Newtown Boys - Short Film Fundraiser!

Thank you for your interest in our short film, Newtown Boys. Our shoot takes place this February in Tramore, County Waterford. We are thrilled to connect with you and invite you to support the making of this very special story. We have successfully raised enough funding for pre-production and to cover our shoot dates, and we are now looking for support with our post production costs.

The Story

When his parents decide to foster a boy from a convent in Cappoquin, 10-year-old Conn vows to show newcomer, Joseph, his kingdom: Tramore, County Waterford. Newtown Boys tells the story of two young boys from completely different backgrounds. It is a tale of youth and adventure for our two young protagonists, but it is also an examination of the inordinate influence of the Catholic Church on Irish families and the children affected by this system. Newtown Boys broadens the concept of the traditional family and implores us to find human connection beyond the ordinary.

Newtown Boys, written by Heather O'Sullivan, successfully reached the final round of the National Talent Academy’s Live Action Short Competition 2024 and was a finalist for Best Short Script at the Waterford Film Festival 2024.

Take a look at our visualiser to get a real sense of what you're supporting! Our chosen clips will give you taste of the spirit and tone we're planning to achieve.

Newtown Boys Visualiser

Meet the Team

Newtown Boys is a product of three emerging female filmmakers working across the Irish screen industry.

Writer

Heather is a Dublin-based actor, writer, and theatre producer. She is a Mountview Academy graduate and co-runs cabaret company Discoland, who were resident artists at Omnibus Theatre in 2023. Her one-woman show Lowkey Dying debuted in November 2022, and her play After Daddy was longlisted for the Bold Elephant Playwrights Award. She has been supported by Arts Council England and DLR and has performed internationally, including at The Irish Rep NYC, the cell, La Jolla Playhouse and Edinburgh Fringe. She was part of The Writers Club, spearheaded by the GALPAL Collective and The National Talent Academy and X-Pollinator 2024, a cross-disciplinary professional development and networking initiative for female, trans and non-binary talent in Ireland. Heather is one of the winners of the Virgin Media Discovers Award 2024, along with co-writer Niamh Bryson. Their film, Trasna na Líne, will premiere at The Dublin International Film Festival in February 2025.

Director

Niamh is a Dublin based director whose career began on the set of Ridley Scott's The Last Duel after graduating from DIT Film School. After three years assisting top directors, she transitioned to writing and directing, focusing on female and queer stories. Her style blends humour, nostalgia, and a rose-tinted, feminine lens with a touch of vulnerability. Known for her vibrant, film-based visuals, Niamh was nominated for Best Emerging Female Director at Indie Cork in 2019. She has directed numerous music videos for Irish artists including Toucan, Sprints, and Melina Malone. She optioned her first TV show in 2020 and recently won Best Spec Commercial at the 2024 Emerging Director Awards for Pellador: Not Just For Footballers. She is also one of the winners of Virgin Media Discovers 2024.

Producer

Emily Power is a producer at Heritage, working with brands like Codex Beauty, Microsoft, and Atlantic Records LA. In 2022, she produced several short films, including the Virgin Media Discovers winner Unhinged and Soulmate Wanted, funded by the First Frames initiative. She also served as Production Manager on the IFTA-nominated Two for the Road, longlisted for the Oscars. In 2023, Emily won the Kinsale Shark for Best New Talent in Producing. Recently, she joined the Screen Producers Ireland and National Talent Academy course ‘Emerge’ and the X-pollinator initiative supported by Screen Ireland and Creative Europe.

What Your Support Will Enable:

Post Production Costs: Your donation covers essential expenses like editing, mixing, sound, music and visual effects.

Emerging Female Filmmakers: Many team members are emerging talents in Irish film. Your support helps them showcase their skills and be paid fairly, sustaining a vibrant artistic landscape.

Creating Opportunities: The film will serve as a portfolio piece, opening doors for cast and crew in the industry. Filming in Tramore, Waterford, also provides opportunities for regional filmmakers and boosts the local economy.

Trainee Opportunities: We're currently running four traineeships, providing newcomers hands-on experience with industry professionals, helping them earn their first film credits.

A Few Final Words

We want to express a huge thank you to everyone who donates to the making of this film! Your contribution, not matter the size, will have a huge impact on the making of this story. Every donation made, big or small, brings us one step closer to the creating the movie we have been working towards for over a year and a half. A lot of hard work has already gone into the pre-production of this film, from all our HODs, and your contribution will greatly impact the quality and future life of this short film.