DOCS IRELAND INDUSTRY AND NEW AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

Ross McDonnell Cinematography Award 

This year the festival will recognise acclaimed Irish cinematographer, still photographer and documentary director Ross McDonnell, who tragically lost his life in 2023. At only age 44, McDonnell had already won three Emmy awards and was shortlisted for the prestigious Prix Pictet award. Amongst his extensive portfolio of work, McDonnell’s first feature was Colony which won best debut from the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in 2009 and took best film at the Anaheim Film Festival. He also collaborated on prestigious documentaries such as Sinead O’Shea’s A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot, Alex Gibney’s No Stone Unturned and Ciaran Cassidy’s Jihad Jane.

The winner of the Ross McDonnell Award for Best Cinematography in an Irish Feature will be selected from the films nominated for the Pull Focus Irish Documentary Competition by an independent jury.

Industry Programme

Docs Ireland has announced a selection of its industry events for 2025. The Industry programme caters for established and emerging documentary filmmakers, providing opportunities to explore the current landscape, find out about funding opportunities, make connections and exchange ideas with colleagues from Ireland and throughout the world. 

The Docs Ireland industry programme welcomes a host of highly respected professionals from the world of documentary including Kate McCullough (An Cailín Ciúin / The Quiet Girl, Normal People) and Magda Kowalczyk (Cow, High& Low – John Galliano), internationally-renowned cinematographers, who will lead the Anatomy of a Frame Cinematography Panel. 

In partnership with Krakow Film Festival and Creative Europe Desk Ireland, this year’s festival shines a spotlight on the documentary film industry of Poland, exploring the infrastructures and mechanisms that keep it sustainable. Presentations and case studies will fuel the discussion with invited speakers and will include broadcasters, film institutes and festivals.  The Spotlight On Poland event will give a fulsome insight into the ecosystem surrounding the documentary community in this territory and provide opportunities for Irish doc-makers to consider co-production opportunities with partners from Poland.

A cornerstone of the industry activity is the Docs Ireland Marketplace which will see a host of the finest documentary filmmaking talents meet one-to-one with leading international documentary industry players, including international funders, broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors. 

The Northern Ireland Screen Pitch in association with Yellowmoon,  returns offering new and emerging documentary makers a chance to pitch their ideas and receive an award of up to £9,000 towards a pilot for a documentary feature. 

The Docs Ireland Industry Pass is now available on the Docs Ireland website (£85 full price, £55 students) https://docsireland.ie/industry/industry-passes/

The full Docs Ireland programme will be announced on Wednesday 28th May and promises more opportunities for those working or aspiring to work in the documentary film industry.  Attendees will be able to access a wide range of panels, workshops, talks and networking opportunities, and see the best of new UK/Irish and international features and shorts, music documentaries, special events and guests and much more.

Docs Ireland Interim Head of Industry, Rohan Berry Crickmar commented : 

“With this new award for Cinematography, Docs Ireland is remembering the creative talent of the late Ross McDonnell. Ross was a considerable presence on the Irish documentary scene and this award will provide an opportunity to reflect upon his legacy and showcase the work of those now following in his footsteps. We will also be celebrating more generally the cinematographer’s art with our Anatomy of the Frame industry session that will see high-profile Irish and International cinematographers, such as Kate McCullough and Magda Kowalczyk talking about their work and development. Finally, we are very happy to be partnering with Krakow Film Festival around a Focus on Poland section that will introduce Irish and UK filmmakers to new ways of working with an increasingly important European film industry.” 

Docs Ireland is supported by Northern Ireland Screen through the Department for Communities, Belfast City Council, Screen Ireland and BFI/Film Hub NI, and is proudly sponsored by TG4, BBCNI, Yellowmoon, FinePoint Films and Stellify.