Guth Gafa & Story Matters Impact Lab at Docs Ireland 2026
Posted: 24th June 2026
The final residency session of the inaugural Impact Lab programme from Guth Gafa and Story Matters Media took place last week at Docs Ireland in Belfast, marking the culmination of a three-month programme for Irish documentary filmmakers developing innovative impact and alternative distribution strategies for their projects.
The Impact Lab has been funded through the support of the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme and has been generously hosted by Docs Ireland International Documentary Film Festival.
Seven producer-director teams from across Ireland have participated in the programme, working to create comprehensive impact plans designed to extend the reach and influence of their documentary projects beyond traditional distribution channels.
The residency began with an intensive in-person session in Donegal, followed by five online workshops featuring international experts in impact production, audience engagement and campaign strategy. The programme has been co-led by David Rane, co-founder of Guth Gafa and Soilsiú Films and an award-winning producer, and Patricia Finneran, founder of Story Matters Media and an experienced impact producer.
During the Belfast residency, participants presented their projects through an impact pitch to a panel of industry guests attending Docs Ireland. This session was designed to help filmmakers refine their presentations, receive professional feedback, and prepare for future funding, partnership and distribution opportunities.
The residency was supported by two internationally recognised mentors: Ben Kempas, founder and impact producer at Film & Campaign in Edinburgh, and Ana Castañosa, Head of Impact Days at FIFDH (International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights) in Geneva.
Reflecting on the programme's first edition, David Rane said:
It has been a rewarding experience to see the Impact Lab take shape in its first year. We have been impressed by the commitment and creativity of all the participants and delighted with the high profile industry guests who gave feedback on the pitches, including BBC, ARTE, NBC, Screen Ireland and others. We hope to run the programme again next year.
Patricia Finneran added:
Following these projects from the earliest stages of impact ideas through to fully developed plans and pitch-ready presentations has been incredibly inspiring. We are extremely proud of our participants, who have engaged brilliantly throughout the process and demonstrated the real potential of impact in filmmaking.
The selected projects represent a diverse range of documentary subjects and approaches, all united by a commitment to creating meaningful engagement with audiences and communities.