31 feature film projects selected for the first phase of Screen Ireland’s Perspectives scheme
Posted: 15th April 2025
The number of successful projects increased from 20, due to the unprecedented number and high quality of applications
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is delighted to announce the successful projects selected for the first phase of Perspectives – a new pilot programme to support the development and production of new Irish feature films.
31 projects have been selected for this first phase: an increase from the originally proposed 20, due to the unprecedented number of applicants, and the overall standard of applications received. Perspectives received over 400 applications – the most applications for any Screen Ireland funding scheme ever.
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
“Our warmest congratulations to the teams behind the 31 projects selected for the first phase of Perspectives. This is an incredibly exciting new programme designed to support original, authentic stories that explore a wide range of experiences across Irish life and culture. We wish all of the projects the best of luck as they proceed to the next stage.
The unprecedented demand for the scheme, as well as the incredibly high standard of applications, reflect how vibrant the industry is in terms of talent and vision. We would like to thank everyone who applied for Perspectives, and look forward to supporting the teams as they develop their craft and storytelling into the future.”
Perspectives is a new pilot programme from Screen Ireland to support the development and production of new Irish feature films, providing a window into experiences and viewpoints that may not have been widely represented on the big screen before. Following this first development stage, a number of projects will be shortlisted for a second development round, and a third round will advance to production, fully supported by Screen Ireland.
Throughout, the scheme will also offer the filmmakers practical assistance and guidance to enable their films to find audiences and get distributed. This will include development incubation and high-level workshops and masterclasses.
The scheme was designed to support a diverse range of viewpoints and perspectives, with original, quality storytelling at the heart of the selection process. As part of Screen Ireland’s thorough review procedure, a panel of independent industry experts assessed all applications across a number of criteria including clarity of creative vision, new perspective and original storytelling, talent development, accessing audiences and achievability resulting in a highly competitive process. Those not selected will benefit from an exclusive masterclass.
The successful teams and projects for the first round of Perspectives are:
A Place Like Home
Writer/Director: Aisling Byrne
Producer: Killian Coyle
Asunderland
Writer/Director: Gavin Kelly
Producer: Nicky Gogan
Bad Blood
Writer: Antóin Beag Ó Colla
Writer/Director: Annika Cassidy
Calf
Writer/Director: Jamie O’Rourke
Careful
Writer/Director: Michael-David McKernan
CASTLE X
Writer/Director: Eóin Heaney
CHOKE
Writer/Director: Tania Notaro
Displacement
Writer/Director: Nell Hensey
Producer: Claire Mooney
Dopa-Mean Girl
Writer: Louisa Ní Éideáin
Producer: Sharon Newman
Dublin 7/Unkempt
Writer: Jade Jordan
Empress ClawScream
Writer/Director: Stephen T Lally
Writer/Producer: Cian O'Leary
Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost
Writer/Director: James Doherty
Producer: Ronan Cassidy
Fairytale
Writer/Director: Sinéad O'Loughlin
Producer: Claire McCabe
Grace
Writer: Clare Monnelly
Producers: Aisling Malone, Lorraine Higgins
I Shot First
Writer/Director: Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair
Producer: Claire McCabe
I Was Never There
Writer/Director: Kamran Faiq
Let Them In
Writer/Director: Sam Ahern
New Beginnings
Writer/Director: Ais Brady
Ololufé
Writers: Aisha Bolaji, Tishé Fatunbi, Praise Titus
Director: Aisha Bolaji
Producer: Grace Odumosu
Orion
Writer: Cameron Tharmaratnam
Sheela
Writer/Director: Vincent Gallagher
Shine On Black Sun
Writer/Director: Hiram Harrington
Producer: Evan Horan
Soul of a Snail
Writer/Director: Kristina Yee
Stranded
Writer/Director: Hannah Mamalis
The Old Hag
Writer: Paul Ritchie
The Screamers
Writer/Director: Freddie Leyden
The Shadow of Me
Writer/Director: Kate Haley
Tribes
Writer: Ivan Cush
Director: Lochlainn McKenna
Unsettled
Writer: Natasha Wall
Director: Tanya Doyle
Producer: Daniel Hegarty
Watchtower
Writers: Adam O'Keeffe, Stewart Roche
Director: Adam O'Keeffe
Producers: Edwin Mullane, Hillary Dziminski
Why You Wanna Fly, Blackbird?
Writer/Director: Niamh Heery