In this Film Ireland podcast Gemma Creagh talks to Derek Ugochukwu, Laura Kavanagh and Jonathan Hughes ahead of their films screening at the Galway Film Fleadh (5-10 July 2022).
You’re Not Home (DIR/WRI: Derek Ugochukwu)
Ikenna is a fifteen-year-old asylum seeker living at a direct provision centre on the outskirts of Limerick where an ominous mould has inexplicably surfaced in the room he shares with his older brother, Chima. Navigating the much controversial challenges of poor treatment familiar to refugees in such centres, these brothers choose not to report it for fear of being labelled as trouble-makers or facing the threat of deportation by their centre’s Management Officer. However, after Ikenna witnesses a series of disturbing events, he is prompted to request new accommodation; a demand that would only reveal something much more sinister.
CAST: Ashraf Tumuheirwe, Aaron Katambay, Barry McEvoy
Screens IRISH TALENT: NEW SHORTS 6, FICTION Fri 08 July / Town Hall Theatre / 12:00
The Radio (DIR: Laura Kavanagh • WRI: Thomas Conway)
An elderly widower depends on his radio to keep a foothold in his routine. When it breaks, his daughter, who knows how important it is to him, is forced to pay more attention to her isolated father.
CAST: Lalor Roddy, Angela Teefey, Laura Byrne
Screens at IRISH TALENT: NEW SHORTS 4, FICTION Thu 07 July / Town Hall Theatre / 12:15 /
La Tumba (DIR: Natasha Waugh • WRI: Jonathan Hughes)
When oddball park ranger Paddy discovers Pilar, an elderly Spanish lady with no English, at a freshly dug grave, he thinks his fantasy of solving a murder case has finally come true.
CAST: Peter McGann, Eloisa Etxebarria, Rebecca Hickey, Miriam Devitt
Screens at IRISH TALENT: NEW SHORTS 4, FICTION Thu 07 July / Town Hall Theatre / 12:15 /
Meet The Filmmakers
Derek Ugochukwu
Derek Ugochukwu is a writer/director and performer, who graduated with a Master’s degree in Screenwriting for Film & Television from the National Film School, IADT in 2019. His written short film, ‘To All My Darlings’ inspired by his Nigerian-Irish was shortlisted for the BAFTA Awards. It also won the Audience Award for best short film at the 2021 Dublin International Film Festival.
Making his directorial debut, ‘You’re Not Home’ was awarded funding by the Limerick ENGINE scheme to support up-and-coming writers, directors and producers in the MidWest of Ireland. It’s set to premiere at the 34th Galway Film Fleadh where Derek is also nominated for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award.
Derek’s feature script ‘Consequences’ is currently in development with Screen Ireland.
Laura Kavanagh
With over 10 years’ experience working in key roles across script development, production and post for independent production companies and studios, Laura has worked on international co-productions and acquired content at film markets for international distribution.
In 2018 She decided to take a side step in her career and return to her passion of film-making. This led Laura to write, direct and produce a short film called NO PLACE which was selected in competition in 15 European festivals.
In January 2019 she completed a Technical Directing film course at Central Film School, London and was selected as an emerging film-maker to participate in a mentoring and training scheme Widening TheLens in February 2019, funded by Skillset UK and the BFI. She is a member of WIFTV Ireland, Raising Films and recently Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and has two writing projects currently in development.
The RADIO, her second short was funded by RTE and ARDAN and will debut at the Galway Film Fleadh.
Jonathan Hughes
Jonathan Hughes is a screenwriter based in Limerick City, Ireland.
Jonathan’s distinct voice has translated into surreal comedy projects that have strong universal appeal. He has received funding from the likes of Screen Ireland, The Arts Council of Ireland, RTE, Ardán, Filmbase and the BAI among others for his writing work. His work has also seen him selected for workshops with Screen Talent Europe, Channel 4 Screenwriting, Creative MEDIA Europe and BBC Studio’s Writer’s Academy.
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