"Irish" - Short Film

My name is Thomas McNally and I am a Dublin-based writer and director. I am fundraising for a new short film called "Irish", which is a comedy about the experiences of an Indian immigrant in Dublin.

Funding is required to cover the following costs: production design (€100), wardrobe (€80), catering (€100), and location booking (€180).

I have a fantastic and highly experienced cast and crew on board to make the film, and we intend to shoot it in Dublin over two days in early August 2024. The lead actor is Vatsal Tiwari and the main supporting role is played by John Kelly.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Logline:

In the aftermath of the Dublin riots, a young Indian man living in Dublin goes to extreme lengths to try to integrate into Irish society.

Inspiration behind the short film:

I wrote the script in direct response to the Dublin riots in November 2023, and more broadly in reaction to the growing anti-immigrant sentiment in parts of Irish society. However, since my interest is primarily in writing and directing comedies, I wanted to take the less obvious approach of writing a comedy that would address the very serious and emotive topics of racism and immigration in Ireland.

For inspiration, I thought of Mel Brooks’ movies, for example "The Producers" and "Blazing Saddles", and his life-long goal of creating slapstick comedies with underlying weighty issues that function (as Brooks put it) ‘like an engine driving the comedy’. I believe that even the most farcical comedies can have a profound effect on audiences if constructed truthfully and compassionately.

From my own life, I also drew inspiration from my experiences of filmmaking in Dublin over the last couple of years. I first got into filmmaking after the pandemic, and one thing that struck me was how international and multi-cultural the film sector is in Ireland. I have become closely involved in the ‘Dublin Filmmakers’ group in recent years and it has been a wonderful setting in which to meet talented people from all over the world working in film. Filmmaking in Ireland is a cross-cultural practice, and I want my short film to be a celebration of that, both in the narrative and in the people employed on the project. The story at the centre of the short film is in essence written in solidarity with all immigrants living in Ireland.

My previous experience as a filmmaker:

Prior to getting into filmmaking in 2021, I was developing a career as a writer and illustrator. I achieved success as an illustrator, publishing two books of illustration with the Lilliput Press in 2014 and 2018. Both books were illustrated editions of short fables from James Joyce’s "Finnegans Wake". Initially, I began collaborating with filmmakers as a storyboard artist, but I quickly took on other roles such as production designer and producer, helping others make their short films.

In 2023, I wrote and directed my first short film, called "Comedians Anonymous", which is currently on its festival run. So far, it has picked up nominations and awards, including a ‘Best Comedy’ award at the Paris Play Film Festival, nominations for ‘Best International Film’ and ‘Best Ensemble Cast’ at the London Comedy Shorts Awards, and ‘Best Comedy Director’ at the London Director Awards.

Distribution plan:

When completed, the short film will be submitted to numerous Irish and international film festivals. I want to present the short film to as wide an audience as possible. Subsequently, the aim is to screen the short on streaming platforms and through television broadcasters. An IMDb page will also be set up for the short film.

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Donations of €10 and over will receive a 'Special Thanks' mention in the film credits. Donators who contribute €300 or over will receive an 'Executive Producer' credit on the film.