The Donegal Film Office at Donegal County Council has announced Shannon Welby, Bébhinn Naughton, and Connor Richmond as the recipients of the 2024 Donegal Film Bursary funded by Creative Ireland.
The Bursary is supporting stories told by local people and will engage cast, crew, and services from within the county.
Screenwriter Shannon Welby and Director Bébhinn Naughton both hail from Donegal, and Connor Richmond has many connections to the county, all having worked in the film and television industry for several years.
Shannon was last year nominated for Galway Film Fleadh ‘Bingham Ray New Talent’ Award. She said the script of this latest production tells the story of a Donegal taxi driver who is eyes and ears to the community.
“At Christmas time, he witnesses the transient festive period of young people and emigrants only home temporarily,” she said.
“He has an opportunity to play an important – yet surprisingly mischievous – role in their lives. This story gives Donegal characters and Donegal humour a chance to shine, whilst exploring feelings of disconnection and reconnection to home”.
Bébhinn Naughton added: “The value in leaving your hometown and experiencing life outside the bubble in which you grew up is that you return with a new appreciation for the aspects that make it unique.
“For me, I was surprised at how much colloquial language I used and how my vocabulary had been shaped by my Donegal upbringing or was influenced by the Irish language.
“I am so grateful for the support of the Donegal Film Office. It is an incredibly exciting time in the Irish Film Industry and Donegal in particular continues to establish itself as a world-class filming location. I am so impressed by what has been achieved here already and I can’t wait to tap into the wealth of talent and resources the North West has to offer.”
Producer Connor Richmond, a trainee Script Editor on the development of Blue Lights (BBC), said it has been a brilliantly exciting experience working with long-time friends Shannon and Bébhinn.
“Huge thanks goes to the Donegal Film Office for trusting us to tell this story, whilst also giving us the opportunity to put the daily dramas of Donegal and our regionally-specific characters and their personal perspectives and problems, on the global stage,” he said.
“Shannon’s script is a stunning example of Irish storytelling, alongside director Bébhinn, who brings a grounded and wholesome take on this timely tale.
“It is a joy to be working with them on this journey, whilst we take a moment to showcase the spinning doors of life and shine a light on a funny, entertaining, and profound collection of missed, moving, and magic moments.”
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