The programme is a cross-border partnership that aims to foster a new generation of documentary filmmakers, an innovative collaboration between the island’s first and newest film festivals, Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland.
Set on Ireland’s rugged north-west coastline, Answering the Call follows an audacious plan to save a tiny population of corncrakes by changing the mindsets of farmers. Writer: Geoff Power
An exploration of how a housing estate in the west of Ireland came to be known as Little Belfast.
The film explores the role of visual media in shaping our attitudes towards desire, the experience of attraction through blindness, and the invisible part other senses play in the process.
An Irish language feature documentary looking at the real legacy of the Irish fiddle maestro Seán McGuire. Who was this tour de force? What was the truth behind the many stories that surrounded his life? Who was the real man? Myth or legend?
When a young girl turns up outside the General Post Office in Dublin unable to speak, it sparks an international hunt to reveal her identity. But that’s just the start of the story.
Try! follows the colourful and diverse mixed ability rugby community in Ireland on their journey to the World Cup.
Year Two of the IGNITE Documentary Talent Development Programme followed the success of Year One where six feature documentary projects from emerging filmmakers were developed through training, workshops and one-to-one mentoring. This is a project-led scheme, which supports the progression of the selected projects and their teams through training focused on the development process of documentary from inception to exhibition. The scheme fosters a new generation of creative non-fiction talent from all over Ireland to pursue their first or second feature, and to provide them with a platform to develop the spectrum of skills and knowledge required to succeed as a feature documentary filmmaker on an international level.
During this comprehensive training initiative, participants will gain a grounding in all facets of project development, they will acquire market knowledge of the documentary industry, learning about the current trends in non-fiction film production, and an expansive understanding of the sector. The programme will include workshops, masterclasses, and in person conversations with established documentarians, broadcasters, funders, sales agents, and other industry professionals. All training will take place in a relaxed learning environment to allow for maximum learning potential and the opportunity to network and foster new relationships.
The IGNITE programme will provide a long-term engagement, comprising:
The Ignite Documentary Talent Development programme is supported by TG4, the Arts Council of Ireland, Screen Skills Ireland, Screen Skillnet, Northern Ireland Screen and Arts & Business NI.
Created in collaboration between Cork International Film Festival (Ireland’s first and largest film festival and destination for cinematic documentary) and Docs Ireland (the new all-Ireland documentary-focused festival from Belfast Film Festival), this cross-border partnership seeks to foster a new generation of Irish documentary filmmakers from the north and south of Ireland.
Feature documentary in Ireland has developed exponentially over the past decade, with countless award-winning non-fiction films gaining traction and being showcased both nationally, and on an international level; through festivals, cinema releases, television broadcasts and VOD. The aim of IGNITE is to aid in the long-term sustainable growth and artistry of talent in the Irish documentary film community, through training and skills development, mentorship and drawing from the resources and expertise of both festivals.
The scheme is project-led, and supports the progression of the selected projects and their teams, through training that focuses on the development process of documentary, from inception to exhibition. The scheme aims to foster a new generation of non-fiction creative documentary talent from all over the island of Ireland to pursue their first or second feature, and to provide them with a platform to develop the spectrum of skills and knowledge required to succeed as a feature documentary filmmaker on an international level.
During this comprehensive training initiative, participants will gain a grounding in all facets of developing their project, and will acquire market knowledge of the documentary industry, learning about the current trends in non-fiction film production, and giving them an expansive understanding of the sector. The programme includes workshops, masterclasses, and in-person conversations with established documentarians, broadcasters, funders, sales agents, and other industry professionals. All training takes place in an intimate environment, which will allow a hands-on approach; facilitating maximum learning potential and the opportunity to network and foster new relationships.
The programme provides a long-term engagement, comprising:
If you have any questions or queries, please contact ignite@corkfilmfest.org
The IGNITE Documentary Talent Development programme is supported by TG4, Arts Council Ireland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Arts & Business NI and Screen Skill Net.
Cork International Film Festival is Ireland’s first and largest film festival and celebrates its 66th anniversary edition in November 2021. The Festival is proudly supported by Principal Funder the Arts Council, along with Cork City Council, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Creative Europe MEDIA, Screen Skills Ireland, BAI, ESB Energy for Generations Fund, Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, The Gate Cinemas, Murphy’s and UCC. Media Partners are RTÉ Supporting the Arts, the Irish Examiner and Red FM.
Doc Day at Cork International Film Festival is the festival’s flagship industry event, and seeks to inform, inspire and connect established and emerging non-fiction directors, producers and writers with international producers, directors, programmers, sales agents, distributors and film sector leaders to further understand and develop opportunities in the documentary landscape.
Facebook: @CorkFilmFestival
Twitter: @CorkFilmFest
Instagram: @CorkFilmFest
Docs Ireland is an annual industry focussed, all Ireland International Documentary Festival. Docs Ireland 3 was held in two parts this year with an Industry focused series of online events from 16th – 19th June including a marketplace, pitching sessions, masterclasses, new talent focus and funding information events. The second part was held in August, taking place in person and offering documentary lovers the best of this year’s Irish/Northern Irish, new and international documentaries, shorts and features.
Docs Ireland is proudly supported by principal funders NI Screen, Department Of Communities, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, alongside TG4, Arts & Business NI, Belfast City Council, Film Hub NI, BFI FAN, Yellowmoon, Belfast Media, Screen Producers Ireland and Creative Europe Media.
Facebook: @DocsIreland1
Twitter: @DocsIreland
Instagram: @docsireland
