Virgin Media Discovers, in partnership with Screen Ireland, is a competition that helps new and established filmmakers and content creators get their stories heard.
The shortlisted projects for Virgin Media Discovers have been announced.
Shortlisted projects will be awarded mentorship and development funding to invest in their script. The panel of industry judges will select four winners, who will win between €35,000 and €40,000 to fund the production of their short film or documentary.
The winning projects will premier at the Dublin International Film Festival in 2025, and will also air on Virgin Media Television.
Over €1 million has now been invested by Virgin Media and Screen Ireland with 10 projects being made, and a further 30 awarded development funding with many festivals and awards in-between.
Previous films from Discovers are available to watch on Virgin Media Player now for free.
The 10 shortlisted projects are:
No Timewasters, Female Only (Drama)
Writer/Director: Tara O'Callaghan & Producer: Louise Byrne
Marianne's world shatters after an illegal eviction, thrusting her into a race against time to find new housing. Now, she must make an impossible decision to secure her future.
The North Inner City: Reckoning Riots (Factual)
Producer: Barry Gibbons, Producer: Alanna MacNamee
Terence Power and Calvin O’Brien are tired. Tired of prejudice and lazy stereotyping. Tired of middle-class journalists and politicians scapegoating their community for the ills in society, from gangland feuds to drug-dealing and even the Dublin Riots. Frustrated by legacy media, the two lads behind the hit ‘Talking Bollox’ podcast, are taking matters into their own hands, going deep into their home turf to see what’s really going on.
Download. Delete. Repeat. (Comedy)
Director: Ciaran Grace, Producer: Anthony Moriarty
Laura is disillusioned with dating. Mark thinks it will never happen. They go on the perfect date, but Mark's insecurity about his wheelchair threatens to ruin everything.
Knife (Comedy)
Writer: Joy Nesbitt, Producer: Grace Odumosu
Ife, a young black woman goes for her first pregnancy scan, only to discover that her child is brandishing a knife inside her womb.
Trasna An Líne (Comedy/Mockumentary)
Writer: Lisa Turnbull-Daly, Director: Niamh Bryson
A mockumentary comedy centred around a Dublin Gaelscoil and it’s rebellious students, absurd teachers and Irish-obsessed principal during the most important week of the year; Seachtain Na Gaeilge.
Stutterbug (Comedy)
Writer: Aidan Greene, Director: Allie O’Rourke
After an embarrassing encounter, stutterer Aidan decides to hide his disability, leading to a case of mistaken identity with his crush and her confident, stuttering brother.
Kiwi (Drama)
Director: Natalie Britton, Writer: Trevor Kaneswaran, Producer: Emer Durcan
In present-day polarized Ireland, Sri Lankan Irish trad musician Ciarán is finally persuaded to share his music online, but only behind a pseudonym. Elsewhere, newly evicted David and his family struggle. His growing anger finds a home in the far right. When their paths cross, David attacks Ciarán and a video of the altercation goes viral. With mum Liz’s emboldening words fresh in his ears, he takes his first public gig to reclaim his identity.
Inconceivable (Comedy)
Co-writer/Producer: Fionnuala Gygax, Co-writer: Matthew Malone
When Mia asks her gay best friend Lorcan to donate his sperm to her, they are thrust into a messy hypothesis of what a life of co-parenting might look like.
Mute (Comedy)
Writer/Director: Diarmaid Shortall
After his mother's death, a young boy forced to live with his estranged father, delights in making his life a living hell.
Night Driver (Thriller)
Writer/Director: Michael Carolan, Producer: Emer Durcan
A taxi driver struggling to support her children in Dublin city begins extorting one of her passengers when she witnesses them being unfaithful in her taxi.
