Who Run The World

    Lia Campbell (Director), Anna Callan (Producer)
    Two unlikely places – East Belfast, Northern Ireland and Bekoji, Ethiopia – both home to some of the worldʼs most promising female athletes. This documentary film follows these promising young runners, asking why they are the girls who run?

    Shay

    Mia Mullarkey (Director), Collie McCarthy (Producer)
    Fr. Shay Cullen has spent five decades rescuing exploited children from the sex industry and adult prisons in the Philippines. This feature documentary is an intimate portrait of a humanitarian hero.

    The Inner Voice Of Tony Cascarino

    Jonathan Farrelly (Director), Anna Mannion (Producer)
    Tony Cascarino looks back on his life through the lens of his ‘Inner Voiceʼ, that little part of him that seemingly never wanted himself to succeed.

    Unsilencing: My Journey to Carlow

    Sandrine Ndahiro (Director), Alison Byrne (Producer)
    Question your bias and delve into the exploration of the dual nature of the Irish identity. Shining a light on lived experiences from other ethnic minorities, Unsilencing shows the triumphs and challenges that have been faced by those on their quest of integrating into Co. Carlow, Ireland.

    2020-2021: Year One Participants & Projects

    Beatle Island

    Gillian Callan (Director), Ciara Bresnihan (Producer)
    A utopia lost off the West Coast of Ireland. Beatle Island is a tragedy about a group that attempted to create a new form of society on John Lennon’s island in Clew Bay, and the conflicts they had with the people of Westport.

    The Honeypot

    Laura Smith (Director), Lorraine Harton (Producer)
    “If you find us, don’t revive us”. When burglars came across this note, they inadvertently stumbled upon the tragic trail of intrigue and deception left by international con-woman Julia Holmes.

    Untitled Hydebank Film

    Ross McClean (Director / Producer)
    Ryan spends his last season as an inmate caring for a flock of sheep inside a Northern Irish prison’s walls. Upon release, he is thrust back into a precarious political environment as he ventures to raise his own flock, putting faith in the only occupation he has known to bring him solace.

    Hy-Brasil

    Michael Barwise (Co-director), Sean Mullan (Co-director)
    A journey to find what you’re looking for. A storyteller embarks on a voyage to find the phantom island of Hy-Brasil, allegedly located 200 miles off the west coast of Ireland.

    Pascal

    John Conway (Director), Mairéad Ní Thréinir (Producer)
    An old man living alone in a battered caravan, perched on the edge of an island on the Connemara coast. His legs are failing, his cancer is spreading, he couldn’t care less. He’s back on the island where he was born to live out his days, content in the knowledge that he didn’t waste a moment.

    Searching for Space

    Cara Holmes (Director), Evan Horan (Producer)
    An intimate portrayal of a community of activists, creative artists and misfits told through lesbian lines – one of the oldest LGBT+ helplines in the world.

    Testimonials



    As a first time feature director and producer, I have gained confidence in how to approach the intimidating market landscape . . .It’s clear the experience and knowledge gained on the Ignite programme will provide a steady foundation for my career ahead.

    Ross McClean, Director, Untitled Hydebank Project

    The IGNITE programme delivered a well planned, constructive and encouraging series of training, discussions and workshops with many inspiring speakers from the world of documentary.

    Evan Horan, Producer, Searching for Space

    Through its various workshops, webinars and information sessions, IGNITE gave me real insight and access to the workings of the feature documentary world not only in Ireland but across Europe and North America. Ignite provided us with real practical help with our films through pitching, treatment development, finance plans and strategies

    Cara Holmes, Director, Searching for Space

    Providing us with the opportunity to engage with industry experts who generously shared their knowledge and gave insightful feedback on our project, the Ignite programme exceeded my expectations in the variety of speakers and assistance offered

    Lorraine Harton & Laura Smith, Producer & Director, The Honeypot

    The highlight, for us, was (virtually) attending the Hot Docs festival. The engaging and entertaining sessions and films were hugely inspirational. Overall, the scheme has given us the confidence to navigate the sometimes confusing world of documentary pitching, funding, sales and distribution.

    John Conroy & Mairead Ní Threinír, Director & Producer, Pascal (Learning to Fall)

    We’ve learnt so much about the feature documentary world from fundraising, how to hone your pitches and stand out in the marketplace. It’s also been great to connect with peers across Ireland and build networks with people internationally and many who are well established in the industry.

    Gillian Callan, Director, Beatle Island

    The support and expert guidance we’ve received through IGNITE has helped us shape and develop the project along a path that feels true to the film and to us as filmmakers, and we’ve been able to identify a place in the film world where this project will thrive

    Michael Barwise & Sean Mullan, Co-Directors, Hy-Brasil

    About Cork International Film Festival

    Cork International Film Festival is Ireland’s largest and longest-running film festival and celebrates its 69th anniversary edition in November 2024. The Festival is proudly supported by Principal Funder the Arts Council, along with Cork City Council, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Creative Europe MEDIA, Coimisiún na Meán, ESB Energy for Generations Fund, Future Planet, Murphy’s and UCC. Media Partners are RTÉ Supporting the Arts and the Irish Examiner. Cork International Film Festival is a member of the Cultural Cinema Partnership which includes the Irish Film Institute, Galway Film Fleadh, Dublin International Film Festival and access>CINEMA.

    Doc Day at Cork International Film Festival is the festival’s flagship industry event, and seeks to inform, inspire and connect established and emerging non-fiction directors, producers and writers with international producers, directors, programmers, sales agents, distributors and film sector leaders to further understand and develop opportunities in the documentary landscape.

    Facebook: @CorkFilmInternationalFestival
    X: @CorkFilmFest
    Instagram: @CorkFilmFest
    LinkedIn: Cork International Film Festival
    TikTok: @CorkFilmFestival

    About Docs Ireland

    Docs Ireland is an annual industry focussed, all Ireland International Documentary Festival, which incorporates a marketplace, pitching sessions, masterclasses, new talent focus and funding information events. Docs Ireland is proudly supported by principal funders NI Screen, Department Of Communities, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, alongside TG4, Arts & Business NI, Belfast City Council, Film Hub NI, BFI FAN, Yellowmoon, Belfast Media, Screen Producers Ireland and Creative Europe Media. docsireland.ie

    Facebook: @DocsIreland1
    X: @DocsIreland
    Instagram: @docsireland
    Linked In: Docs Ireland

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