PROJECTS
Restoration Rescue
BBC
Across Northern Ireland, the landscape is scattered with buildings falling into ruin - but thankfully, there are people out there on a mission to bring them back to life. In Restoration Rescue, we follow award-winning architect Patrick Bradley as he meets those taking on the challenge of restoring the buildings of our past. Series One included a former bank, a Lough Neagh cottage and a 19th-century gate lodge.
The One Show
BBC
Below the Radar is a regular supplier for the BBC One Show. Films include Peace Heroines, celebrating the women who played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process. We have also captured the thrilling world of point-to-point horse racing, charted the work of Autism in the Air, a project enabling families to experience the sights and sounds of a busy airport and we have explored the uptake in van living.
Walkin' Hame
BBC
Walkin’ Hame is a three-part Ulster-Scots series featuring presenters Mark Thompson and Lolly Spence as they explore the 300-mile Ulster leg of the International Appalachian Trail, passing through some of Ulster's most picturesque locations. In each episode, Mark and Lolly discover the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and local stories of the regions they visit, from the coastal town of Larne in County Antrim to the rugged landscapes of Donegal. They also meet people along the way who help them explore Ulster’s enduring links with the Appalachian region and discover more about the Ulster-Scots language and heritage.
Báistech / The Story of Rain
TG4
In this series, presenter Seán Mac an tSíthigh explores some of the mysteries behind the most everyday of phenomena, the rain which falls from our skies. We may take it for granted at times, but this, our most precious resource, has been the salvation of many communities around the globe. From those experiencing excessive rainfall to those who are praying for rain to scientists studying the impact of climate change on rain, we hear from communities in China, the USA, India, Scotland and closer to home about the impact of rain on their lives.
Rocky Ros Muc
Feature Doc
Rocky Ros Muc is a 2017 documentary film that tells the story of Sean Mannion, a boxer from Ros Muc, a small village in the Connemara Gaeltacht in Ireland. The film follows Mannion’s journey from his childhood in Ireland, to his emigration to Boston, where he became a contender for the world title in the 1980s. The film also explores Mannion’s involvement with the Irish-American underworld, and his struggle to maintain his identity and culture in a foreign land. Rocky Ros Muc is based on a biography by Ronan Mac Con Iomaire, and was directed by Michael Fanning. The film was nominated for an Irish Film and Television Award, and was longlisted for an Academy Award in the Best Documentary category.
Tara Mills: Life After Loss
BBC
In this powerful and candid film, Tara Mills goes on a personal journey and delves into the prevailing mental health and suicide crisis affecting Northern Ireland 15 years after her brother died by suicide.
In July 2008, Richard Mills died whilst working as an undercover war photographer in Zimbabwe during the time of President Mugabe’s reign. Tara tells her brother’s story and shares the profound impact of Richard’s death on her and her family.
Journeying 8,000 miles to Zimbabwe, Tara and her nephew Finn meet some of the people who were close to Richard and speak to those whom he spent time with during his final days.
In Northern Ireland, suicide rates remain stubbornly high, and Tara travels across the country, meeting people who have suffered similar loss and sees first-hand what some organisations are doing to provide mental health and suicide support – a lifeline for people who are suffering in silence.
Rúin na bPortach / Secrets of the Peat
BBC / TG4
A series taking a fresh look at the bogs and peatlands of Ireland and throughout the world. Presenter Cormac Ó hAdhmaill takes us on a journey from the boreal peatlands of Canada to the expansive peat plains of Finland and the beautiful blanket bogs of home. We meet people who are seeing pharmaceutical breakthroughs using our native bog plants, as well as those who care for Scotland's Red Stag in the peaty uplands of the Outer Hebrides and discover how changes to the peat industry are affecting people's way of living.
Paul Muldoon Loaithe 's Liricí / A Life in Lyrics
Feature Doc
Armagh-born Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon is the focus of this bilingual feature documentary. Muldoon is a global great of contemporary culture. For him, music matters almost as much as poetry, and he sees little difference between a poem and song lyrics. In the documentary, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alan Gilsenan, viewers are taken on a journey through words and music. The film features collaborations with a stellar line-up from the worlds of music, film and TV, including Paul Simon, Bono, Ruth Negga, Liam Nesson, Van Morrison, Moya Brennan and Iarla Ó Lionáird.
The Narrow Sea, the Farther Shore
BBC
The Narrow Sea, the Farther Shore with Phil Cunningham is a documentary series that follows the acclaimed Scottish musician and composer as he returns to Northern Ireland on a coastal journey to create a new musical piece inspired by the ancient ties between Ulster and Scotland. Along the way, he meets local singers, storytellers, and historians who share their perspectives and experiences of the Ulster-Scots culture and heritage. The series showcases the beauty and diversity of the landscapes and seascapes that connect the two regions, as well as the musical traditions and innovations that reflect their shared history.
The Sheriff
Feature Doc
The Sheriff is a 2020 documentary film directed by Grace Sweeney that explores the role and influence of sheriffs in the United States, especially in the context of the 2018 midterm elections. The film follows three candidates running for sheriff in two very different counties: Travis County, Texas, and Frederick County, Maryland. The film examines how the sheriffs shape the local politics, culture, and law enforcement of their communities, and how they reflect the national divisions and debates on immigration, gun control, and criminal justice reform.
The film also reveals the personal stories and motivations of the candidates, who face various challenges and controversies during their campaigns. The film showcases the diversity and complexity of the American sheriff system, which dates back to the colonial era and has evolved over time. The film also raises questions about the accountability, transparency, and legitimacy of the sheriffs, who are often the most powerful and popular elected officials in their counties.
The Sheriff is a co-production of Below the Radar and Fine Point Films, two independent production companies based in Ireland and the UK. The film was supported by Screen Ireland, BBC Storyville, and the Irish Film Board. The film premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2020, and was longlisted for the Grierson Awards in the Best Single Documentary category.
999 Faoi Oiliúint
BBC / RTE
999 Faoi Oiliúint is a four-part Irish language series following the next generation of emergency workers. Whether firefighter, paramedic, mountain rescuer or coast guard, each episode observes the new cadets undergoing intense and gruelling training. Do they have what it takes to make the grade? The series features cadets with Foyle Search and Rescue, Galway Fire Service, Mayo Mountain Rescue Team, Dublin Fire Service, National Ambulance Service Ireland, Lough Neagh Search and Rescue and the Irish Coast Guard.
Leah McCourt: Mother, Daughter, Fighter
BBC
Following Northern Ireland’s top female MMA fighter, Leah McCourt, and her return to the cage, as she combines her training with the duties of being a mum. The documentary culminates with Leah’s high-profile bout against Dayana Silva at Bellator 285 in Dublin’s 3Arena. With behind-the-scenes access, viewers experience the demands placed upon Leah during fight camp, from making weight to media appearances and to the intense moments backstage in the seconds before stepping into a packed arena full of fight fans cheering her on.
Nurses
BBC
Capturing the highs and lows of day-to-day life, nurses share personal stories from the job they love. This four-part series follows nurses working on the frontline across all of Northern Ireland’s Health Trusts, including emergency departments, neonatal units, working with prisoners and in mental health care.
I Lár an Aonaigh
BBC
I Lár an Aonaigh is an Irish language magazine show that features a lively mix of conversation, stories and the best of local music. Hosted by Máire Bhreathnach and Dáithí Ó Muirí, the show travels across Northern Ireland and beyond to meet interesting people and explore various aspects of the Irish language and culture. From history and heritage to arts and entertainment, I Lár an Aonaigh showcases the diversity and vitality of the Irish-speaking community.
Hame
BBC
Hame is a documentary series that explores the culture, history, and language of the Ulster-Scots people. Hosted by Mark Thompson and Ruth Sanderson, the series travels across Ulster and Scotland to discover the connections and influences that shaped the Ulster-Scots identity. Along the way, they meet local musicians, artists, writers, and historians who share their stories and insights into the Ulster-Scots heritage. Hame celebrates the rich and diverse legacy of the Ulster-Scots community and their contribution to the world.
An Focal Scoir
BBC
An Focal Scoir is an Irish language discussion programme that tackles various topics and issues that are relevant to the Irish-speaking community and beyond. Presented by Máire Bhreathnach, the programme features a panel of guests who share their opinions and insights on subjects ranging from politics and culture to health and education. An Focal Scoir aims to stimulate debate and dialogue among the viewers and to reflect the diversity and vitality of the Irish language and culture.