The sixth Docs Ireland returns from 18-23 June with a top-tier industry programme featuring diverse workshops, panels and case studies. Highlights include the Anatomy of a Cut editing workshop, a round-table on sustaining a living as a documentary filmmaker, and a case study on The Year That Rocked Irish Dancing. Filmmaker Luke McManus and journalist Derek O’Connor will present “In Real Life: Giving Your Doc a Life in Cinema”. This year’s festival will also spotlight the Nordics with presentations, case studies and panels on Nordic documentary filmmaking and its supporting infrastructures.

In its fifth year, Docs Ireland’s Marketplace will expand to a two-day event on 21-22 June at 2 Royal Avenue in Belfast (see the news). Thirty-four Irish, UK and international projects will be pitched to decision makers, offering filmmakers the chance to meet one on one with top international funders, broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors. This unique marketplace, the only one dedicated to documentary on the island of Ireland, facilitates carefully matched one-on-one meetings organised by the Docs Ireland team. This year, the Doc-Shop section is being introduced to the marketplace. The new initiative invites select films screening at Docs Ireland 2024, which are seeking sales and distribution deals, to meet with potential buyers.

Róisin Geraghty, Docs Ireland's head of industry, commented: “We are so proud to see the recognition and scope of Docs Ireland growing year on year, and are proud to present our most fulsome industry offering yet in 2024.”

The Northern Ireland Screen Pitch offers new projects a chance to win £9,000 for a documentary feature pilot. Organised by Docs Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, the event allows shortlisted filmmakers to pitch their projects on 22 June and receive feedback from top Irish film-industry experts. IGNITE-DOCS, a partnership between the Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland, aims to nurture new documentary filmmakers from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The initiative supports sustainable growth and artistry in the Irish documentary community through training, skills development, mentorship, and leveraging both festivals' resources and expertise.

The industry programme also features various networking opportunities, including drinks receptions and a Meet the Programmers Lunch, where industry delegates can connect with film-festival programmers from across Europe.

The full list of selected projects is as follows:

Docs Ireland Marketplace

Abaas - Alice McDowell (Ireland)
Producer: Alice McDowell
Executive producer: Peadar King

All the Lovely Animals - Kathleen Harris (Ireland)
Producer: Ross Whitaker

The Amber Isle - Adam Park (UK/Ireland)
Producers: Daniel Hegarty, Adam Park

Anam Na Mara (Soul of the Sea) - Gav Fitzgerald (Ireland)
Producer: Ken Wardrop

Big in Gazi Baba - Pauline Blanchet (North Macedonia/UK) – selected by East Doc Platform
Producers: Avdi Thachi, Jan Dunn, James Collie

The Commemoration - Chris Nikkel (Canada/Ireland)
Producers: Frankie Fenton, Kathryn Kennedy

Dancing in Corsica - Julie Bonan (France/Greece/Ireland)
Producers: Jean-Pierre Alessandri, Jeremiah Cullinane

Flight from Gaza - Garry Keane, Stephen Gerard Kelly (UK/Ireland)
Producer: Brendan J Byrne
Co-producer: Alison Toomey

From the Back of the Room - Peter O’Brien (Ireland)
Producers: Louise Byrne, Ross Killeen

Hollywood Trailblazer - Jim McMorrow, Margaret McGoldrick (UK)
Producer: Margaret McGoldrick

Horse/Woman - Lizzie MacKenzie (UK)
Producers: Emily Copley, Lizzie MacKenzie

Horsemeat - Ross Whitaker (Ireland)
Producer: Jean Devlin

The Human Touch - Jonny Madderson, Jono Stevens (Ireland)
Producer: Gráinne Dwyer

Jackie & Coco - Gerard Walsh (Ireland)
Producer: Alex Fegan

Last Night at Juniors Place - Patrick Bodenham, Pablo Correa (UK)
Producer: Chris Kelly

Life of Tipu - Bob Gallagher (Ireland)
Producers: David Clarke, Jeanie Igoe

The Light Pours Out of Me - Paul Sng (UK)
Producers: Nicola Black, Clare Stronge

Love Letters - Daniel Cook (UK) - selected by Doc Society
Producers: James Heath, Marcy Paterson

One Inch Eastward - Irina Maldea (Ireland/Bulgaria)
Producers: Brendan Culleton, Ralitsa Golemanova

Silence of the Lams - Ciaran Deeney (Ireland)
Producer: David Clarke

The Sperm King - Daire Collins, Mark Napier (Ireland)
Producer: Michael Mallie

Teta Ida - Beta Bajgart (Czech Republic/Ireland)
Producers: Jaro Waldeck, Beta Bajgart

Witness to the Witness - Paul McGuigan (UK)
Producer: Paul McGuigan

IGNITE-Docs Talent Development Programme

Aida - Peadar Ó Goill (UK)
Producer: Ainle Ó Cairealláin

Amanda - José Miguel Jimenez (Ireland)

Canine - Paul Webster (Ireland)
Producer: Brian Willis

Jamie Griffin: Merlin Twist - Nathan Griffin (Ireland)

Our Lady Rebecca - Nicky Larkin (UK/Ireland)

Seamus Ennis: The Last Notes of an Era - Feilimí O’Connor (Ireland)
Producer: Aisling Ni Fhlaithearta

Slane - Garret Daly (Ireland)
Producer: Martina McGlynn

Docs Ireland Doc-shop

Burkitt - Éanna Mac Cana (UK/Ireland)
Producer: Chris Kelly

The Day of Trees - Alan Gilsenan (Ireland)
Producer: Tomas Hardiman

Don’t Forget to Remember - Ross Killeen (Ireland)
Producer: Louise Byrne

My Friend Lanre - Leo Regan (UK)
Producer: Mary Carson

Northern Ireland Screen Pitch

Aida - Peadar Ó Goill (UK)
Producer: Ainle Ó Cairealláin

Canine - Paul Webster (Ireland)
Producer: Brian Willis

Enough Is Enough - Shane Caffrey (Ireland)
Producer: Daniel Hegarty

Mir I Am Survivor - Edel O’Mahony (UK)
Producer: Kate Southwell

Saving Sodomy from Ulster - Lewis Doherty (UK)
Producer: Luke Oliveira-Davies

Shades of Blue - Katie McFadden (UK)
Producer: Simeon Costello