'An amazing time to be telling Irish stories': Screen Ireland announce 2024 film and TV releases

The Irish film industry looks set to follow up the outstanding successes of last year with a range of exciting film and television projects up for release in 2024.

The release comes as the Irish-produced film Poor Things scores a record-breaking 11 Oscar nominations.

According to Louise Ryan of Screen Ireland, 2023 has been "extraordinary" for Irish filmmaking.

"The industry picked up 124 awards across film and television, it's a testament to the creative talent working in the industry right now and to the strength of Irish filmmaking," she said on this Wednesday's Morning Ireland.

Screen Ireland, the national agency for the Irish film, television drama, animation, and documentary industry, has now launched its slate of more than 40 productions coming to audiences and international markets for 2024.

Showcased in the Production Slate funded by Screen Ireland are 20 feature films, eight TV dramas, seven animated series, 10 documentaries, three RTÉ Storyland projects and 31 short films. 

Highlights from the upcoming slate of film, television, animation and documentary include the feature film adaptation of Claire Keegan’s award-winning novel, Small Things Like These, written by Enda Walsh and directed by Tim Mielants.

Starring Cillian Murphy and Eileen Walsh, the film was announced as the first Irish feature film selected as the Opening Film for the prestigious Berlinale (Berlin Film Festival), and will receive its World Premiere there on Thursday, February 15. The film is produced by Alan Moloney and Cillian Murphy for Big Things Films. 

Cillian, who is also one of the producers of Small Things Like These, said he's delighted for the film to be part of the Screen Ireland Slate for 2024.

"Working on this film with director Tim Mielants and screenwriter Enda Walsh – as well as the film’s outstanding cast and crew in Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin – was an incredible experience. It’s a wonderful time for Irish filmmaking, and I’m proud to be part of putting Irish stories on the screen that tell us about ourselves: our past and present," said the Cork actor, who has just been nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award. 

Other film highlights include Bring Them Down, a crime thriller starring Barry Keoghan, the Irish language film Kneecap, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has been picked up for global distribution, European co-production The End, the latest project from acclaimed director Joshua Oppenheimer, and Darren Thornton’s Irish drama Four Mothers, starring Fionnuala Flanagan. 

For Barry Keoghan, being able to "shoot at home with an Irish crew - who are some of the best in the world - is always incredibly special".

"I can’t wait for audiences to see Bring Them Down very soon, and delighted the film is part of the Screen Ireland slate. It’s an amazing time to be telling Irish stories. I’m so proud to see how many new filmmakers and actors are coming out of Ireland, ready to take on the world," he said. 

Irish TV drama promises eight brand new Screen Ireland-supported series this year working with RTÉ Virgin Media, TG4 and a range of international broadcasters. These include; The Boy That Never Was, a thriller directed by Hannah Quinn, adapted from Karen Perry’s novel by crime author and screenwriter Jo Spain coming soon to RTÉ; The Hardacres, a period drama with Channel 5; and the return of a new season of comedy/drama The Dry for RTÉ and ITV. 

Screen Ireland continues to be a leading funder of Irish animation, with 2024 animated projects on the Slate including Maddie + Triggs, Doodle Girl, and interactive multi-platform project Where The Wild Geese Go. Irish documentary also promises a range of stories, from the tongue-in-cheek Housewife of the Year to true crime investigation from Charlie Bird, Ransom ’79.  

New voices and first-time filmmakers are key themes across Screen Ireland’s 2024 Production Slate, with several directorial debuts across feature film including Claire Byrne’s Ready or Not, Brian Durnin’s Spilt Milk, Brendan Canty’s Christy, and Eva Birthistle’s Kathleen Is Here.  

Up to 38% of the 2024 slate has been made by debut filmmakers, according to Louise. "If you're looking at talent like Cillian or Barry, or Paul Mescal or Andrew Scott, they all began their careers on independent Irish films, so it's an exciting time for the business," she said.

Discover the 2024 Screen Ireland Slate here.