CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
IFTA Nomination 2023 George Morrison Documentary Feature:
North Circular (director/producer)
Thin Line Film Festival, Denton 2023 - Best Sound On Screen Award
North Circular (director/producer)
Salem Film Festival 2023 - American Cinematographer Award for Best Cinematography
North Circular (director/producer)
FIPADOC Grand Prix 2023 - Best Musical Documentary
North Circular (director/producer)
Dublin International Film Festival 2022 - Best Documentary Special Mention
North Circular (director/producer)
Louth International Film Festival 2022 - Best Documentary Winner
North Circular (director/producer)
IndieCork Film Festival 2022 - Spirit Of IndieCork Award Winner
Luke McManus, Director
IndieCork Film Festival 2022 - Best Documentary Honorable Mention
North Circular (director/producer)
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2022 - International Premiere - North Circular (director/producer)
IFTA Winner 2020 George Morrison Documentary Feature: The Lonely Battle Of Thomas Reid (producer)
ADIFF Critic’s Circle Best Irish Film Award 2018: The Lonely Battle Of Thomas Reid (producer)
Celtic Media Nomination 2019: Jump Girls (writer/director)
IDFA Main Competition 2017: The Lonely Battle Of Thomas Reid (producer)
IFTA Winner 2016: Single Documentary: I Am Immigrant (writer/director)
IFTA Winner 2015: Best Sports Programme: Arkle (writer/director)
Celtic Media Award Winner 2015: Arkle (writer/director)
IFTA Winner 2003: Best Specialist Factual: Sampler (director)
Celtic Media Nomination 2017 Best Doc, I Am Immigrant (director)
IFTA Nomination 2016: Specialist Factual: Crainn na hÉireann, TG4 (director)
IFTA Nomination 2013: Best Sports Programme: Jump Boys, TG4/ Channel 4 (director)
Celtic Media Nomination 2012 Nomination: Sports, Jump Boys (director)
Dingle Film Festival – Audience Award – Bás Arto Leary
Best First Short Film, Galway Film Fleadh 2008 – Danger High Voltage
Special Jury Award, Cork Film Festival 2008 – Danger High Voltage
FULL CV/RESUMÉ
(download as pdf)
2022
Director/Producer/DOP - Stories From The Streets - BAI/VMTV
A three part documentary series following the lives of the homeless in Dublin
Director/Producer - North Circular - Feature Documentary - Arts Council
An exploration of the history and psychological landscape of Dublin’s North Circular Road, told in story and song.
2021
Producer/Unit Production Manager - Pembe
Working with director Bryony Dunne on her experimental documentary on the international rhino horn trade
Producer/Director - Sophie: A Murder In West Cork - Netflix
Worked as a location producer/director on Lightbox’s Netflix documentary series on the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier
2020
Director/Producer/Editor - Circular Line (Documentary Short)_
An impressionistic documentary journey along the Grand Canal during lockdown, commissioned by Waterways Ireland for Culture Night 2020.
Director/Producer - Making A Museum: The Story Of MoLI - RTE One
Wrote and directed an acclaimed one-off documentary on the establishing and construction of the Museum Of Literature in Newman House on Dublin’s St Stephens Green.
Director - O’Casey On The Estate - RTE One - Shinawil
Wrote and directed a two part documentary on the community from which Sean O’Casey came as a local group stages a production of The Plough & The Stars.
2019
Director/Writer - The Team That Turned Up – Sorcha Glackin - EirSport
Directed a one hour film on one of the most moving and important moments in the history of Irish sport – the Five Nations match between Ireland and England in Lansdowne Road in 1973.
Director - Return To Downton - Circle - NBC/Universal
Location directing of a single documentary on the acclaimed TV series and film, Downton Abbey
Director - Creative Company - EZ Films - TG4
Directed a six part series about art in a corporate environment
Producer/Director – Jump Girls – Touchline Media - TG4
Wrote and directed the acclaimed feature documentary on women in National Hunt racing which aired on TG4 and ITV
Writer/Director - Eco Eye: The Electric Car – Earth Horizon - RTE One
Wrote and directed an episode of the popular RTE One show
2018
Writer/Director – Channel Hop: The TV3 Story – Virgin Media IPU
Wrote and directed an hour-long documentary chronicling the twenty year story of TV3.
Director – Who Do You Think You Are? – Animo TV
Directed the acclaimed season opener of the popular BBC series featuring Damien Dempsey.
Director – Project Fitzwilliam – Animo TV
A major three year building documentary on the redevelopment of ESB’s headquarters on Merrion Square.
2017
Producer – The Lonely Battle Of Thomas Reid – FSE FILMS/ IFB
Producing a feature documentary funded by the Irish Film Board and directed by Feargal Ward on the struggle of isolated farmer Thomas Reid against the compulsory sale of his land for development purposes.
Director - The Big Build – Coco TV – RTE One
Directing an ob doc on the construction of a massive 100 million euro building on Dublin’s Stephen’s Green.
Director – Revolting Ireland – Sideline Productions – TV3
Writing and directing two episodes of a four part series on the history of protest in Ireland
2016
I Am Immigrant – Motive TV – RTE Two
Wrote and directed a single one hour on immigrant lives in Ireland for RTE Two
Director – Crimecall – Coco TV/ RTE One
Directed numerous crime reconstructions for the RTE crime show.
2015
Crainn na hEireann – Abu Media – TG4
Wrote and directed an acclaimed ten part series on the trees of Ireland for TG4 – nominated for the Specialist Factual IFTA.
Studio Director: The Consumer Show – Coco TV – RTE ONE
Directed the studio content, oversaw graphics production and all postproduction of the popular RTE One Consumer Affairs show.
2014
Series Director – Race Week (Seachtain na Rasaí) Directing a multi-unit shoot at the 2014 Galway Races for TG4
Studio Director: The Consumer Show – Coco TV – RTE ONE
Directed the studio content, supervised the rebranding and revamping of the show and oversaw postproduction of the popular RTE One Consumer Affairs show.
Writer/Director – Arkle: The Legend Lives On – Touchline Media for TG4/Channel 4
Directed a documentary about Arkle, the greatest steeplechaser in history.
Producer/Director – Féile Dreams, RTE One/London Live
Single documentary on Gaelic football in a London school
Director – Crimecall – Coco TV/ RTE One
Directed numerous crime reconstructions for the RTE crime show.
Director - Tracks & Trails – SMG/RTE One
Directed one episode of the walking show for RTE One
2013
Director – Crimecall – Coco TV/ RTE One
Directed numerous crime reconstructions for the RTE crime show.
Producer/Director– Féile Dreams – RTE One/London Live
Single documentary on Gaelic football in a London school
Series Director - Tracks & Trails – SMG/RTE One
Directed three episodes of the walking show for RTE One
Director – Were You There? – Ballywire/GAA Youtube
Directing mini-documentaries for the GAA YouTube Channel
2012
Director - Jump Boys – Touchline Media/TG4
Directed a one hour documentary for TG4 following leading National Hunt Jockeys Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty and Davy Russell over the course of a National Hunt racing season.
Director – Crimecall – Coco TV/ RTE One
Directed numerous crime reconstructions for the RTE crime show.
Executive Producer – The Estate – Motive/TV3
Produced a documentary series following life on a council estate in Waterford.
DRAMA CREDITS
2012
Director – Bás Arto Leary – ROSG/Eo Teilifís – TG4 Directing a half-hour drama for TG4 based on Caoineadh Art Ui Laoghaire. Script by Manchán Magan, starring Kelly Gough, Owen Mc Donnell, Lochlainn O’Mearáin and Aoife Nic Ardghail. Produced by Ciarán O’Cofaigh
Director – Homemade – Short Film (IFB funded)
Directing a five minute short starring Jim Norton and Roxanna Nic Liam. Selected for Dublin, Galway, Cork, Kerry & Dingle Film Festivals. Also screening at Flickerfest Sydney.
Director – If We Dead Awaken – Touchpaper TV/Channel 4
Directing a half-hour Channel 4 drama as part of the Coming Up series. Executive Producer: John Chapman (The Street/The Lost Prince)
2011
Writer/Director, The Opening – Filmbase/Temple Bar Cultural Trust
Short film featuring Barry Ward (Family) and Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul)
2009
Writer/Director - Psych Ward (4 part web series) – RTE Storyland
Psych Ward was my first drama commission for RTE. A dark intense tale of a young psychiatrist on the edge, Psych Ward finished in 3rd place in the RTE Storyland competition.
2008
Director – Danger High Voltage
My debut short film telling the story of a boy meeting a girl at Electric Picnic. Starring Charlene McKenna and Barry Ward.
Best First Irish Short Film, Galway Film Fleadh 2008
Special Jury Award, Cork Film Festival 2008
Film Of The Festival, London Short Film Festival
2009 Offical Selection: Palm Springs Shorts Fest
2008
Director/Writer – Monitor
A short film about surveillance, stress, consumerism & contemporary dance. Commissioned by RTE and the Arts Council as part of the Dance On The Box season.
AUDIO WORK
As well as occasionally acting as a sound recordist on projects like North Circular, I Am Immigrant & Stories From The Streets I have also produced a number of audio documentaries for radio, both short form for RTE Culture File and long form for Newstalk.
EVENTS
I have conceived, organised, marketed and promoted a number of literary and film-related in-person events featuring talents such as Lenny Abrahamson, Sally Rooney, Jami Attenberg, Patrick Freyne, Paul Murray, Mark O’Connell, Emer McLysaght, Sarah Breen, Conor Finnegan, Juanita Wilson, Feargal Ward, Domhnall Gleeson, Tom Sullivan, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Ken Wardrop, Katrina Costello, Pat Collins, Ross Whitaker, Emer Reynolds, Maurice Sweeney, Damien O’Connor, Sinéad O’Shea, Mark Coughlan, Angela Nagle, Eoin Butler, Colin Murphy & Colm Bairéad. I’m also an experienced film Q & A host and panellist.
I am involved with the hugely successful annual Stoneybatter Festival, focusing on the areas of creative programming, values and mission, marketing and publicity.
BOARDS & COMMUNITY WORK
Elected Community Representative: Grangegorman Development Agency 2018 to date
Board Member: The Joinery Arts Centre, Stoneybatter 2013-2015
Board Member: TCD Quatercentenary Celebration Committee 1992
Chairman, Rathdown Road & District Residents Association 2018-to date
Activist on sustainability and mobility in Dublin 7 working on successful campaigns for progressive change in favour of cycling and walking.
Part of the coaching team on St Brendan's GAA Club
