A Modern Director's Survival Workshop, with Brendan Canty

A Modern Director's Survival Workshop, with Brendan Canty.

Following the success of previous years, NTA Film & TV is excited to present the 2025 edition of the ‘Modern Director’s Survival Workshop’ with director Brendan Canty, who has forged his career flitting between film, music videos, television and commercials.

With this experience, Brendan will run a two-day workshop that explores the different avenues available to directors and how each one can massively support the others – financially and creatively. This is all with the goal of creating a sustainable career as a director, while balancing work in the above mediums.

He will break down what is involved in making films (features and shorts), music videos and commercials, and how they can inform each other, from the treatments and the pitching process to the varying creative processes. He will use his own story as a case study to give the participants an in-depth view of each world and share tips on how to make a career as a multifaceted, modern-day Director.

Tutor Profile:

Brendan Canty has forged his way as one of the most exciting and prolific Irish directors. His early career enjoyed large success with his video for Hozier's 'Take Me to Church' (which has since surpassed a billion views on Youtube along with two MTV VMA nominations), since then Brendan has gone on to direct consistently elegant and visually stunning music videos for top international artists (Dermot Kennedy, Talos) as well as commercials for brands such as Adidas, Sky Sports and Failte Ireland.

In 2017 Brendan directed 'For You' (starring Barry Keoghan) which went on to win a Kinsale Shark and was nominated for an IFTA. In 2019, Brendan directed a second short film - 'Christy', which he has since made into his debut feature with BBC Film and Screen Ireland. The film premiered at the Berlinale 2025, where it won the Generation 14plus Grand Prix. He recently won a multitude of awards for his latest short film 'Atali'i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent)', including the Audience Award and Best Director at Show Me Shorts.

Dates/Duration:

Approx 9AM-5PM on June 7th and 8th 2025, in Cork City.

Who Can Apply:

The workshop is aimed at entry and emerging directors, with a demonstrable level of relevant experience, who are habitually resident in the regions (outside Dublin/Wicklow) and/or who identify as diverse (please see our Diversity & Inclusion Policy linked HERE )

Directors must:

Have previously directed at least one live action Short Film and/or one high-end commercial and/or one music video.
Be over the age of 18.
Be out of full time education.

This workshop will take place in person June 7th and 8th 2025, so when you are applying, please ensure you are available to participate on these dates.

How To Apply:

Applicants must apply by completing the application form linked HERE.

This application form will ask you to supply a download link to the following materials, via a folder on Google Drive/Dropbox/WeTransfer or a similar file sharing resource.

Media CV or professional biography or detailed summary of work to date. (1- 2 pages)
A Personal Statement detailing how this initiative will progress your career (up to 2 pages or filmed statement of up to 3 minutes)

Please address any questions to filmandtv@nationaltalentacademies.ie

Deadline for application is Monday 19th May 2025 at 12 noon.

Further Information

For any questions, please email filmandtv@nationaltalentacademies.ie

The National Talent Academy Film & TV is an initiative of Screen Ireland managed by Ardán