Applications for IGNITE-Docs are now open, and will be accepted until Friday, September 20th 2024 at 5pm. Successful projects will be announced in mid-October.
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. This cross-border partnership aims to foster a new generation of documentary filmmakers, and is an innovative collaboration between the island’s first and newest film festivals, Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland.
Applications are accepted in English and as Gaeilge, with a particular interest in Irish language projects:
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 IGNITE-Docs programme will provide a long-term engagement, comprising:
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.
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.
“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
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Previous IGNITE-DOCS editions:
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
An exploration of how a housing estate in the west of Ireland came to be known as Little Belfast.
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.
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?
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! follows the colourful and diverse mixed ability rugby community in Ireland on their journey to the World Cup.
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
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
