Filmmaker/Writer
BLUE ROAD - THE EDNA O'BRIEN STORY Toronto International Film Festival 2024
c/o Submarine/Indox Films
PRAY FOR OUR SINNERS
@dogwoofsales
Devastating news about Lyra McKee. These words she wrote are so upsetting and true for so many. Time for a proper, non-partisan look at where Northern Ireland is at now.
A MOTHER BRINGS HER SON TO BE SHOT is now on
@Vimeo
- 30% of proceeds to
@MindWisenv
. It took me 5 years to make + almost everyone said Northern Ireland was "irrelevant" but, the response everywhere was huge. These stories, laughs + pains are universal.
I was asked by the Observer to write about the killing of Lyra McKee, dissident Republicanism and the needs of Northern Ireland now. Here is some of what I think:
“The male minister, the male head of the HSE, the male de facto chairman of the NMH and the male chairman of SVHG forging ahead with a less than watertight plan for the care of women and babies”
Justine McCarthy on latest infuriating NMH concerns:
I am stunned that PRAY FOR OUR SINNERS won Best Documentary at
@HamptonsFilm
- I was proud just to be nominated in that company. Thanks to all 🙏
Feels like there is real appetite for work that challenges State/Church collusion 🇮🇪🇺🇸
I am thrilled to say that my new film, PRAY FOR OUR SINNERS, will make its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival this year -
@TIFF_NET
It was a tough project to make so this is a very unexpected honour. Thanks to
@screenireland
for funding the film in its entirety
So many men in creative industries, especially in film, think they've earned their places on merit, and that all the women in Ireland just happened to be substandard. The truth needs to be aired and change must take place.
#reawakenthefeminists
I’ve spent time investigating Direct Provision. One of the best insights I ever gained was from this brave mother in Athlone who filmed inside her accommodation. Conditions were terrible. Not “not bad.” Aramark runs this centre and is paid millions. THREAD
How can most people know somebody who has been raped or sexually assaulted and yet almost nobody know someone who has been convicted? There needs to be radical systemic change.
This woman was bleeding and crying on the night in question. Her taxi driver remembered her. She told people what happened. She sought medical treatment the next day. She reported what happened. She did everything you are supposed to do. And yet.
Pray For Our Sinners has made it into the top 10 films in Irish cinemas this week!
This has come as a huge and great surprise. We'll screen for another week in 14 cinemas across Ireland as below.
Thank you to all who've seen and discussed our tales of heroism and resistance x
My friend and colleague Ross McDonnell has been missing for the past week in the New York area.
Any information about him or his belongings would bring huge comfort to his family and loved ones.
His parents have asked us to share the picture below:
We're honoured to be invited to screen Pray For Our Sinners in Leinster House tmrw.
Our film is about a great resistance in one town. Plenty of problems remain esp re inequality + mother and baby homes.
🙏
@ivanabacik
for invite. We hope politicians from all parties come.
The awful mother and baby home redress scheme is signed into law. Just 34,000 people out of the 68,000 survivors will be compensated. They deserve so much better:
I spent five years filming in Derry and the aftermath of Bloody Sunday underpinned everything I saw. People can endure a lot but injustice causes such destruction
#BloodySunday50
Our Pray for our Sinners screening was extraordinary; tears, laughter, a standing ovation. My favourite bit was the applause that broke mid-film when Mary asked about the men.
Thanks to all who came esp participants,
@kathysheridanIT
+ Dr Mary. We’re in cinemas April 21st x
Pray For Our Sinners is the story of a resistance, with a twist, in a small Irish town.
It's now the most attended documentary in Ireland this year and is on new platforms from today 💚
Itunes
Amazon
Google
Microsoft/playstation
Rakuten
Sky
Virgin
My piece on UK indifference to Northern Ireland, Brexit and a mother who brought her son to be shot. It's been most read on
@guardian
all day. Thanks for all the feedback:
The decision to seal the records of the Mother and Baby homes marks a terrible night for Ireland. Unbelievable to prioritise vested interests on this issue. What has actually happened here?
#UnsealTheArchive
A woman who was raped by a colleague at a house party in Co Mayo ten years ago has said she was subjected to ‘vulgar rape comments’ for months afterwards.
Ciara Mangan was speaking after Shane Noonan was jailed for seven years | Read more:
Worth remembering how incredibly difficult it was for Catherine Corless to be heard by the Irish establishment. I wrote about it for
@guardian
at the time. Media has evolved. State has not. Issues like Direct Provision are ongoing.
#motherandbabyhomes
Pray for Our Sinners is the most attended documentary in Ireland so far in 2023.
Thank you to all who have come +
@BOPictures
@HinterlandKells
tonight is sold out but we've an extra show on Sat
@LightHouseD7
is on June 26th:
Pray For Our Sinners will finish the year as the most attended documentary release (Irish+Intl) in Irish cinemas this year.
We are very happy and proud, and will have some extra screenings in
@IFI_Dub
from Dec 29th
#IFIBestofIrish23
Pray For Our Sinners highlights a heroic resistance to corporal punishment.
Many Irish people experienced corporal punishment. We are holding a screening of Pray for Our Sinners in
@LightHouseD7
with a special Q&A about this:
Tickets:
@BOPictures
It's our first day in Irish cinemas tonight and I'm looking forward to chatting to the great
@ColmBairead
later in
@IFI_Dub
Pray For Our Sinners is now on in cinemas in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast, Limerick, Carlow, Tullamore, Mayo, Dundalk and of course, Navan x
The exceptional documentary film Pray for Our Sinners opens in Irish cinemas tomorrow. I’m honoured to be hosting a Q&A with its director
@SineadEOShea
after the Friday, 6.20pm screening
@IFI_Dub
Ok here we go.
Look at the electoral maps by county for the last few decades of US presidential elections. You’ll notice that the South goes almost uniformly Republican red every time.
Duh.
But if you look closer, there’s something else there ...
The woman of the moment...
Pray For Our Sinners is showing all over Ireland today.
It might be the last chance to see in some cinemas.
Our next Q+A is
@PalasGalway
tmrw w
@SarahAnneBuckle
(📸Paddy Randles Jr)
I'm really pleased to say that A MOTHER BRINGS HER SON TO BE SHOT will have its cinema release in Ireland and Northern Ireland from September 14th. We'll have more info and news soon.
What would cause a Derry mother to bring her son to be shot?
@SineadEOShea
's critically acclaimed documentary,
@AMotherBrings
, which asks this extraordinary question, is released in Irish cinemas on 14 September:
#AMotherBrings
Pray For Our Sinners is the most watched documentary in Irish cinemas this year and is now available to watch in Ireland on
@IFI_Dub
player x
🙏 as ever to
@BOPictures
+
@ScreenIreland
Nothing Compares is the beautiful documentary by
@Kath_Ferguson
which focuses on the years 1987-1993 in Sinéad O'Connor's life.
It broadcasts on July 29th in the UK + Ireland -
@NCDocumentary
I'm so pleased to say that the opening night of Pray for our Sinners in the
@IFI_Dub
will be followed by a Q+A with
@ColmBairead
- the brilliant director of
@quietgirlfilm
which is still casting its spell all over the world.
Tickets available here:
Pray for our Sinners will have its first Irish screening
@DublinFilmFest
on March 3rd.
All are very welcome to our stories of heroism and resistance:
Tickets here:
I am delighted to be partnering with the wonderful
@BOPictures
to share stories of resistance from my hometown, Navan.
PRAY FOR OUR SINNERS will have its cinema release on April 21st. Here is the trailer - beautifully edited by Colin Campbell:
Where is the rage about our health system? Lack of capacity is the real problem rather than the current rate of Covid. We will face longer and harsher restrictions because we don’t have a functional health service.
Ireland typically runs a hospital bed occupancy level of 95%, and over 100% in the winter, with people lying in corridors. Our health system would be the quickest to be overrun in the EU, according to ECDC. That's relavant to policy decisions now.
Just listened to
@sarahkendzior
with
@UnaMullally
on BYLINE. Fantastic analysis of politics, tech and journalism now. Sarah Kendzior has been one of the best and most prescient voices in US life.
We have a monthly series on
@united_podcast
called BYLINE where we talk to journalists working on important stories. In this ep,
@UnaMullally
talks to
@sarahkendzior
who predicted, & continues to warn against the Trump kleptocracy in the US.
Lost Boys: Belfast's Missing Children is an excellently crafted investigative documentary. Its conclusions are shocking.
Hard not to see links between British intelligence cover up, the Kincora paedophile ring and those missing boys.
Hope it gets to be seen widely.
I’ve been reading some great Irish non-fiction books of late:
We Don't Know Ourselves by
@fotoole
is a tremendous telling of stories about contemporary Ireland, our dysfunctional relationship with ambiguities, our potential accommodations. It's a book of many pleasures.
We're truly honoured to be discussed in Miriam Lord's brilliant column this week...
And yes, would love if Seanad members would come to Pray For Our Sinners and think about the injustice of the Mother and Baby Home redress scheme.
#MotherAndBabyHomes
Listening to Mary on
@rteliveline
remembering going into Mother and Baby home as a pregnant 13 year old after rape. Devastating stuff.
Her baby is ineligible for the current redress scheme and Mary is only entitled to the lowest available redress. The scheme is barbaric.
London friends, Pray for our Sinners will have a preview screening on April 19th at 18.20 in
@CurzonSoho
I'll be there to discuss our home town resistance with the wonderful author + broadcaster
@anniemacmanus
Tickets:
cc
@irishfilmlondon
@Dogwoof
Beautiful video by
@endajodowd
from this morning in Portland Row. Shot and edited in just a couple of hours. He captures the total joy as neighbors and family react to Kellie Harrington’s win:
Been waiting to read this essay by
@monaeltahawy
and it is as wonderful as hoped. I too interviewed Dr. Nawal El Saadawi as a much younger woman, and her total self-possession was a thrill, and singular by all standards:
I'm surprised the figures aren't higher. Ireland is the same. Family money is the great unspoken in the film industry. I've seen so many people leave filmmaking because they can't afford to stay. I've rarely been full time. Would love to see more honest conversations about this.
A new survey of the UK screen industries workforce has found that:
• 53% are from a privileged background
• That figure rises to 61% for creative roles (writers, directors, producers)
• 25% are from a working class background
Full details:
One of the most incisive pieces here on the Good Friday Agreement by Sara Canning who recognises both its achievements and limitations.
We have, as her late partner Lyra McKee wrote; "a peace that doesn't disrupt the lives of the middle classes."
Live news clips with reporters chasing migrants in boats for comment and "analysing" the conditions without context are like scenes from The Hunger Game/Starship Troopers/any dystopian vision. The more we share this content, the more it will be commissioned and normalised.
This reference in the Irish Independent to
@AMotherBrings
is misleading. My film doesn’t link Sinn Fein to the O’Donnell shooting. It is about dissident Republicanism + the challenges of post conflict. Sinn Fein should be scrutinised like any other party, but accurately.
I loved ARRACHT. Great experience on a big screen. Exciting immersive storytelling by director
@tomsullivanfilm
DP Kate McCullough
@DonallOHealai
Saishe Ní Chuinn, Michael McElhatton
@DevaneyDara
+ co.
Thank you to all in Leinster House who came to our screening of Pray For Our Sinners.
I hope the heroes in our film can encourage more kindness especially re the very unkind mother and baby home redress scheme.
Thank you
@marie_sherlock
for hosting +
@ivanabacik
for invite.
Great piece by
@IrishTimesLaura
outlining the value of public funding for a film like An Cailín Ciúin. Films don't always benefit from intl investment/commercial backers:
I'm delighted that our short HUMBLEBRAG has been selected for
@BFI
London Film Festival, all shot on a phone with FCP7 for zero budget. Kudos to the acting brilliance of
@larkin_lauren
+
@peterdaly10
A great piece of writing by
@SusanMcKay15
for
@NewYorker
that celebrates the extraordinary life of Lyra McKee and explores the dreadful circumstances of her murder
Here is our list of Irish cinemas that will screen Pray For Our Sinners from tomorrow
We are delighted to start in
@MoviesCinemas
- Dundrum, Swords, Gorey, Dungarvan, Tallaght - and Reel Picture, Cork
Ticks + info for all screenings on
@BOPictures
……
The news re Roe v Wade is a timely reminder that we need to be vigilant about women's healthcare and reproductive rights. There is a long way to go in Ireland still. Today is the last day to email TDs and express concerns re ownership of the National Maternity Hospital:
Are you concerned about the plans for the new National Maternity Hospital to be owned by St Vincent's?
Can you help by doing 2 things today/this week?
1. Email/write/call the TDs in your constituency
2. Ask non-Twitter friends/family to do the same
A piece I've written for
@nytimes
about the need to pay attention to Northern Ireland after the headlines have faded, and the value of the "peace process."
My piece for
@irishtimes
about Mary, Betty, Norman and Pray For Our Sinners.
Tonights Q+A in
@LightHouseD7
is sold out but we are screening all over Ireland this weekend.
Tickets are available still for Galway Q+A on Monday:
We had our first screening of Pray for our Sinners in Navan last night. It was an intense event for Dr. Mary and I. Thank you so much to
@Elaine_Loughlin
who showed exceptional skill and sensitivity as she hosted our Q+A after.
Thanks most of all to the people of Navan.
Very honoured that
@AMotherBrings
won an award at WatchDocs 2018. It's been an extraordinary experience to share this film around the world. Complex stories such as Northern Ireland are more essential than ever. Thanks to all at
@BlinderFilms
@SpringFilmsUK
+
@ScreenIreland
Our special screening of Pray For Our Sinners is tomorrow in
@LightHouseD7
All welcome to our Q+A about schooling 1960s-1990s, corporal punishment + resistance with
@kenearlys
from
@SecondCaptains
and Norman, one of the heroes from our film.
Tickets:
PRAY FOR OUR SINNERS will be in the cinemas in 2 weeks time on April 21st.
Tickets now on sale for Navan
@BOPictures
+ a special screening in
@LightHouseD7
hosted by
@CaelainnH
with Dr. Mary Randles + I + on April 22nd:
Here I am chatting with the great
@kenearlys
about making
@AMotherBrings
which is out on September 14th and why the UK and others like to pretend Northern Ireland doesn't exist. Thanks for having me
@SecondCaptains
The lure of violence, trusting nothing and nobody, Brexit in NI, and the challenge of making a movie over a 5 year period -
@kenearlys
with director and writer of
@AMotherBrings
@SineadEOShea
Dr. Mary Randles and I discussed Pray For Our Sinners on
@IrelandAMVMTV
earlier.
Thanks so much to
@MuireannO_C
+
@rayfoleyshow
🙏
Our film ends in some cinemas today so pls come soon if you are coming.
This should be great for anyone who wants to learn more about documentary-making.
The directors of the amazing Finding Neverland, Bobby Sands: 66 Days + The Farthest will speak, I'll discuss scenes from A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot too.
Register
Amazing to be in Seanad today as
@rodericogorman
continually refused to answer why people who spent up to the first 6 months of their lives in mother and baby homes are ineligible for redress.
40% of survivors are being excluded from this unjust scheme.
#motherandbabyhomes
My review of Did Ye Hear Mammy Died by
@shockproofbeats
As might be expected, this is often a poignant read but it must also be one of the funniest books ever written about the death of a parent:
Very pleased that A MOTHER BRINGS HER SON TO BE SHOT has been moved to largest screen of
@CurzonSoho
this eve due to demand. Limited tickets available for film plus Q and A with
@gavinesler
here: