Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland

Emerging and established voices selected for Screen Ireland’s Director Conceptual Development Fund

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland has announced the 27 projects selected for The Voice: a new Director Conceptual Development Fund aimed at generating exceptional screen work with the early creative leadership of a director.

The fund was opened in May in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of a suite of measures to provide practical and effective support for production companies and creative talent. Collaborating closely with the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, The Voice was conceived as an investment in the director’s early vision to develop high-value projects for film, TV (both animation and live action) and documentary.

27 emerging and established directors’ projects have been selected for the scheme, each setting out a vision for an ambitious mixture of multiplatform formats, innovative genre projects and creative IP development. The aim of the scheme is to enable directors to create a proof of concept for a feature film or TV series ready to take to a production company or directly to the market.

Sincere congratulations to all the recipients of the Director’s Conceptual Development Fund. This fund was designed to recognise and support established and emerging directors in Ireland and their outstanding creative screen work. We’re looking forward to seeing the original and ambitious projects that will emerge from this initiative.

Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive – Screen Ireland

Screen Ireland also noted that a 50/50 gender balance was achieved in the selection process, with 14 of the 27 projects helmed by female directors.

The successful directors and projects are:

DirectorProject TitleFormat
Hugh O’ConnorThis FireFeature Film
Ruth MeehanHow To Be LikedTransmedia Series
Kim BartleyThe FenceDocumentary
Lorcan FinneganStrange CoastTV Drama
Margaret CorkeryThe HolidayFeature Film
Alan GilsenanThe Parting GlassFeature Film
Dearbhla WalshProdigalFeature Film
Kristen SheridanGraceTV Drama
Paddy BreathnachCold EyeFeature Film
Lee CroninEvil DadTV Drama
James CotterFiona’s DemonsTV Drama
David FreyneArthur MackeyTV Drama
Andrea HarkinNo Man’s LandFeature Film
Maurice O’BrienThis Is My TruthDocumentary
Carmel WintersFly Up To The MoonAnimated Feature
Louise Ni FhiannachtaSkinfullFeature Film
Aisling WalshDorothea Lange ProjectFeature Film
Kevin O’FarrellTwo BusesFeature Film
Tristan HeanuDustFeature Film
Claire ByrneWrappedFeature Film
Myrid CartenNo Place Like HomeDocumentary
Alice McDowellRainsongDocumentary
Louise LoweHentown3 x 30′ TV Drama 
Kitty LeongWhat You Made HereFeature Film
Pat ComerWhackFeature Film
Thomas RyanFred & GingerFeature Film
Bob GallagherThe Song CollectorFeature Film