A Modern Director’s Survival Workshop, with Brendan Canty

Film, Music Videos and Commercials: A Modern Director’s Survival Workshop, with Brendan Canty

After the success of this workshop in 2023, the NTA & TV is excited to present the 2024 edition of the ‘Modern Director’s Survival Workshop’ with director Brendan Canty, who has forged his career flitting between film, music videos 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 enjoyed early 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), and since then Brendan has gone on to direct consistently elegant and visually stunning music videos for top international artists such as Dermot Kennedy and Talos. In 2017, Brendan directed For You (starring Barry Keoghan), which won a Kinsale Shark and was nominated for an IFTA. In 2019, Brendan directed a second short film - 'Christy' - funded through Screen Ireland, which he's since developed into his debut feature with BBC Films and Screen Ireland, slated for release in 2024. He recently won Best Director at Show Me Shorts Festival for his latest short film Atali'i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent). Commercially, Brendan has directed ads for Budweiser, Sky Sports, Adidas and Failte Ireland to name just a few. 

Dates/Duration:  

Approx 9AM - 5PM (Lunch will be provided) on June 8th and 9th 2024, 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.  

This workshop will take place in person June 8th and 9th 2024, 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 link 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 20th May 2024 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.