SDGI Newsletter • March 2025 - Screen Directors Guild of Ireland

Andrea Arnold at AGM

SDGI's Annual General Meeting of Directors features Andrea Arnold as this years keynote speaker.

Fergal O’Reilly at AnimAL event

The recent Skillnet event ‘Directing Animation for TV, Features and Shorts on the Friday 15th and Saturday 16th September was a major success.

Live Q&A with Pat Collins

Join SDGI on Wednesday, June 30th for a live interview with Pat Collins, award-winning Irish director, producer, and writer.

Information Session on New Directors’ Rights On the 19th November the Irish government signed new copyright legislation into law. These legal changes have been put in place to deliver on the goal of the EU Directive to transform copyright in the EU and strengthen creators’ rights. This legislation positively impacts your rights as a director. The changes include: * New…

Ethics in Documentary Workshop

In a rapidly changing and increasingly tightened production schedules for documentary, understanding and staying connected to the ethics around documentary is critical to protect the director and all involved in making a documentary. SDGI would like to create a Code of Ethics for Documentary to support directors in what is often considered a grey area…

Role of Director Workshop

Lack of understanding of the role of director can often lead to challenges with trainers, funders, producers, crew. SDGI is working with Adare HR to create a detailed framework of skills and craft of the role of director. The aim of this is for trainers, producers, funders to understand with detail the skills and talent of a director by looking at the an entire framework. We hope that you can use…

Walk n Talk Monthly Meet Up

We know that one of the best parts of being in SDGI is the presence of other directors, as this is what our members tell us. To help facilitate these connections we offer Walk N Talks – casual social outings where like-minded directors can come together to talk, walk, network, and create new ideas together, all…

19th Annual Meeting of Directors 20th May 2022

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland’s 19th Annual Meeting of Directors will take place on Friday 20th May 2022 from 10.30am in the MOLI Museum, 86 St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2. Susanne Bier is our Honorary Guest this year and will receive Honorary Membership of The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and join directors in dialogue with…

Susanne Bier Announced as Honorary Guest at Annual Meeting of Directors

SDGI is honoured to have Susanne Bier as our Guest of Honour at the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland’s 19th Annual Meeting of Directors 2022. Bier has directed the Netflix film ‘Bird Box’ (2018) and the international series ‘The Night Manager’ (2016), which won two Emmys and three Golden Globes, ‘The Undoing’ (2020) and ‘The First Lady (2022).…

Directors invited to apply: New Basic Income for Artists

Applications are now invited for inclusion in the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot scheme from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media This scheme is established with various goals including to enable artists and creative arts workers to focus on artistic and creative work without having to enter into employment in…

Progressive Recoupment Deal to Support Talent

Director’s Guild of Ireland and Screen Ireland Agree Progressive Recoupment Deal to Support Talent Dublin (February 7th, 2020) The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) and Fis Eireann / Screen Ireland (Screen Ireland) have agreed a new deal which will allow Irish directors to benefit from the Screen Ireland corridor payments across Screen Ireland supported…

Directors Pay Campaign

Directors show up giving 100% of themselves to a project, working long days in increasingly pressured schedules, embracing new technology skills, COVID protocols and working with tightening budgets. Directors often work for months and sometimes years underpaid in development to drive a project forward. Directors as the creative lead hold the specialist responsibility above all…

The 2022 Annual Meeting of Directors

Thank you to everyone who attended the Nineteenth Annual Meeting of Directors with our honorary guest Susanne Bier. The Chairman Maurice Sweeney and the Board would like to thank the members and supporters of the Guild for their dedication to the Guild as your support and commitment fuels everything we do at the Guild. Paddy Breatnach and Lisa Mulcahy were re-elected…

Directors’ Right to Annual Audit Information

Today the deadline has passed for EU countries to implement the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. From today, producers across Europe are now legally obliged to issue directors with an annual, detailed, breakdown in writing of the profits and losses from all productions to which directors have contributed. This will have a particular…

Discussion with Richie Baneham & Darragh O’Connell at the Galway Film Fleadh

Navigating a New Era of Visual Effects and Animation Supervision As a part of the Galway Film Fleadh this year, we are pleased to announce that we are hosting an interview with Richie Baneham and Darragh O’Connell! In this session, VFX and Animation Supervisor Richie Baneham and Animation Director Darragh O’Connell will unpack Richie’s films,…

New SDGI Podcast: Navigating a New Era of Visual Effects and Animation Supervision

As VFX dominates every screen today, our speakers discussed how to lead projects with VFX from story to technique. In this session recorded at the Galway Film Fleadh, VFX and Animation Supervisor Richie Baneham and Animation Director Darragh O’Connell unpacked Richie’s films, including Avatar and the more recent Alita: Battle Angel. Richie and Darragh explained how to…

Save the Date: 20th Annual Meeting of Directors 2023

The 20th Annual Meeting of Directors 2023 Date: Friday 12th of May 2023 Time: 11am – 5pm Venue: MOLI Museum, 86 St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2.

Guide to Tax and Pensions Online Event

We invite you to join a Guide to Tax and Pensions online event with Screen Skillnet and Animation Ireland. The day is broken up into two halves, the morning is Tax and afternoon is Pensions. All members of the Guild welcome to join this free online event and apply for a slot for a one…

8th WAVE OF ARRI ALEXA TAKE DIRECTORS to Shoot in November 2022

5 Directors to Shoot Films in November 2022 The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland announces the directors for the SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE will being shooting in November 2022. Elena Doyle MYCELIUM, Bob Gallagher UNTITLED, Roisin Loughrey LULLULA, Patrick McDermott LAND OF BANG, Kristina Yee SWEEDISH DEATH The SDGI ARRI ALEXA…

Books for Screen

Books are everywhere. As a director you have examined many books for optioning for film and episodics but how can you filter through the mountains of new books published each year to find the best new stories in fiction and non fiction? SDGI has partnered with Publishing Ireland again to create a presentation of Irish books with…

Lunchtime Directors’ Contract Clinic

Bring your legal and contract questions for SDGI Lawyer We invite you to join us with any legal issue you may have related to your director’s contract past, present or upcoming. Each member will get a free legal advice in private session with lawyer, David Sweeney. On the 19th November 2021 the Irish government signed new copyright legislation into law. These legal…

Directors’ Town Hall

Join us for a Director’s Town Hall with Chairman Maurice Sweeney and Board of SDGI and Executive. A lot has happened in the past couple of years, COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the screen industry, we have new copyright legislation, new funding models, new audiences and so we want to ask the question, moving forward what…

Shooting starts on SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE

4 Directors Start Shooting Films on SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland delighted that directors start shooting SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE today on the 28th October 2022. Thanks to ARRI who held a training day on Thursday 27th of October for the crew. Kristina Yee SWEEDISH DEATH Patrick McDermott …

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins welcomed the Board of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland

Thursday the 3rd of November marked a historic day for the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland. President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins welcomed the Board of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland at a special reception at Áras an Uachtaráin on President Michael D. Higgins acknowledged the work of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and what it has…

Baz Ashmawy and Ronan McCabe at the launch of the Irish Animation Awards

Irish Animation Awards Open for Entries

Animation Ireland has announced the 2023 Irish Animation Awards are open for entries in 20 categories. Candidates can view the application process and enter via www.irishanimationawards.ie. The entry process will be open until 27th February. The premier event in the Irish animation calendar will be hosting its first in-person awards show since 2019 in Salthill…

Directors’ Workshop with Director, Author and Trainer Bethany Rooney

The Dawn Workshops are bringing the legendary Director, Author and Trainer Bethany Rooney to Kerry for a very special Directors’ workshop this May. Bethany is part of the driving force behind the Warner Bros, Sony and NBC Directors workshops. Entry to these courses are by invitation only and places are highly coveted. Kerry College is…

Netflix Documentary Talent Development Fund Information Session

Calling documentary filmmakers across Ireland. Netflix have announced a second round of their Documentary Talent Development Fund, this time on the theme of Connection. They have five funds of £30,000 to make a short documentary film between 8-12 minutes long and selected filmmakers will benefit from the guidance of Netflix and other filmmaking professionals. The…

Frameworks Seeks Feedback on Scheme

Frameworks is calling for feedback from SDGI directors on its scheme as it is doing an internal review. Please email your thoughts to hello@sdgi.ie by Monday 13th February. Frameworks is a long-running scheme co-funded by RTE and Screen Ireland to enable short animated film-making. It is a flagship scheme for the Irish animation sector which…

The Metaverse, AI & Blockchain: Top Considerations for Directors

We’d like to remind members to join us this week for The Metaverse, AI & Blockchain: Top Considerations for Directors Date: February 8th 2022 Time: 6.30pm ( this will be followed by SDGI Town Hall meeting at 7.30pm) Venue: Upstairs Clarence Hotel 6-8 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 HT44 Map. How we connect…

Panels & Workshops at the Dublin International Film Festival 2023

The Dublin International Film Festival kicks off tomorrow running from February 23rd to March 4th. Alongside the films screening there are a number of panels & workshops that may be of interest to members. DIFF Circle HOW TO SELL YOUR FILM WITH MICHELLE RYAN Based on years of explaining to filmmakers how important it is to…

Meet the Directors of this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Animated Feature Best Animated Short Film

VIEW Conference presents a pair of virtual discussions with the directors behind this year’s Academy Award® nominees for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short Film. Register now to be part of the global community watching these exclusive events, with the chance to put your own questions to the filmmakers. Five Oscar Contenders for Best…

Fair Pay Fair Share!

This week SDGI launched its short Fair Pay, Fair Share Guide to help you better understand your entitlements. Recent legislation introduced significant changes to ensure Screen Directors are paid fairly and receive a fair share from exploitation of their work. Fair share of remuneration from your work includes new rights to: fair pay; transparent information; possible…

Dublin International Film Festival 2023 Documentary Panel

There’s still time left for you to catch the Documentary Panel that took place as part of this year’s Dublin International Film Festival The panel provided an opportunity for both the general public and filmmakers of all levels to learn more about contemporary Irish documentary – where the stories come from and the background to…

Arts Council Film Project Award

The Arts Council Film Project Award is now open for applications. There are two strands to this award and each has a specific purpose. Strand 1: Research and Development The purpose of this strand is to offer applicants an opportunity to research and develop ideas that could be developed into Strand 2 Production projects –…

VM Discovers is open For Submissions

Virgin Media Discovers 2023 in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and with the support of the Dublin International Film Festival is now open for submissions from new, emerging and established filmmakers, writers and content creators. Virgin Media is committed to discovering unique voices in film and TV, and we are calling for ideas that bring…

New Documentary Training Programme, EXPLORING REALITY, offers bespoke training for documentary directors in Ireland

We are delighted to announce EXPLORING REALITY , a new training initiative for directors that will take place between 28th March – 20th June, 2023 in Dublin. Designed to provide directors with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in today’s evolving ecosystem of filmmaking, the series will feature a range of in-depth workshops…

Locarno Residency

Applications are Open for the Locarno Residency, a training initiative with online and in-person sessions guiding young talents in developing their first feature film. Selected projects will be presented during the 76th edition of the Festival. The Locarno artistic team will choose ten projects from all the submissions based on the candidates’ story pitches and…

The Listening Pitch

Aesthetica and Audible have teamed up for The Listening Pitch 2023 and are inviting filmmakers to submit proposals for a documentary on how hearing new stories can change our lives. The successful filmmaker will win £20,000 to make their project, as well as premiering at the Festival. SUBMIT YOUR PITCH Five filmmakers will be selected…

Screen Ireland a Part of European Initiative to Support Ukrainian Cinema

The European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films was launched by EFAD, the film agencies and Culture Ministries from 13 countries during the recent 73rd edition of the Berlinale. This unique solidarity action aims at helping Ukrainian filmmakers while fostering coproductions. The fund is implemented through collaboration and financial contributions from fifteen European ministries and national…

75th Annual DGA Awards Winners

The winners of the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards for 2022 were announced in February during the 75th Annual DGA Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills in February. Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for Everything Everywhere All at…

Women Disrupting the Documentary Landscape – The Griersons & We Are Doc Women in conversation

Ahead of the Grierson 2023: The British Documentary Awards opening for film entries on Friday, 17 March 2023, The Talent Manager speak with 2022 HOTY winner, documentary director and founder of We Are Doc Women, Clare Richards. Women Disrupting the Documentary Landscape – The Griersons & We Are Doc Women in conversation will take place…

Nominations for RTS Ireland Television Awards Announced

RTS Ireland has announced nominations in 10 categories for this year’s RTS Ireland Television Awards. Juries considered over 130 entries from across the industry. RTS Ireland Television Awards seek to recognise Irish productions and international co-productions which are considered by peer jury members to have made a positive contribution worthy of acclaim by the industry…

In Cinemas: ‘The Artist & The Wall of Death’ – Directed by Maurice O’Brien

Maurice O’Brien’s film The Artist & The Wall of Death is released at the IFI from Friday, March 10th. When Glaswegian performance artist Stephen Skrynka learns that a life-long obsession with building and riding a century-old fairground attraction, the ‘Wall of Death’, was shared with Michael Donohoe and Connie Kiernan (who built a wall in…

2023 IFTA Nominees Announced

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced the 2023 IFTA Nominations for the Irish Academy Awards across 28 categories in Film & Drama. We’d like to congratulate all the talented artists nominated this year across all the categories. In particular, we’re delighted to see such a strong selection of directors nominated this year…

Kerry Short Film Bursary Information Session

The Kerry Short Film Bursary is now open for applications for a short drama or documentary film of 10 to 12 minutes duration to be shot in the county. An information session on how to submit a competitive application is being held online on Wednesday, March 15th. Contact siobhan@screenkerry.ie to register for the online session. Kerry…

Animation Dingle

Animation Dingle is a 2-day Festival for animation industry experts and students, taking place in 24-25 March in the iconic fishing town of Dingle. The festival features a Day-long Animation Dingle Conference, Screening Programmes, Workshops and Awards. There will be a special panel “From Page to Screen: An Inside Look at Producing a Feature Film”…

BMW Filmmaking Challenge

The BFI have partnered with BMW UK and Michaela Coel to offer five filmmaking teams the chance to break new ground. Encouraging filmmakers to dream big and expand their ambitions, The BMW Filmmaking Challenge in partnership with the BFI is inspired by the all-electric BMW i7 and its ultra-wide 31.3-inch rear-passenger theatre screen. The BMW…

Do Directors Direct both Fiction and Documentaries?

Do directors direct both fiction and documentaries? Stephen Follows started by building a database of all feature films made around the world in the past two decades (1999-2018 inclusive), both factual and fiction. Read the research here.

SDGI Guide Metaverse, AI and Blockchain for Directors Report

We are delighted to publish ‘Considerations for Directors: Metaverse, AI & Blockchain. A Handbook for Screen Directors’. In this report we have collated some knowledge about recent tech innovations that we thought might be important for directors. Read the report: SDGI Guide Metaverse, AI and Blockchain for Directors Report

S481 Screen Talks: Industry Masterclass with Morgan Neville

Screen Ireland as part of the S481 Skills Development Screen Talks has partnered with Blinder Films on an industry masterclass with world-renowned documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville whose upcoming film, Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman, filmed in Dublin was released worldwide on Disney+ on Friday, March 17th. The masterclass will take…

Film & TV Drama Shadowing: Directors

The National Talent Academy for Film & Television (NTA: Film & TV) is seeking applications for shadowing positions for directors on upcoming feature films and television drama. This application will be open on a rolling basis, with the objective to gather a panel of available mentees for the NTA: Film & TV and productions to recruit from.…

Image of an Online Conultatiom meeting on laptop

DocsBarcelona Online Artistic Consultancies for Projects in Rough-cut Stage

This year DocsBarcelona provides the opportunity to carry out online creative consultations for projects that are at rough-cut stage. The main objective is to allow the participants to show their documentary to renowned international experts, who will help them to improve the film’s final result Tue Steen Müller will be the session’s moderator and link each project…

Giornate degli Autori Call for Submissions

The 20th of Giornate degli Autori, promoted by ANAC (The National Association of Filmmakers) and by the authors of Associazione 100autori, will take place in September 2023, during the 80. Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica di Venezia. With the exception of special cases, all feature films submitted to Giornate degli Autori must fulfill the following requirements:…

Arts Council Next Generation Artists Award

The purpose of the Next Generation Artists’ Award is to support a group of promising artists across all disciplines at an early but pivotal stage in their career. Successful recipients will also be invited to take part, and contribute to ART: 2023. ART: 2023 is a partnership programme between the Arts Council and the Department…

Futureproof Masterclass in Producing & Designing Creative VR

Are you interested in finding new ways of telling stories and connecting with different audiences? Are you intrigued by Immersive Technologies, Virtual Reality or the Metaverse? If you have experience in filmmaking; drama; documentary; gaming; 3D animation; live performance OR if you’re a total beginner that is seriously enthusiastic about any of the above –…

Waterford International Film Festival Open for Submissions

The Waterford International Film Festival is Waterford’s premiere film festival that showcases the works of national & international filmmakers & artists. The festival is now open for submissions. In 2023 the festival will be celebrating its 17th Annual event! The festival is a blend of In-Person & Online Screenings. Information and Submissions here. Dates &…

https://griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/how-to-enter

2023 Grierson Awards Open for Entries

Established in 1972, the Griersons are the biggest event in the UK documentary calendar. The awards recognise and celebrate documentaries from Britain and abroad that have made a significant contribution to the genre and that demonstrate quality, integrity, creativity, originality and overall excellence. Also known at the British Documentary Awards, the Grierson Awards commemorate the…

Securing Contemporary Practices: An International Perspective on Artists’ Archives

Photo Museum Ireland is hosting leading international film-maker and curator Ralph Goertz, who will give a talk on international perspective on how artists’ practices can be preserved for the futureSecuring Contemporary Practices: An International Perspective on Artists’ Archives takes place at 4.00pm Saturday 25 March at Photo Museum Ireland. Ralph Goertz, founder/ director of the Institute…

In Cinemas: LOLA – Directed by Andrew Legge

Andrew Legge’s debut feature, LOLA, is in cinemas from 7th April 2023. 1941, sisters Thom and Mars have built a machine, L.O.L.A., that can intercept radio and TV broadcasts from the future. With the Second World War escalating, the sisters decide to use the machine to intercept information from the future that could help with…

Westmeath Film Award

The Westmeath Film Award offers a local filmmaker €10,000 towards the creation of a short 10-12 minute film or documentary. This award is funded by Westmeath County Council Arts Office and the Arts Council of Ireland. The deadline for submissions is 22nd May. The Award provides crucial support to filmmakers early in their career, enabling significant…

Sharing of the Intimacy On-set Guidelines with Ita O’Brien

Screen Ireland and Bow Street Academy invite members of the Irish film industry to a lecture and hands-on workshop with the world’s leading intimacy coordinator, Ita O’Brien, supported by the creative director of Bow Street Academy, Shimmy Marcus. Industry Presentation of the Intimacy On Set Guidelines and the Role of the Intimacy Coordinator Wednesday, 19th April…

Submissions for the 67th BFI London Film Festival Open

Submissions for BFI London Film Festival 2023 is now open. The BFI London Film Festival (4 to 15 October 2023) presents a selection of the best in world cinema, showing audiences a wide array of films, representing a variety of languages, genres and filmmaking styles. Final deadline dates for receipt of online submission forms and film screeners: UK and…

Keith Farrell Wins Best Director for ‘Wait for Me’ at Manchester Film Festival 2023

Keith Farrell was awarded Best Director for his feature Wait for Me at Manchester Film Festival 2023. In Farrell’s film, a young woman makes an unlikely ally in a damaged stranger, who convinces her to escape her life of vice and find the child she gave away. Wait for Me is written by Bernard O’Toole…

Annual Meeting of Directors 2023

The 20th Annual Meeting of Directors is taking place on Friday, May 12th, 2023. Hosted in the Museum of Literature Ireland, this event allows directors and board members to come together to celebrate all of the successes from the previous year and discuss solutions for obstacles that may arise in the future. This meeting is…

SDGI Blog: Exploring Reality I

Maria Corradini gives us an angle on our Exploring Reality Documentary skills series. Exploring Reality is a documentary filmmaking programme being put on by The Documentary Film Alliance at the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland. The training series began with Structure of Documentary Story, a two-day learning event exploring how to develop story arcs,…

Virgin Media Television Call Out, BAI Sound & Vision Round 49

Building on the success of original Factual Entertainment formats such as Eating with the Enemy and Lucy Investigates, along with powerful Factual Series such as Stories from the Street, and high-end drama, such as Redemption, Virgin Media Television is looking for gripping, brave and entertaining programming with broad appeal. Proposals of particular interest will have an innovative and cutting-edge twist and capture a diverse,…

BFI NETWORK England Short Film Funding

This short film funding programme supports projects with directors based in England and is run in partnership with the BFI NETWORK Talent Executives who work with filmmakers on the delivery of funded projects. This fund supports the production costs of standalone fiction shorts, in live action, animation and immersive/VR. The fund welcomes applications for amounts from £5,000…

Docs Ireland Marketplace

The Docs Ireland Marketplace is an opportunity for filmmakers to meet one-to-one with leading international documentary industry decision makers, including international funders, broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors and will take place during Docs Ireland 5 on Friday 23rd June 2023. Decision Makers for the Docs Ireland Marketplace will include: Autlook Film Sales | BBC Storyville | BBC NI | Cannes…

Marketplace at the Galway Film Fair

The Marketplace at the Galway Film Fair takes place during the Galway Film Fleadh (festival) 11th– 16th July 2023 and co-ordinates pre-scheduled meetings between filmmakers with projects in development (and/or completed films) and invited Film Financiers, Distributors, Sales Agents, Broadcasters, Film Funds and Major Producers. A pre-selected group of producers with feature films/documentary projects will…

CIIF Market Registration Open for New Projects

The Canary Islands International Film Market will be held this summer, from 12-16 June, and the call for audiovisual projects is open for submissions until 30th April. Participants can register projects for fiction or documentary feature films, TV movies and TV series at the development stage. They must be seeking financing with at least 20%…

Residency On Demand

Observing the lack of talent supporting schemes for experienced filmmakers, the Pop Up Film Residency decided to propose Residency On Demand. This residency programme is only open to filmmakers with an already established body of work (at least two features written and/or directed, or similar filmography), and that usually cannot benefit from new talents supporting…

Pathways Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fund Expands

Pathways Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fund Expands Screen Ireland has announced that its Pathways Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fund will expand to include a further €300,000 in 2023, and will also welcome applications from producers and production companies seeking to provide inclusive opportunities on documentary or non-scripted TV productions, in addition to film and television…

Watch: Audiovisual Authors’ Rights in Europe and Latin America

In March, the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) organised an online conference titled Audiovisual Authors’ Rights in Europe and Latin America, and moderated by Janine Lorente.

In Cinemas: Barber, Directed by Fintan Connolly

Directed by Fintan Connolly & co-written with Fiona Bergin, the filmmaking team behind Fubar Films (Trouble With Sex, Flick), Barber stars award winning actor Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, The Wire), debut rising star Aisling Kearns, Gary Lydon (The Banshees of Inisherin, The Guard), Helen Behan (Wildfire, The Virtues, Wolf), Deirdre Donnelly (Vikings: Valhalla,…

Shaunak Sen – Guest of Honor at the Upcoming Annual Meeting of Directors

SDGI is thrilled to have Shaunak Sen as our Guest of Honour at the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland’s 20th Annual Meeting of Directors 2023. Sen is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, video artist, and scholar. Sen’s first feature film, Cities of Sleep, depicting the geographies of homelessness and sleep in Dehli premiered in 2016. This film went on to win…

Read Our Guide for Working Remotely with Editors

As creative industries have incorporated more remote positions, it can be difficult navigating collaborative projects. Check out our guide for Working Remotely with Editors under our “Guides and Resources” page. Our Work

Image from Exploring Reality training programme - choosing the right sound equipment

SDGI BLOG: EXPLORING REALITY II

Maria Corradini continues her Blog which gives us an insight into our Exploring Reality Documentary skills series. Exploring Reality is a comprehensive documentary training series being put on by the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland. Our talented and passionate class of directors covered the art of storytelling in Session 1 from accomplished documentarians Simon Lereng…

Animation Conference Galway

Animation Ireland in collaboration with Creative Europe invites you to an Animation Industry Discussion Event in The Galway Bay Hotel on 27th May. Registration @ 10.30 Commencing @ 11.00am sharp – 15.00 TOPICS 1) Beyond the Screen: Maximising the potential of Animation Intellectual Property 2) The Power of Collaboration: The Art of Co-developing and Co-producing Animation. Panellists · Alix Wiseman…

The Director’s Village European Residence Training Program

National Talent Academies and Ardán are partnering with CineSud and Screen Talent Europe Network to invite directors-writers to apply for the Director’s Village, a 5-day on-site European residence training program limited to 8 people, designed to enhance and develop the skills of the participants and help them prepare for their next short film project. The…

The Arts Council Agility Awards Basics with Cli Donnellan

The Agility Award aims to support individual professional freelance artists and arts workers at any stage in their careers. The Arts Council Agility Awards Basics with Cli Donnellan is a Minding Creative Minds workshop which will give an overview of the steps required to make an application, support material and some suggestions on filling out sections of the application form.…

Wild Atlantic Pitching Competition Now Open For Entries

The Pitching Competition at the Galway Film Fleadh, now known as the Wild Atlantic Pitching Competition, has provided many screenwriters with an opportunity to get their first toehold in the industry. All that is required to enter is a 500-word written pitch (from beginning to end – no cliff-hangers!). Writers applying can be at any…

Submissions: Boyne Valley International Film Festival

The Boyne Valley International Film Festival (BVIFF) returns this August from the 11-13 and is extending its deadline until 31 May for submissions to the festival via Film Freeway, all details on droichead.com. This year’s Festival features a Short Film Bursary, inviting screen writers to pitch a short film idea by email, no longer than…

Scoring Original Stories – Music for Documentary Masterclass

Screen Composers Guild and Screen Directors Guild present: Scoring Original Stories – Music for Documentary. Masterclass with multi award winning composers Miriam Cutler And Nainita Desai Venue: IMRO, Copyright Hse, Pembroke Row, Baggot St Lwr, Dublin 2 Date: Tuesday, May 30th Time: 1.30pm – 4.30pm To register for tickets please email info@screencomposersguild.ie (mention if you…

The Arts Council’s Agility Award & Information Clinics

The Arts Council’s Agility Award aims to support individual professional freelance artists and arts workers at any stage in their careers. The award is for 5, 000 and the deadline to apply is Thursday 22 June 2023 The Arts Council is holding online information clinics via Teams for the Agility Award on the following dates: Wednesday…

SDGI Blog: Exploring Reality III

Exploring Reality is a Documentary skills series launched by the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland in 2023. The participants have thus far engaged with modules regarding the development of storytelling, camera and shooting strategies, sound recording processes, and a 2 day module on making a documentary series. In the latest sessions, the Screen Directors Guild…

Portraits Available + Annual Meeting of Directors Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Twentieth Annual Meeting of Directors with our honorary guest Shaunak Sen. Our Chairman, Maurice Sweeney, and the Board would like to thank the members and supporters of the Guild for your hard work, talent, and dedication. Your support and commitment fuel everything we do at the Guild. Kim…

SDGI Newsletter • June 2023

You should have all received your June Newsletter and we hope you find it as inspiring as we did putting it it together. Hopefully there’s something for you inside – whether it be a festival submission, a funding opportunity, a residency or even just a fire in your belly! Enjoy and here’s to a fruitful…

Docs Ireland Documentary Film Festival

The Docs Ireland Documentary Film Festival is running 20th – 25th of June. Docs Ireland is an industry focussed, all Ireland international documentary festival. Celebrates documentary filmmaking and provides a platform for both national and international industries. Is a hub for cross-border collaboration, international co-productions and sales and distribution through our full day one-to-one pitching…

SDGI Members Invitation to Exploring Reality Director Masterclasses

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland’s documentary training programme Exploring Reality concludes for 2023 with two days of director masterclasses on the 28th and 29th of June at the Digital Hub, Thomas Street. Dublin 8 The Guild would like to invite SDGI members to the last 4 modules of the programme, which take place this…

Over 50% of European TV/SVOD Fiction Directors Also Directed At Least One Theatrical Film

A new European Audiovisual Observatory report: “Writers and directors of film and TV/SVOD fiction: 2015-2021 figures ” provides an analysis of writers and directors of European theatrical films and TV/SVOD fiction produced in Europe between 2015-2021. Key findings include: Over 22 500 writers and over 15 000 directors were involved in the production of European…

SDGI Blog: Exploring Reality IV

In our 4th session of or training series, director Yemi Barmiro gave us a captivating module, sharing invaluable insights on the making of his 4 part documentary series Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World which premiered on BBC and PBS in the United States in early 2023 to critical acclaim. Yemi delved into…

Animation Dingle Open Submissions

Submissions are now open for Animation Dingle Festival 2024 . Animation Dingle, in partnership with JAM Media, is now in its 12th year and celebrates student creativity and excellence in Irish and International animation. Animation Dingle is NOW an Academy qualifying festival for Short Film Awards. The deadline is November 3, 2023. Full details here.

HerArts Film Lab

HerArts Film Lab is a week-long residential development workshop, set in Paestum, Italy, focused on content created by women. The workshop runs from October 29 to November 4, 2023. The workshop is addressed to female writer-directors from all over the world interested in developing their feature film and TV series projects in a friendly and…

Michael O’Pray Prize 2023

The Michael O’Pray Prize is an award for new writing on innovation and experimentation in the moving image. The prize is open to all early-career writers based in the UK. Entry is free. Applicants are invited to send a short pitch for a new text, alongside an example of previous writing. Three applicants will be selected to write…

SDGI Blog: Exploring Reality V

The final session of Exploring Reality IV was focused on the structure of experimental /non-traditional documentary making including visual storytelling, creative techniques, working with characters, dialogue, character development, use of music, visual effects and how to communicate your vision. The first session was led by Ken Wardrop, whose films have been screened at many prestigious festivals…

SDGI Newsletter • July 2023

We’re delighted to share our SDGI Newsletter • July 2023 edition with you. Take a look at all the latest opportunities out there for directors! Read / Download here You can subscribe below and make sure every edition hits your inbox!

New Shoots: Filmmakers Awards

The New Shoots Awards is an annual award programme from Shooting People that celebrates, supports and spotlights creatives working in film. Submit your short film to the New Shoots: Filmmakers Awards and get the chance to win direct mentorship from top-class pros, over £12.5k in industry-standard audio and video kit, a cinema screening of your…

The Democracy Story Lab

The Democracy Story Lab is designed to explore a core question: what are the stories which can help us understand how we might govern ourselves? The Democracy Story Lab, is inviting 10-12 media projects to to brainstorm and weave critical conversations around strategy and effectiveness of political narratives in this moment. Reflecting on storytelling of…

Scripting the Documentary Webinar

Hours upon hours of footage with no sense how to move forward with editing? Join documentary filmmaker Emily Harrold for this nuts-and-bolts conversation about how to organize, prepare, and script your documentary film — from raw footage to finished film. Scripting the Documentary Webinar takes place on Jul 26, 2023 05:00 PM. Register here. This…

Galway Film Fleadh Winners Announced

The 35th edition of the Galway Film Fleadh came to an end with the annual awards ceremony, which took place on Sunday 16th of July. Congratulations to George Kane, whose film Apocalypse Clown won Best Irish Film, written by Demian Fox, George Kane, Shane O’Brien and James Walmsley. Apocalypse Clown follows a troupe of failed clowns as they embark…

23rd Belfast Film Festival

Submissions are open for the 23rd Belfast Film Festival (2 – 11 November 2023). The festival is looking for submissions for its Irish/Northern Irish short film competition, New Cinema: Irish Shorts and NI Independents feature film strand. Find out more & submit here Dates & Deadlines July 13, 2023 Opening Date August 11,…

Cost of Docs Survey

The Whickers, in partnership with Sheffield DocFest and the International Documentary Association (IDA), is conducting its sixth annual Cost of Docs survey to find the true cost of documentary making across today’s fast changing world. This survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete and as a thank you they are offering the opportunity to…

SDGI Newsletter • August 2023

We are thrilled that SDGI has received Screen Ireland Stakeholder Funding for Exploring Reality thanks to Martina Durac, Adrian McCarthy and Donald Taylor Back for their work in the Documentary Alliance. This funding will allow us to build on our programme and support talented directors who are creating important and engaging documentaries. Huge congratulations to…

Short Film Fund – Kodak Film Edition

The short film fund allows emerging talent from around the world to test their ideas before embarking on a feature film. Grants of up to £7,000 / $10,000 are available towards the production costs of all scripted genres and documentary short film content. Filmmakers can compete in a special category to shoot their film on…

WFT Ireland Dignity at Work Survey 2023

On 21st August, Women in Film and Television Ireland announced the launch of a comprehensive survey aimed at gaining insights into the prevalence of harmful behaviours in the Irish screen industries. The survey, conducted in collaboration with Screen Ireland, seeks to shed light on issues such as bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, humiliation, victimization, assault, and…

AIC Scheme Info Session

Twice yearly, the Arts Council offers Artist in the Community Scheme grants to enable artists and communities of place/or interest to work together on projects. The scheme is managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts. The scheme is open to artists from any of the following artform disciplines: architecture, circus, street art…

Lenny Abrahamson Interview at Kennedy Summer School

The Kennedy Summer School is hosting The Noel Whelan Interview with SDGI Board Member Lenny Abrahamson at 7pm on Friday, September 1st with Sinéad McSweeney. This session commemorates the founder of the Kennedy Summer School, Noel Whelan. Over the years, Noel conducted a number of one-to-one interviews with key figures in Irish political and cultural…

Nature & Place – temporary art projects

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Arts Office is calling for applications from professional artists for projects which respond to the public forests in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County (DLR). DLR are interested in proposals which will respond to these forests and have an outcome during National Tree Week in March 2024. This opportunity is for temporary work which is…

SDGI Newsletter • September 2023

Welcome to the latest edition of SDGI’s monthly newsletter designed to keep you informed of all the deadlines and events related to your directing career. We are working on a new calendar that will act as an assistant for Irish directors which we hope to launch in the coming weeks. The Guild has been involved…

70 cultural organisations co-sign Joint Letter of concern regarding the 2024 Creative Europe budget cuts

To: Charles Michel, President of the European Council Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, President-in-exercise of the Council of the EU Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission National Ministers of Finance National Ministers of Culture Brussels, 1 September 2023 Letter of concern regarding…

BFI Film Academy Labs | Funding the Short Film with BFI Network

If you’re aged 16–25, an aspiring filmmaker or simply curious about the process of filmmaking then sign up for an informative online event, BFI Film Academy LABS, Funding the Short Film with BFI Network, which will dive into the world of film funding – taking place on 18 September 2023 at 18:30. This event will…

Galway City of Film Irish Language Filmmaker’s Mentorship 2023

The Galway City of Film Irish Language Mentorship Scheme for 2023 supports both ENTRY and EMERGING talent as they work on a project and/or work to further their career and personal development as Irish language filmmakers in Ireland. This scheme is aimed at two different participant talent levels and filmmakers. Including those looking to begin their career in…

National Campaign for the Arts Seeking €150m for Arts Council in Budget 2024

On August 31, 2023, the National Campaign for the Arts, the volunteer-led grassroots movement making the case for the arts in Ireland, launched the NCFA Pre-Budget 2024 Submission which outlines ten key asks of Government in their preparation of Budget 2024. Maria Fleming, Chair of NCFA said: “Like many ecosystems today, the arts is one in danger…

Documentary: A European Perspective – Pitch a Project

MEDIA Office Galway and Coimisiún na Meán will host a one-day Documentary: A European Perspective event in Galway on Tuesday 2nd November. Participating Broadcasters confirmed to date include BBC Storyville, YLE, SVT, RTE, TG4 and Netflix. More to be confirmed. PITCH A PROJECT If you wish to pitch a project to European Commissioning Editors please…

Special SDGI Member Rate for IFTA Event: In Conversation with Deepak Chopra

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) is offering SDGI members a special rate for this week’s In Conversation with Deepak Chopra, which is taking place as part of the ‘IFTA Creative Minds & Wellbeing Day’ for the screen industry and community, on Thursday, September 21st at the O’Reilly Theatre in Dublin. The conversation will…

BBC, Channel 4 & National Film and Television School Freelancer Focus

The BBC and Channel 4 have partnered with the National Film and Television School to deliver two weeks of free online sessions aimed at freelancers working in the UK. The schedule – 2-13 Oct.- includes masterclasses, workshops, advice and wellbeing sessions for those working in both scripted and unscripted production. Delivered as webinars, they will offer practical knowledge, skills and support…

AnimationXchange Galway

On Tue, 3 Oct 2023 19:00 – 21:30 at Portershed in Galway City, South African directors Dan Clarke and Nadia Darries give a screening and talk on their acclaimed short film “Aau’s Song”, which appears on the Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 short animated film anthology. The event will launch AnimationXchange Galway, a new monthly…

Option that Book! Books to Screen Event for Directors 10th November

SDGI has partnered with Publishing Ireland again to create a presentation of Irish books with available screen rights exclusive to SDGI directors. Books are everywhere. As a director you have examined many books for optioning for film and episodics but how can you filter through the mountains of new books published each year to find the best…

SDGI Expresses its Support for Polish Director Agnieszka Holland

Agnieszka Holland (photo by Jacek Poremba) SDGI stand with the Federation of European Screen Directors (FERA) to support Agnieszka Holland following the Polish minister of justice’s criticism of her depiction of the treatment of refugees in her Venice competition film The Green Border. European Filmmakers in support of Agnieszka Holland Download the PDF…

SDGI Newsletter • October 2023

SDGI members and friends should have received our latest newsletter. This month’s edition announces the launch of our new calendar on our homepage which we hope will act as an assistant for Irish directors. We are working hard to populate it with important dates for your diaries, including submission deadlines, training, funding, residency opportunities, and…

Martin Scorsese interviewed by Edgar Wright | BFI London Film Festival 2023 Screen Talk

At this year’s BFI London Film Festival 2023 Screen Talk, the legendary director behind classics such as Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and The Wolf of Wall Street talks to fellow filmmaker Edgar Wright about his career.

Competency Framework for the Animation Industry

Animation Ireland and Screen Ireland have today published a new Competency Framework for the Animation Industry. Developed in consultation with the Irish animation industry, these documents will serve as an invaluable learning resource for the sector View the Competency Framework for the Animation Industry The Competency Framework will assist the sector by: Identifying strengths and…

Watch: Grierson DocLab In Focus: Unscripted Editing Discovery Webinar

Grierson DocLab In Focus: Unscripted Editing, run in partnership with Netflix, aims to equip UK-based people working in editing with the skills, experience and networks to step into editing roles on large scale unscripted shows. Hear from Director of Training Programmes for The Grierson Trust, Yen Yau, plus lead trainer, Claire Ferguson, and Post Production…

Paul Webster • 100 Years of Housing-Crisis Without End

Paul Webster’s new feature film about the history of housing airs on TG4 on Wednesday, 25th October at 9:30pm. 100 Bliain de Thithíocht- Géarchéim gan Deireadh (100 Years of Housing-Crisis Without End) will examine Ireland’s difficulties with housing over the past century. Written and directed by Paul Webster, this feature documentary is a decade-by-decade look…

SDGI Welcomes Budget 2024 Increase of Section 481’s Eligible Expenditure Cap to €125 Million

As part of Budget 2024 announced on 1oth October 2023, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath (TD) announced an increase in the current project cap on qualifying expenditure in the Section 481 Film Tax Credit from €70 million to €125 million, subject to State aid approval. SDGI welcomes this positive endorsement of the great work in…

Irish Books for Screen 2023

Irish Books for Screen 2023 – Members Only Event Dublin Castle, Friday 10th November 4pm – 6pm As the demand for motion picture and television content increases, studios and film producers are turning more to book publishers and authors for content. This year, the Irish Books for Screen 2023 event will take place in person…

Only 26% of Directors of European Feature Films are Women

A new reoprt from the European Audiovisual Observatory has revealed that Women are still largely underrepresented in the workforce. Women are still largely underrepresented in the workforce. Only 26% of directors of European feature films are female. Among behind-the-camera roles, the highest female presence was registered among producers (35%) and screenwriters (29%). The gender gap…

Arts Council Film Project Award

There are two strands to this award and each has a specific purpose. Strand 1: Research and Development The purpose of this strand is to offer applicants an opportunity to research and develop ideas that could be developed into proposals for Strand 2 Production projects (i.e. they should be ideas for creatively ambitious and artistically…

Culture Crush

Culture Crush is a major, collaborative event for professionals working in the creative sectors, including Film, TV, Animation, Games, Music, Immersive Technologies, Visual and Performing Arts, and others. Theme for 2023: The Intersection of Creativity & Technology. Join Culture Crush this November 16th for panel discussions, fireside chats, lightning talks and special live performances. If you’re…

Cork International Film Festival Industry Day: Doc Day Live

Cork International Film Festival continues to develop its focus on high-quality Irish and international documentary cinema with Doc Day, connecting emerging and established non-fiction filmmakers with industry professionals and the wider documentary sector, with the objective of helping to inform, inspire and develop opportunities within the global documentary landscape. Book here SESSIONS INCLUDE: 1.…

Trinity College Dublin Presents The Future of Film: Cinematic Arts in the Age of AI

A Global Round Table on Friday Nov. 10th, 5-7 p.m. in the Robert Emmet Theatre, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin MODERATED BY: Dr. Justin MacGregor Keynotes concerning AI’s Impact on Arts, Conscientious Storytelling, Freedom of Speech vs. Clickbait Hate, The Eradication of Due Process, and more… PANELISTS: ∙ JONATHAN FOSTER: Microsoft’s…

Joint Statement on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)

On 8th November 2023, FERA together with 18 more organisations released a joint statement on the EMFA, calling for the need for a strong and independent public service media for quality journalism and the creative ecosystem. “ Honorable members of the inter-institutional negotiating teams on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), We, the undersigned organisations…

SDGI Newsletter • November 2023

We are delighted to share our latest newsletter which was sent out to members last week – with industry opportunities, upcoming deadlines, news & events https://tinyurl.com/3sw4t2bk

Maurice Sweeney • The Crime I Can’t Forget

SDGI Chairman Maurice Sweeney is series director on BBC’s new true crime series The Crime I Can’t Forget, which begins on Wednesday, 15th November 2023 at 22:40. The series features top detectives who recall the stand-out case that shaped their career. With access to crime scene evidence, compelling archival footage, interviews with victims’ families and…

Kin • Ciaran Donnelly

The television series Kin, co-created by SDGI Board Member Ciaran Donnelly with Peter McKenna, begins screening on BBC from Saturday, 18th November 2023. Kin tells the story of a fictional Dublin family embroiled in gangland war and speaks to the enduring unbreakable bonds of blood and family. Episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer shortly…

Northern Lights • Ruth Meehan & Tom Hall

SDGI Board Member Ruth Meehan & SDGI Member Tom Hall are directors on episodes of the new Dublin-based drama Northern Lights, which premiered on TG4 on Tuesday, 14th November 2023. Northern Lights tells the story of two grieving strangers whose worlds collide on a rainy night in Dublin. Revelations, confessions, secrets, and lies envelop this…

Directors in Dialogue

SDGI Members Paul Webster and Mark Smyth invite you to a new monthly meet-up kicking off this November 22nd: “Mark and Paul here, your fellow members. We hope this message finds you well and brimming with creative energy.We know as a director that our job can be so rewarding but it can also be really…

Directors in Dialogue

SDGI Members Paul Webster and Mark Smyth’s new monthly Directors in Dialogue meet-up took place on 22nd November, offering a space for SDGI members to connect and share experiences. Mark and Paul would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who came and showed interest in the Directors in Dialogue event in Windmill Lane…

SDGI Newsletter • December 2023

In our ongoing commitment to champion the rights of our directors, I’m happy to share a brief yet impactful update on our strides in navigating copyright issues. SDGI has been engaged in crucial talks with departments and politicians to address copyright challenges head-on. Our recent momentum in a political campaign advocating for directors’ rights has…

Sinéad O’Loughlin’s Short Film ‘Lamb’ Qualifies for 2024 Oscar Consideration

Aoife Duffin and Eanna Hardwicke in Lamb photo Dan Keane An Irish short film has qualified for consideration for the 2024 Academy Awards®. Lamb, written and directed by Cork filmmaker and SDGI member Sinéad O’Loughlin, is a tense psychological thriller about an ordinary day that takes a sinister turn for a woman and her young…

Joint statement on the amendments of the Geo-blocking regulation

JOINT STATEMENT Vote for Culture in the European Parliament INI Report on the EU Geo-blocking Regulation The film, cinema, and audiovisual sector in Europe jointly urges the European Parliament to cast a vote in favour of culture on 13 December 2023 by opposing the call for future inclusion of audiovisual services in the scope…

Directors in Dialogue January Meet-up

Kick off 2024 in the company of your fellow directors! Following the dynamic engaged meet-up and enthusiasm for regular events, we invite you to join us for our second Directors in Dialogue. Date: Wednesday 10th January Time: 6.30pm – 8pm. ( 8pm optional follow on in Smyths Haddington Rd. ) Venue: Windmill Lane Studios, 29 Herbert St, Dublin…

Gerry Gregg • Face Down: The Disappearance of Thomas Niedermayer

Gerry Gregg’s powerful and moving documentary Face Down: The Disappearance of Thomas Niedermayer screens on RTE One this Wednesday December 20th at 9.35pm. On 27th December 1973, a nightmare began for an entire family. On that night, Thomas Niedermayer, Germany’s Honorary Consul to Northern Ireland and the Manager of the Grundig Factory in West Belfast, was…

Trish McAdam • Songs Of Blood And Destiny

Trish McAdam’s Songs Of Blood And Destiny screens at the The Arc Cinema Cork on 20th December at 8.30. Based on the epic poem, iGirl, by Marina Carr A narrator unravels her own life like some knotted ball of string, reflects with dark humour and heavenly wit on humanities destiny and evokes voices past and…

The Tourist

The second season of The Tourist, which debuted on 1st January 2024 on BBC One and continues to screen on Sunday, features 3 Irish directors behind the camera: Fergus O’Brien – Episodes #2.1 & 2.2 Lisa Mulcahy – Episodes #2.2 & #2.4 Kate Dolan – Episodes #2.5 & #2.6 The full season is available on…

Lisa Mulcahy

Lies We Tell, directed by SDGI Board member Lisa Mulcahy, is screening at The Palm Springs International Film Festival on 6th, 7th and 8th January 2024.

Nora Twomey

The BFI has announced a special screening of The Breadwinner + Q&A with director Nora Twomey on Saturday, 20th January 2024.

Directors in Dialogue February Meet-Up

Our first Directors in Dialogue of 2024 took place on Wednesday, 10th January and brought with it a warm atmosphere on a cold Winter’s night! The evening was a great success and the creative conversation was flowing – plus pizza (always a bonus). If you haven’t already joined us on this community journey, we hope…

Dublin International Film Festival 2024

Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) 2024 will take place 22nd February to 2nd March. Featuring star-studded Irish and international premieres, exclusive screenings and events, playful and powerful documentaries, captivating features, thought-provoking shorts, intimate Q&As, industry masterclasses and more, all celebrating and applauding the art of filmmaking. The power of Irish storytelling is evident throughout the Festival, from the world…

Patricia Kelly • Verdigris

Patricia Kelly’s debut feature, Verdigris, will be the opening film at the 25th Chicago Irish Film Festival on 29th February and will close the 18th Capital DC Irish Film Festival on 3rd March. Patricia has also been selected as one of the finalists for the Fís TV Summit Pitching Competition in Galway on 1st February…

SDGI Newsletter • February 2024

We’re delighted to share our latest newsletter with you that went out to members and friends last week. The Screen Directors Guild has had another round of negotiations with the producers and other Guilds on copyright rights arising from Statutory Instrument 567. We have made progress and we would be very grateful if directors could…

Ian Hunt-Duffy

Ian Hunt-Duffy’s debut feature, Double Blind, follows seven young test subjects who must face a terrifying side effect when an experimental drug trial goes horribly wrong – if you fall asleep you die. Trapped in an isolated medical facility, they must find a way to escape, and somehow manage to stay awake. Double Blind is out…

Megan K. Fox

Too Good to be True is a four part limited series, with episode 1 airing on Channel 5 at 9pm on February 14th. The series was produced by Story Films UK. Starring Allen Leech (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Imitation Game, Downton Abbey), Kara Tointon (Mr Selfridge, Urban Myths, Archie), Charlie Hodson-Prior (Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical)…

Dathaí Keane

Dathaí Keane is behind the camera on Blackshore, a new drama series on RTÉ A police detective returns to her home town and becomes involved in a missing person case, which is linked to her traumatic past and the town’s dark history. Blackshore screens from 9.35pm, Sunday, February 11th on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.…

Alan Bradley

Stalked, directed and produced by Alan Bradley, is airing on Monday 12th February at 21:00 on Virgin Media One. Stalked follows the terrifying experiences of stalking survivors Una Ring, Eve McDowell and Jarlath Rice as Una and Eve fight to finally make stalking a crime in Ireland. https://alan-bradley.com/

Marian Quinn Twig In this re-telling of Antigone set against Dublin’s gangland, young Twig dreams of escaping with her lover Eamon, but her brothers’ deadly feud over the future of their late father’s kingdom draws her back. After the death of her eldest brother, Eddie, she goes in search of her other brother, Paulie, defying authority in favour of God’s law. This reception of the Sophoclean tragedy is an angry but sensitive response to the recent rise of violence in the streets of the Irish capital. Epic in its scope and fearless in its honesty, Quinn’s anti-war film comes at a very appropriate time. Thu 22 Feb / The Lighthouse Cinema / 18:30 / Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor Baltimore Rose Dugdale (Imogen Poots) was an English heiressturned-IRA sympathiser and this is the story of the event which came to define her life: the 1974-armed art theft of Russborough House. A studied sketch of the revolutionary, Molloy and Lawlor’s film is diffused with an emotionally absorbing soundtrack, creating constant drama, tension and unease. Fri 23 Feb / The Lighthouse Cinema / 20:45 / Dermot Malone King Frankie Frankie (Coonan) is a humble Dublin taxi driver, who runs his own tiny taxi firm. On the day of his father’s removal, he comes face to face with something that happened ten years ago, and the first thing that he must do is forgive himself. Malone’s debut film is about those who not only make promises but also keep them. Sat 24 Feb / The Lighthouse Cinema / 19:00 / Colin Hickey Perennial Light In coastal Ireland, the memory of his best friend’s sudden death haunts a young boy even as he ventures into adulthood. Troubled by his own vortex of dark thoughts and an unnatural obsession with death, he embarks on a quest for healing and redemption. Hickey’s film is a dialogue-free hybrid monochromatic piece of cinema, featuring hand-drawn ballpoint drawings from Paolo Chianta. Sun 25 Feb / Irish Film Institute / 13:30 / Alan Gilsenan Lord Mayor’s Gala: the Irish Question A provocative, poetic and cinematic meditation on the prospect of a united Ireland from acclaimed filmmaker Alan Gilsenan. With the likelihood of a border poll becoming an increasing possibility, do we really understand what that could mean for all those living on the island of Ireland? Or are we stumbling into some possible future as Britain once sleep-walked into Brexit? With unique contributions from the likes of Leo Varadker, Bill Clinton, Mary-Lou McDonald, Mike Nesbitt, Monica McWilliams, John Major, Susan McKay, Bertie Ahern, Fintan O’Toole, Gerry Adams, Linda Irvine and Peter Mandelson amongst many others, The Irish Question takes a fresh and sometimes surprising look at the dark trauma of the past and the unique possibilities of the future. Sun 25 Feb / The Lighthouse Cinema / 14:00 / Ross Killeen Don’t Forget to Remember There is an inherent understanding of the grieving process when a loved one is lost. But what if that person isn’t gone? What does grief mean then? In collaboration with the artist Asbestos, Killeen’s unconventional documentary explores the lived experience of Alzheimer’s whilst also honouring the ties of family. Considering the simultaneous fragility and fortitude of memory, it concludes that we can never truly lose our loved ones as long as we remember them. Mon 26 Feb / Irish Film Institute / 18:30 / Maurice O’Carroll Swing Bout This crime thriller, set backstage at a major boxing event, Ireland traces Toni Gale’s (Berkeley) tumultuous journey from the dressing room to the ring over the course of a night of deceit, betrayal, and life-altering decisions. Premiering at DIFF, O’Carroll’s film is a white-knuckle ride which tells its fisted story without ever revealing the boxing ring itself. Mon 26 Feb / The Lighthouse Cinema / 21:00 Keith Walsh Conor Walsh: Selected Piano Works Conor Walsh wrote his heart out in minimalist piano compositions. This is a musical vignette of the soundtrack of his life. It celebrates the work he left behind when he tragically died of a heart attack at 36, just when his music was beginning to flow out into the world. Tue 27 Feb / Irish Film Institute / 18:30 / Susan Thomson The Swimming Diaries Floating between conceptual documentary and experimental fiction, this film chronicles the 25,000 metres that Thomson swam during the period of her mother’s death. An adaptation of her book, it uses dance, music and memorial archives to translate text into movement. Wed 28 Feb / Irish Film Institute / 18:30 / Kathleen Harris Birdsong Ornithologist Seán Ronayne is on a mission to record the call of every bird species in Ireland – that’s nearly 200 birds. At once inspiring and cautionary, his journey reveals the beauty and importance of sound, and what listening can tell us about the state of our natural world. Alan Friel Woken A pregnant Anna (Kellyman) wakes up on a remote island of which she has no memory and to faces she doesn’t recognise. Forced to re-learn everything about the world, she will need to do all that she can to protect herself and her unborn child. Friel’s debut feature is a sci-fi dystopian thriller beginning with the human race on the verge of extinction. Fri 1 Mar / The Lighthouse Cinema / 20:15 / Tadhg O’Sullivan The Swallow In a small house by the sea, a woman begins a letter to an unknown correspondent. Surrounded by the books, mementoes and clutter of a life lived in one place, her home exposed to the waves of a rising ocean, she writes about the history of lost art. Considering what has been lost, and wondering about her own desire to hold on, she sets out on a meditation on memory, and art’s aspiration to immortality. Fri 1 Mar / Irish Film Institute / 20:30 / Pat Collins That They Might See the Rising Sun Capturing a year in the life of a rural, lakeside community in Ireland in the 1970’s, acclaimed Irish director Pat Collin’s new film THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN is an adaptation of the final novel from John McGahern, one of Ireland’s greatest novelists. The film stars Barry Ward and Anna Bederke in the lead roles. Lalor Roddy Sean McGinley Ruth McCabe and first-time actor Phillip Dolan make up the rich cast of supporting characters. Joe and Kate Ruttledge have returned from London to live and work among the small, close-knit community near to where Joe grew up. Now deeply embedded in life around the lake, the drama of a year in their lives and those of the memorable characters around them unfolds through the rituals of work, play and the passing seasons as this enclosed world becomes an everywhere. Sat 2 Mar / The Lighthouse Cinema / 19:30 /

Directors Highlights at Dublin International Film Festival

The Dublin International Film Festival runs Thu, Feb 22, 2024 – Sat, Mar 2, 2024 and features a host of Irish directors bringing their latest films to cinema screens across the capital. Marian Quinn Twig In this re-telling of Antigone set against Dublin’s gangland, young Twig dreams of escaping with her lover Eamon, but her…

Directors in Dialogue March Meet-Up

Our next Directors in Dialogue of 2024 takes place on Wednesday, 6th March and we hope members can join the community of creative conversation – and enjoy some pizza! Directors in Dialogue March Meet-Up Date: Wednesday 6th March Time: 6.30pm – 8pm. ( 8pm optional follow on in Smyths Haddington Rd. ) Venue: Windmill Lane…

Declan Recks

Faithless, directed by Declan Recks, written by Baz Ashmawy and Stefanie Preissner, is currently airing on Virgin Media Television on Monday evenings and the full series is available on Virgin Media Player. The comedy series follow three Dublin sisters, and their Irish/Egyptian dad who, after a tragic incident, has to raise his three daughters alone.…

SDGI Newsletter • March 2024

I am thrilled to welcome you to the newest edition of our newsletter, where we strive to keep you informed, inspired, and empowered in your roles as directors. As the Executive Director of the Directors Guild, it is my privilege to present you with a wealth of valuable insights, updates, and resources tailored to enhance…

CPH:DOX

Ciaran Cassidy’s Housewife of the Year and Alessandra Celesia’s The Flats, will both have their World Premiere at CPH:DOX. CPH:DOX will take place 13 – 24 March 2024. Festival

Stephen Rea to Receive IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced that Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea will be honoured with the Irish Academy Award for his Lifetime Achievement, and for his outstanding contribution to the Irish and international screen industry. Rea will be presented with the Award in the presence of family, friends and industry colleagues at…

Hannah Quinn

Keeper Pictures have announced several new acquisitions of their television series The Gone, which include the UK’s BBC, Australia’s SBS and Acorn, and Poland’s Canal+. Hannah Quinn takes the reins behind the camera for Episodes #1.4 – #1.6 The Gone is a six part drama that follows an Irish detective (Richard Flood) teams up with a Kiwi…

Variety Lists 10 Rising Irish Stars Behind the Camera

Variety has picked out 10 Irish creatives to look out for saying that “Ireland’s film and TV scene may be booming with both local projects and big Hollywood productions, but much of this is being supported by a groundswell of rising Irish talent working behind the camera.” We are delighted to see a number of…

2024 IFTA Nominations

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced the 2024 IFTA Nominations for the Irish Academy Awards across 28 categories in Film & Drama. Congratulations to the wonderful talent nominated in the IFTA Director – Film & Drama categories and to all nominees acrosss every category! Director – Film: Double Blind – Ian Hunt-Duffy…

SDGI Annual Meeting of Directors 2024

The Chairman, Maurice Sweeney and the board of SDGI are delighted to officially invite you in-person to the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland’s 21st Annual Meeting of Directors on Friday 10th May 2024 at 10:30 am in the MoLI Museum, 86 St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2. We look forward to coming together and updating you on SDGI’s work…

Paddy Breathnach

Paddy Breathnach returns behind the camera to direct the second series of the comedy The Dry, created by Nancy Harris and produced by Element Pictures. Shiv Sheridan returns to Dublin after years of partying in London and tries to navigate a new phase of her life. Trying to stay sober and being back with her…

Directors in Dialogue April Meet-Up

Join your fellow directors at the April Directors in Dialogue meet-up, hosted by SDGI members Paul Webster and Mark Smyth on Wednesday, 3rd April at Windmill Lane Studios. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect and energize your creative spirit! Directors in Dialogue April Meet-Up Date: Wednesday 3rd April 2024 Time: 6.30pm – 8pm.…

Tanya Doyle

Tanya Doyle’s Irish cheerleading documentary Eat / Sleep / Cheer / Repeat follows a group of underdog athletes on their journey to the World Cheerleading Championships in America.The coming-of-age film follows the young female and male athletes of Team Ireland to intimately explore questions of gender, strength, performance, sexuality and what it’s like growing up…

Andrew Gallimore

Andrew Gallimore’s film One Night In Millstreet tells the story of Ireland in 1995, a snapshot of a country told through a high stakes prize fight in Millstreet, Cork between the then unknown underdog Steve ‘The Celtic Warrior’ Collins and the larger-than-life champion Chris ‘Simply The Best’ Eubank – an against-all-odds sporting event that had an…

Paul Duane

Paul Duane’s feature debut, All You Need is Death, tells the story of a young couple who are part of a mysterious, secret organization that travels at night with the desire to discover forbidden knowledge. All You Need is Death is released in Irish cinemas on 19th April 2024.

Alan Gilsenan

Alan Gilsenan’ s The Days Of Trees is a meditation on trauma, offering hope and insight. The Days Of Trees is released in Irish cinemas on 12th April 2024.

Pat Collins

Pat Collins’s latest film, That They May Face the Rising Sun, is an adaptation of the final novel from John McGahern. Joe and Kate Ruttledge have returned from London to live and work among the small, close-knit community near to where Joe grew up. Now deeply embedded in life around the lake, the drama of a…

SDGI Newsletter • April 2024

Welcome to the latest edition of our monthly newsletter designed exclusively for directors. Chairman Maurice Sweeney and I have been working to advance directors’ rights in our industry. In our latest round of talks with Producers on 13/14th March we discussed terms for an Interim Agreement with producers on the implementation of Statutory Instrument 567.…

Imogen Murphy & Laura Way

Imogen Murphy directs Episodes #1.1 – #1.5 and Laura Way directs Episode #1.6 of The Vanishing Triangle, which is currently screening on Virgin Media. After a series of disappearances of young women, newspaper reporter Lisa Wallace, sets out to find the man responsible who she believes is the same man who murdered her mother almost…

Paddy Breathnach

Paddy Breathnach directs Episode #1.7 on the new Netflix series Bodkin, which was filmed in West Cork, Wicklow and Dublin. Bodkin follows a motley crew of podcasters who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in a quaint, coastal Irish town. But once they start pulling at threads, they discover a story…

Declan Lowney

Declan Lowney returns to direct Episodes #2.9 – #2.10 of The Big Door Prize, starring Chris O’Dowd, along with directors Steven Tsuchida, Heather Jack, Jordan Canning, and Satya Bhabha. The Big Door Prize follows a small town that is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears, promising to reveal everyone’s true potential, which results in residents…

Cinematic Synergy: The Art of Collaboration Between Director and Cinematographer

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and the Irish Society of Cinematographers are thrilled to invite members to a special evening dedicated to exploring the dynamic partnership between directors and cinematographers. Join Us for an Evening of: Insightful Group Discussion: Hear from some of Ireland’s top directors and cinematographers as they delve into their collaborative…

Lisa Mulcahy & Kate Dolan Win at IFTAS

SDGI congratulates all the nominees and winners of the IFTA Awards 2024, which took place on Saturday, 20th April. A special shout out to SDGI Board Member Lisa Mulcahy for winning Director (Film) for Lies We Tell, and to Kate Dolan for winning Director (Drama) for Kin. Complete list of winners for the IFTA Awards…

John Hayes & Oonagh Kearney

John Hayes directs Episodes #1.1 – #1.3 of Irish dark comedy crime drama Obituary, and Oonagh Kearney directs Episodes #1.4 – #1.6. Obituary has been picked up by several global broadcasters and platforms: Netflix (Ireland/UK), Britbox (Australia), TVNZ (New Zealand), Proximus (Belgium), RTS (French-speaking Switzerland), RTP (Portugal), BluTV (Turkey & Cyprus) and TET (Latvia). The…

Authors’, Performers’ and Other Creative Workers’ Organisations Joint Statement on Generative Artificial Intelligence and the EU AI Act

FERA, together with 12 European and International authors’, performers’ and other creative workers’ organisations, urgently call for a human centric approach to generative AI, built upon informed consent, transparency, fair remuneration and contractual practices. Joint statement issued on 25 April 2024: The undersigned organisations represent the collective voice of hundreds of thousands of writers,…

Minding Creative Minds Services

Minding Creative Minds Services: You can access up to 12 free counselling sessions and advice on financial & legal matters. You need to call the helpline and state that you are a member of the Irish creative / arts sector. When you call the helpline you will immediately speak to a qualified counsellor /…

SDGI Newsletter • May 2024

By now members & friends should have received this month’s newsletter, jam-packed full of news, key industry opportunities, deadlines and events. We hope you all find something to empower and enhance your creative journey… You can also read SDGI Newsletter • May 2024 here

Ross Killeen

Ross Killeen’s Don’t Forget to Remember will have its International Premiere at Sheffield DocFest 2024. The film was made in collaboration with the artist Asbestos with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland through the renowned Reel Art Scheme. Don’t Forget to Remember follows the artist, Asbestos as he learns to cope with his mother’s…

George Kane

George Kane is behind the camera on ‘Boo To A Goose’, the opening episode of the ninth & final series of Inside No. 9. George previously directed Episodes #8.1 – #8.13 of Inside No. 9. ‘Boo To A Goose’ screened on 8th May 2024 on BBC Two and is available on the BBC iPlayer.

Some Highlights from Our Annual Meeting of Directors

We’d like to thank our members, friends and partners who came out in force at our Annual Meeting of Directors on Friday, 10th May 2024. Some Highlights from Our Annual Meeting of Directors Attendance: 74 directors joined us for the event. Open Discussion: We had a productive open discussion on the state of the industry for…

Lorcan Finnegan

Lorcan Finnegan’s psychological thriller ‘The Surfer’ is premiering at Cannes this year – which is running 14 – 25 May 2024. The Australian/Irish co-production stars Nicolas Cage as a man who returns to his hometown in Australia and takes on a local gang of surfers. Lorcan is also among 10 directors selected to present upcoming…

Gary Lennon

There are currently 40 million piano students in China. Gary Lennon’s Piano Dreams is an intimate portrait of remarkably talented young musicians and a glimpse into the lives of the new Chinese middle class: their aspirations, their sacrifices and their sheer drive to succeed. Piano Dreams is cinemas from 24th May 2024.

Colm Quinn

Colm Quinn’s Ransom ’79 tells the story of legendary Irish reporter Charlie Bird and his determination to break one final story before his life is cut short by Motor Neurone Disease. Ransom ’79 is in cinemas from 24th May 2024.

Ciarán Foy

Ciarán Foy directs Episodes #3.5 – #3.6 of Sweet Tooth. On a perilous adventure in a post-apocalyptic world, a boy who’s half-human and half deer searches for a new beginning with a gruff protector. The third and final season is streaming on Netflix from 6th June 2024.

VMTV invites submissions for Coimisún na Meán’s latest Sound and Vision Funding Round

Virgin Media Television invites submissions for Coimisún na Meán’s Sound & Vision Round 54 – Special Round to support the production of content focused on the voice of immigrant and new Irish Communities Virgin Media Television is a public service broadcaster that strives to deliver impactful content that captures diverse, contemporary Ireland through a lens…

SDGI Newsletter • June 2024

We hope you have all received your June 2024 newsletter – which has gone out to members, subscribers and friends. Lots to dig into in this month’s edition, which is packed again with everything you need to know for your directing career. We hope to see you next week at the Documentary Alliance event on…

Directors Work in Progress Documentary

This month, we have the documentary takeover. The Documentary Alliance of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland invites you to join for a discussion on the issues in documentary making before our upcoming meetings with stakeholders from Screen Ireland, RTÉ, TG4, and the Arts Council.We really urge you to come as your voice is important…

SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE

We are delighted to launch SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE – now open for applications! We encourage you to apply! The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) is excited to present the SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE, an initiative crafted to empower directors by providing a platform for exploration. This initiative welcomes both ambitious project proposals and…

Alan Bradley

Alan Bradley won a Gold Award at the YDA Young Director’s Awards ceremony in Cannes for his documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost. The Young Director Award (YDA) supports and promotes debuting, international creative talent in commercial film production, and is the only award exclusively-dedicated to up-and-coming, young filmmakers. Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost shines a…

Maria-Elena Doyle

Maria-Elena Doyle’s short film Mycelium won best Arthouse film at the Fastnet Film Festival in Cork at the end of May. Hungry for a better life, a mother and her daughter embark on a perilous journey across a famine landscape in the hope of making it to the boat alive. Mycelium is an interdisciplinary film about the natural…

Michael Kinirons

Michael Kinirons’ film The Sparrow tells the story of wild teen Kevin Coyle, who grapples with guilt over a deadly secret. As his world unravels and consequences mount, Kevin is pushed to confront the truth in a heart-wrenching climax that will change him forever. The Sparrow in cinemas from 5th July 2024.

Dearbhla Walsh

Dearbhla Walsh directs Episodes #1.5 and #1.8 of Sunny, an American dark comedy television series created by Katie Robbins, based on the novel The Dark Manual by Colin O’Sullivan. A woman living in Kyoto whose husband and son vanished in a plane crash is gifted a domesticated robot from her husband’s robotics company The series premieres…

Diarmuid Goggins

Diarmuid Goggins directs all 4 episodes of a brand-new Channel 5 thriller series The Night Caller starting Sunday, 7th July at 9pm. Tony, a lonely Liverpool taxi driver, begins to form a twisted world view and an unhealthy obsession with a late-night radio talk show host. The first hour-long episode will be followed by back to…

SDGI Newsletter • JULY 2024

Firstly, thank you to all the directors who provided valuable feedback during our recent Documentary Alliance meeting. It was a highly productive session, and the insights gained will significantly contribute to the ongoing discussions between the Documentary Alliance, Screen Ireland, and broadcasters. Upcoming Meetings with Screen Ireland Following discussion in AGM, SDGI is scheduled to meet with…

Luke McManus

Luke McManus directs The Locals, which goes behind the scenes of the 2024 local elections in one ward – Dublin’s North Inner City. The Locals screens on RTÉ One on Monday 15th July at 9:35 or stream after on RTÉ Player.

Damian McCarthy

Damian McCarthy’s award-winning horror Oddity is released in Irish cinemas on 30th August. The film had its Irish premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh. Oddity follows a blind medium who uncovers the truth behind her sister’s death with the help of a frightening wooden mannequin.

Cara Holmes

Cara Holmes directs Notes from Sheepland is in cinemas from 26th July 2024. Notes from Sheepland bursts with candid observations of lipstick wearing, always swearing, no nonsense, artist and shepherd, Orla Barry. Through her fields, her digital diaries, and the pedigree sheep she cares for, we discover how the art is in the doing. Orla…

Declan Recks

Declan Recks directs #2.1 and #2.3 of Signora Volpe, which is screening on Acorn TV. Sylvia, a disillusioned British spy turned detective starts a new life in the beautiful heart of Italy. She soon finds out trouble follows her wherever she goes.

SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE Directors 2024-25

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland is delighted to announce the directors for the SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE who will begin shooting in January 2025. Nell Hensey – Displacement Róisín Loughrey – Lullula Conor McMahon – Gulp Paul Webster – Marguerite The SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE supports the annual production of experiential and conceptual visual films that spark discovery and inspiration for directors. Incorporated into…

Aislinn Clarke

Aislinn Clarke’s horror film Fréwaka will have its world premiere at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, which runs 7 – 17 August 2024. Fréwaka (to be released in Ireland as Fréamhacha) revolves around care worker Shoo, who is sent to a remote Irish-speaking village to care for an agoraphobic woman, who fears both the neighbours and the…

John Crowley

Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning Irish director John Crowley’s upcoming film We Live In Time will have its World Premiere at the 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on 6th September as a special presentation at The Princess of Wales Theatre. An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcée find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter…

Aoife Kelleher

Aoife Kelleher’s Mrs Robinson is on general release across Ireland on 23rd August 2024. The documentary tells Mary’s story, in her own words, for the very first time – illuminating battles for justice and equality over half a century; on the streets, in the courts, at the ballot box, and in backroom corridors of power.

Sinead O’Shea

Sinead O’Shea’s Blue Road: The Enda O’Brien Story will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, which runs 5-15. September 2024. Emerging from rural Ireland, Edna O’Brien broke multiple taboos with her sexually provocative literature and equally adventurous love life. Here, she opens up about her past with additional perspectives offered by Gabriel Byrne, Walter Mosely,…

Dearbhla Walsh

Dearbhla Walsh directs Season 2 of Bad Sisters which will premiere on Wednesday, November 13th on Apple TV+. Season 2 returns to follow the lives of the Garvey sisters, played by Sharon Horgan as Eva, Anne-Marie Duff as Grace, Eva Birthistle as Ursula, Sarah Greene as Bibi and Eve Hewson as Becka. Two years after…

Hannah Quinn

Hannah Quinn directs Irish television drama series The Boy That Never Was, starring Colin Morgan, Toni O’Rourke and Simon Callow. The Boy That Never Was is based on the Sunday Times best-selling debut novel by the same name by Irish author Karen Perry, and is adapted by Jo Spain. The first of four episodes premieres on RTE…

Robert Quinn

Robert Quinn directs the new TV series Borderline (alongside Mark Brozel), written by John Forte and starring Amy De Bhrún, Eoin Macken and Lochlann O’Mearáin. Forced to collaborate on a serious crime, contrasting detectives Philip Boyd and Aoife Regan, with clashing personalities and backgrounds, overcome initial friction to form an unlikely but formidable crime-fighting partnership.…

Virgin Media Television invites submissions for Coimisún na Meán’s Sound & Vision Round 55

Below is a Call out from Virgin Media Television: Virgin Media Television is a public service broadcaster that strives to deliver impactful content that captures diverse, contemporary Ireland through a lens that has not yet been seen. We are currently accepting Entertainment and Factual proposals for Sound & Vision Round 55. We are looking for…

Join us at Work in Progress Meeting Wed 4th Sept 6.30pm

We invite you to connect and share experiences through our work with SDGI’s directors and the Work in Progress meetup. Date: Wednesday 4th September Time: 6.30pm – 8pm. ( 8pm optional follow on in Smyths Haddington Rd. ) Venue: Windmill Lane Studios, 29 Herbert St, Dublin 2, D02 NH02. Map Join us for monthly meet-up that isn’t your…

Laura Way

Laura Way directs Dead and Buried, a Virgin Media Television and BBC Northern Ireland Television drama which starts Monday 2nd September at 9pm on Virgin Media Play and Virgin Media One. Dead and Buried stars Annabel Scholey and Colin Morgan. It is written by Colin Bateman and is a four-part adaptation of his play Bag for…

Ross Killeen

Ross Killeen’s film Don’t Forget to Remember follows the Irish street artist Asbestos as he and his family learn to navigate his mother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and cope with her fading memories. The film is at once a moving portrait of one woman’s memory loss but also a celebration of a family coming together in the face of…

Maurice O’Carroll

Maurice O’Carroll’s Swing Bout is set backstage at a major boxing event as a young boxer is plunged into a tumultuous journey from the dressing room to her ring walk in a night of deceit, betrayal, and life-altering decisions. Swing Bout is in cinemas from 20th September 2024.

Exploring Reality Apply Now!

Please Note: We’ve extended the deadline for the Exploring Reality 2 residential immersive training in Cork until the 10th of October. The Documentary Alliance of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland is delighted to announce Exploring Reality 2. This training programme will incorporate masterclasses from visiting international directors and industry professionals, exploring a variety of approaches…

Dermot Malone

The feature debut of writer/director Dermot Malone, King Frankie, stars Peter Coonan as Frankie, a Dublin taxi driver, who runs his own taxi firm. On the day of his father’s removal, he comes face to face with something that happened ten years ago, and the first thing that he must do is forgive himself. Described…

Work in Progress October Meeting

We invite you to connect and share experiences through our work with SDGI’s directors and the Work in Progress meetup. Date: Wednesday 2nd October Time: 6.30pm – 8pm. ( 8pm optional follow on in Smyths Haddington Rd. ) Venue: Windmill Lane Studios, 29 Herbert St, Dublin 2, D02 NH02. Map Join us for monthly meet-up that isn’t your…

SDGI Newsletter • October 2024

Our October 2024 Newsletter has gone out to members, friends and subscribers this week! Our Directors in Dialogue event was fantastic on Wednesday evening. If you missed it, don’t worry our next event is on Wednesday, 4th November and we’d love to see you there. We’re still in ongoing negotiations with producers about the implementation…

Alan Bradley

Alan Bradley’s documentary Anorexia, My Family and Me is airing on RTÉ ONE on Monday, 14th October at 21:35. Anorexia, My Family and Me is narrated by Angela Scanlon and intimately follows 3 families as they deal with one of the most fatal of mental health conditions – anorexia. https://alan-bradley.com/

Eva Birthistle

Eva Birthistle’s directorial film debut, Kathleen Is Here, features Kathleen (Hazel Doupe) as an 18-year-old, fresh out of foster care. She returns to her hometown to take ownership of her deceased mother’s house. She gets a job and even a friend; but the emptiness of Kathleen’s life cannot be filled by social media and reality…

Bonnie Dempsey

Bonnie Dempsey directs a new four-part family mini-series broadcast on RTÉ One, The Unreal is set against the lush and unmistakably Irish backdrop of Lough Dan in County Wicklow, where the Kellys decamp to for a reluctant family staycation. But the dilapidated holiday park isn’t as dull as it initially seems to 12-year-old Kevin, his screen-obsessed…

SDGI Welcomes High Res as New Partner for ARRI ALEXA Take 2025

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) is delighted to announce High Res as a new partner for the ARRI ALEXA Take 2025, scheduled for filming this January. High Res joins SDGI’s distinguished group of nine partners supporting this remarkable initiative. Merging creative talent with cutting-edge technology, High Res specialises in virtual production solutions that…

Invite: Option that Book! Event for Directors 8th November

SDGI has partnered with Publishing Ireland again to create a presentation of Irish books with available screen rights exclusive to SDGI directors. Books are everywhere. As a director you have examined many books for optioning for film and episodics but how can you filter through the mountains of new books published each year to find the best new stories in…

Trish McAdam

Trish McAdam’s Songs of Blood and Destiny will have its Dublin Premiere in the IFI on 26th November 2024. Based on the epic poem, iGirl, by Marina Carr, Songs of Blood and Destiny is an intellectually playful comment on the state of Homo Sapiens, past, present and future. ARENA RTE Radio 1 – Marina Carr’s iGirl has been…

Statement on AI Training

Over 20,000 creators have signed a statement on AI training to date. “The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted.” Signatories include James Patterson, Björn Ulvaeus, Julianne Moore, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, Thom Yorke and many…

Ciaran Cassidy

Ciaran Cassidy’s Housewife of the Year documentary tells the story of Ireland’s treatment of women through the prism of a unique, surreal, live televised competition, that must be seen to be believed, where a generation of Irish women competed in front of a live audience for the title of ‘Housewife of the Year’. The former contestants share…

Alan Bradley

Alan Bradley had his first RTÉ Documentary On One broadcast in October. Invisible Men – Ireland’s Incels infiltrates the dark corners of the incel online world and speaks to numerous Irish incels, Gardai, experts and the women affected by them. Listen now on RTE, Apple or Spotify: https://www.rte.ie/radio/doconone/1477327-invisible-men-irelands-incels https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/invisible-men-irelands-incels/id107923803?i=1000674384338 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7luyXmOqqVQebR2CUWuhso

Transitioning from Documentary Directing to Drama Directing

Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet have reached out to ask SDGI Members if this course on Transitioning from Documentary to Drama Directing, led by Conor Morrisey, might be of interest. They are specifically looking for feedback from documentary directors, and the course description is below. Please respond to FranKeaveney@furthr.ie if you think this is of…

SDGI Newsletter • November 2024

SDGI Newsletter • November 2024 went out to members, friends and subscribers on 31st October 2024 This month is filled with exciting events for our directors. We’re thrilled to launch the Exploring Reality programme with its first module. Our emerging documentary directors will gather in Cork for an immersive week of masterclasses, led by renowned…

Reminder: Join us at Work in Progress Meeting Wed 6th Nov 6.30pm

We invite you to connect and share experiences through our work with SDGI’s directors and the Work in Progress meetup. Date: Wednesday 6th November Time: 6.30pm – 8pm. ( 8pm optional follow on in Smyths Haddington Rd. ) Venue: Windmill Lane Studios, 29 Herbert St, Dublin 2, D02 NH02. Map Join us for monthly meet-up that isn’t your…

Storyland

Storyland returns to RTÉ with three new dramas: Jane Moriarty directs Shush, airs on 31st October 2024. Ruth’s love for baby Fia is undeniable. But under the strain of loneliness and a difficult domestic existence, the mother impulsively makes a drastic decision Watch on the RTÉ Player. Laura O’ Shea directs I’m Yours, airs on…

Exploring Reality Module 1

On Monday, November 4th, a group of emerging documentary directors arrived at Barnabrow Country House in County Cork for our latest residential programme: Exploring Reality 2. Over the past few days, our directors have had the invaluable opportunity to participate in workshops led by expert documentary directors. Supplemented by relevant documentary screenings and networking sessions,…

Fergal Costello

Fergal Costello directs Good Boy, a brand-new four-part RTÉ Player Original sitcom. Written by Tony Cantwell and Hannah Mamalis, the sitcom follows the personal and professional adventures of a thirty-something aspiring comedian juggling a day job he loathes, a tumultuous love life, and a mounting drive to make a name for himself in comedy. Good Boy is now…

Philip Doherty

Philip Doherty directs CRÁ, a thrilling six-part Irish-language crime drama set in the remote northwest of Ireland. CRÁ follows Garda Conall Ó Súilleabháin as he searches for justice in the most personal of cases—the murder of his own mother, Sabine, whose body is discovered 15 years after her disappearance. Forbidden from joining the investigation, Conall partners with…

Colin Hickey

Colin Hickey’s film Perennial Light, set in coastal Ireland, follows a young boy making the journey from childhood to adulthood, where the haunting memory of his best friend’s sudden death triggers a turbulent inner struggle. As he grapples with dark and existential thoughts, the young fisherman embarks on a quest for healing and redemption. Perennial Light is…

Invitation to SILO Season 2 First Episode Screening & Q+A with Cinematographer Baz Irvine

Our Belfast-based members are invited to RSVP this Friday for a special screening of the first episode of SILO Season 2 and a Q+A with Cinematographer Baz Irvine!

Book Launch Invitation: Drawing the Line by Steve Woods

SDGI members are invited to support Steve Woods at his book launch for Drawing the Line on this Tuesday, the 19th of November, at 7:30pm. The event will take place at the Hyatt Centric Hotel near St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Robert Manson

Filmmaker Robert Manson recently had two of his films, ‘Lost in the Living’ and ‘Holy Island’, released on IFI. In ‘Lost in the Living’, Oisín (Tadhg Murphy), a musician from Dublin, travels to Berlin with his band, buzzing with banter and the potential for adventure. He leaves behind the sadness of his mother’s death and…

Skills Gaps in the Cultural & Creative Industries

Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet (CCIS) is committed to delivering skills development activities that meet the current and future needs of the cultural and creative industries. To help achieve this goal, they invite you to complete a brief survey. Your feedback is crucial in ensuring CCIS can effectively address these needs. Please submit before the…

Exploring Reality

This November, we held our second iteration of the Exploring Reality residential training programme, Exploring Reality, which included a series of combined talks, workshops and masterclasses. It took place at Barnabrow Country House in County Cork and was held over two separate modules for emerging and experienced documentary directors. Each module comprised an intensive 4-day…

SDGI Newsletter • December 2024

As the year comes to an end, we look back on what may be the best year for SDGI so far. We’re thrilled to announce that early next year, we expect to share exciting news regarding rights negotiations, which will represent a significant advancement for our industry. This week, we are concluding our Exploring Reality…

Frank Sweeney

Frank Sweeney’s bold reimagining of Irish broadcast history Few Can See screens as part of the IFI’s Irish Focus and will be followed by a discussion with Frank Sweeney and Betty Purcell, (retired RTÉ producer), hosted by film critic Ruairí McCann. Broadcasters across Ireland and Britain have entered into a blackout strike. The workers are transmitting…

Terence White

The Final Chapter, an award-winning short documentary by Terence White, will be broadcast on RTÉ 2 on 9th December at 11.45pm. It will also be available on RTÉ Player. The film is about the last days of a unique bookshop in Dún Laoghaire, run by comedian Kevin Gildea. It was funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.…

Maurice O’Brien

Maurice O’Brien writes and directs Chasing The Light, an inspiring and thought-provoking documentary about a spiritual community on the wild cliffs of West Cork, where the dream of building a Tibetan Buddhist haven is shaken by shocking allegations, forcing its founder Peter Cornish to confront the fragile reality of his life’s work. Chasing The Light is…

Robert Manson

Two films from Robert Manson are now available to view on the IFI@Home Player. Lost in the Living – A musician from Dublin travels to Berlin with his band, buzzing with banter and the potential for adventure. Holy Island – Two lost souls try to escape a desolate purgatory town. Lost in the Living https://www.ifihome.ie/film/lost-in-the-living/ …

Reminder: Join us at our Directors in Dialogue Meeting Wed 4th Dec 6.30pm

We invite you to connect and share experiences through our work with SDGI’s directors and the Work in Progress meetup. Date: Wednesday 4th December Time: 6.30pm – 8pm. ( 8pm optional follow on in Smyths Haddington Rd. ) Venue: Windmill Lane Studios, 29 Herbert St, Dublin 2, D02 NH02. Map Join us for monthly meet-up that isn’t your…

Dónal Ó Céilleachair

Dónal Ó Céilleachair’s new documentary Are We One on 90 year-old Irish-American Jesuit Zen Master Robert Kennedy will have a special special screening at the IFI in Dublin; 6pm on Sunday, 15th December, 2024. Are We One traces the transmission of Zen meditation through the life’s work of 90 year-old Irish-American Jesuit Zen Master Robert…

Neasa Hardiman

Neasa Hardiman directs S1.E4, E5 & E7 of We Were the Lucky Ones. A Jewish family is determined to survive and reunite after being separated in World War II. The mini-series has been nominated for two Critics Choice Awards for Best Limited Series & Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for…

DkIT Assistant Lecturer Position

Dundalk Institute of Technology is currently searching for an Assistant Lecturer in Directing for Film and TV. The appointee will be required to teach two Directing modules on BA (Hons) Film and Television Production and BA Theatre and Film Practice and the teaching will be delivered during January and February. The position is due to…

Darina Clancy

A new documentary, Na Lumière Gaelacha, produced and directed by Darina Clancy of Cormorant Films aired on TG4 on St. Stephen’s night.. The documentary had its sold-out world premiere at the 69th Cork International Film Festival. Na Lumière Gaelacha takes you into the magical world of three brothers, James (Jim), Thomas (Tom) and Philip (Phil) Horgan.…

Internship Opportunities for NCAD Art & Design Students

The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) assists third-year undergraduate students in obtaining internship opportunities through the Studio+ programme. NCAD is approaching the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland to explore the possibility of offering work placements or enhancing their creative team with an additional generalist or specialist. Studio+ generates opportunities for highly motivated students…

Megan K. Fox

Megan K. Fox is one of two directors on comedy horror series Video Nasty screening on Virgin Media and BBC 3 and BBC NI. Megan directs episodes 4 and 5 of 6 episodes, with veteran UK horror director Christopher Smith directing episodes 1, 2, 3 and 6. Video Nasty tells the story of three mostly normal…

Sinead O’Shea

Sinéad O’Shea’s Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story is a candid portrait of one of the world’s greatest and most charismatic writers, Irish author Edna O’Brien. Her books were banned and burned in her native Ireland. In London and New York, she had illicit love affairs, hosted star-studded parties, and made and lost a fortune.…

John Crowley

John Crowley’s film We Live in Time is currently in cinemas. An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcée find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together, in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance. The film stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. We Live in Time is in cinemas from 1st January 2025.…

SDGI Newsletter • January 2025

Members, friends and subscribers should all have received our first Newsletter of 2025! We have some great events lined up and look forward to seeing you in the New Year. Plus, as always, we bring you all the latest opportunities and funding and submission deadlines that may take you on your next creative journey! SDGI…

2025 IFTA Awards

Congratulations to all the brilliant directors nominated for the 2025 IFTA Awards DIRECTOR – FILM Eva Birthistle – Kathleen Is Here John Crowley – We Live in Time Brian Durnin – Spilt Milk Damian McCarthy – Oddity Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor – Baltimore Rich Peppiatt- Kneecap DIRECTOR – DRAMA Paddy Breathnach – The Dry Brian Kirk – The Day of the Jackal…

Resilience in the Workplace Self-led Online Course

Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet is offering a free Self-led online course, Resilience in the Workplace. This Resilience in the Workplace course empowers learners to effectively manage stress and adapt to change. Participants will discover strategies to build mental toughness and sustain productivity during challenging periods. The curriculum includes techniques for cultivating a positive mindset…

Directors Drop-In

Do you need help updating your SDGI profile? Do you have questions about membership or upcoming events, or simply need support with a director’s issue? We’re pleased to introduce the SDGI Members’ Directors Drop-In, a dedicated online space for you to drop in with any queries or support needs. Just log in the same time every…

Imogen Murphy & Laura Way

Originally broadcast on Virgin Media One in Ireland under the title The Vanishing Triangle, The Vanishings started screening on Channel 5 in February. Imogen Murphy directs Episodes #1.1 – #1.5 and Laura Way directs Episode #1.6 of The Vanishings. A journalist’s fight to save a women’s shelter unearths a chilling link to her mother’s murder. As…

James Doherty

James Doherty (Breathe, Neon Meets Argon, Yara) has received a nomination for the Victor Adebodun Award for Debut Director at the Edinburgh TV Festival’s Amplify x New Voice Awards 2025 for his half hour debut television drama “The Final Countdown” for Channel4 Banijay/Blacklight TV. The Final Countdown tells the story of Ray, a septuagenarian with…

Invitation: Presentation of New Agreement on Directors Rights

We invite you to join us over Zoom to present a new agreement reached on Fair Contracts for directors with Screen Producers Ireland and Animation in the Irish Screen Industry. Date: Tuesday 18th February Time: 1pm Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eDF5PatuQj-0ehsH4dKYsg#/registration We look forward to you joining us!

VM Discovers 6

Virgin Media Discovers 2025 Competition in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is now open for submissions from new/emerging and established filmmakers, writers, and content creators. Virgin Media Television are calling for ideas that bring original tales, voices, and untold stories to life. The competition is open to all genres of short-form film-making. The proposed short…

Sizzle for Success | Creating Compelling Sizzle Reels | March 2025

Sign up for Sizzle for Success and learn how to craft compelling sizzle reels that capture attention and sell your vision. This course will teach you the art of creating impactful reels tailored for live-action TV and film pitches. See more information at: https://www.creativeskillnet.ie/course/sizzle-for-success-creating-compelling-sizzle-reels-march-2025/

‘A Sunken Place’ Screening – Ronan O’Leary

Mark your calendars for the screening of A Sunken Place at the IFI on March 12th 6:30PM. Director Ronan O’Leary and writer-producer Gerard Daly will be attending for a Q&A session after the film. Alice, a brilliant Irish neurologist who discovers a cure for depression, falls foul of the giant pharmaceutical companies who are determined…

Gemma Creagh

Dlr funded horror/comedy Conveyance is set to have its international premiere at the FrightFest Short Film Showcase in Glasgow this March. This award winning short marks the directorial debut of writer Gemma Creagh and is the only non-UK title screening at the Showcase. Set against the backdrop of Ireland’s housing crisis, the film was produced…

SDGI’s Three Irish Short Films Wrap Production, Blending Creative Vision with the Latest Filmmaking Technology.

We are delighted to announce the successful completion of three innovative short films, which wrapped last week following an intensive two-month production period throughout January and February. The projects, led by Irish directors Conor McMahon, Róisín Loughrey, and Paul Webster, demonstrate the exceptional talent and cutting-edge technology shaping the future of Irish filmmaking. The completed…

Landmark Agreement for Directors & Creatives in Ireland Now in Effect

The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) is proud to announce that the Principles of Fair and Equitable remuneration is now officially in effect, ensuring that directors, writers, actors, and composers in the Irish screen industry receive transparency and fair and ongoing compensation for their work. This achievement is the result of tireless advocacy by…

John Hayes

John Hayes directs episodes 4-6 of the new BBC Liverpool-set crime series This City is Ours, which begins on BBC One on Sunday, 23rd March at 9pm. Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings, The Sixth Commandment) and Eshref Reybrouck (Undercover) are also directing. Hayes’ recent projects include Hulu/RTE comedy drama Obituary, BBC/Starz crime drama Dublin Murders, ITV/Virgin…

Transitioning from Documentary to Drama Directing | April 2025

This intensive 4 day course, run by Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet, in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, led by award-winning director Conor Morrissey, is aimed at directors with a documentary background who want to transition into the world of television drama. Acknowledging that documentary directors already have an incredibly useful skillset the course will…

Meet Your Next Writer: Directors & Screenwriters Speed Connect Event

Looking for a great screenwriter to bring your next project to life? SDGI is teaming up with the Writers Guild of Ireland to deliver a fast-paced opportunity for directors to meet inspiring screenwriting talent. You’ll spend a few minutes with each screenwriter at a table, enough time to swap ideas, hear their background, and see…

SDGI Newsletter • March 2025

It’s been a busy and productive start to the year and we’re thrilled that Conor McMahon has begun his virtual production shoot as part of our SDGI ARRI ALEXA TAKE program. It’s such an exciting and innovative project and we can’t wait to bring it to fruition! In February we launched our new SDGI Open…

Screen Ireland & SDGI Industry Engagement and Communication Session

Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland in partnership with the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland invite you to an Industry Engagement and Communication Session for directors working in the Irish screen industry. This event is part of a number of Industry Engagement Days that will take place in 2025. Where: Screen 2, Irish Film Institute – 6 Eustace…

John Farrelly

John Farrelly’s An Taibhse unfolds in the bleak landscape of post-famine Ireland,exploring the profound hardships faced by its people. The narrative centres around Éamon (Tom Kerrisk) and his daughter Máire (Livvy Hill), who take on the task of maintaining a remote mansion , only to be driven to the edge of sanity by the horrors lurking…

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