He will receive an investment of €6,000 to develop their script with a mentor.
A Westmeath director has been selected as a finalist in the Virgin Media Discovers & Screen Ireland Short Film competition.
Jamie O'Rourke's film 'Calf' tells the story of a near fatal farm accident that leaves teenager Cáit with a terrible decision to make in order to do what she must to protect her family.
The Moate man is one of three finalists chosen from a shortlist of 10 talented applicants, who all received an investment of €6,000 to develop their script with a mentor.
The judges included award winning director and screenwriter Lenny Abrahamson (What Richard Did, Normal People, and Room), rising Irish actress, writer, and star of hit crime drama, Kin, Clare Dunne; Clinton Liberty who played Kiernan in global hit drama 'Normal People' and Linus in drama 'Holding'; screenwriter and executive producer Ursula Rani Sarma (Delicious and Red Rock) as well as representatives from Virgin Media Television, Screen Ireland, and the Dublin International Film Festival.
Speaking about his win, writer and director Jamie O'Rourke said: "It feels slightly unreal to be selected in the final three for this year's Virgin Media Discovers & Screen Ireland Short Film Competition. Safe to say we're absolutely delighted to be chosen and particularly with this script. Our story reflects the very sad reality that affects too many Irish families and families worldwide. Year on year, reports of domestic violence incidents in the home are on the increase.
"Many more get hushed up and go unreported. Even if reported, many cases often do not result in criminal charges. 'Calf' is a dark drama that does not shy away from the devastating impact domestic violence and coercive control can wreak on a family."
The producers of the project, Ronan Cassidy and Greg Burrowes, are from Limerick where filming will take place.
Virgin Media Discovers was launched in 2020 and, in partnership with Screen Ireland, invests €200,000 to support Irish filmmakers. Along with the €30,000 to fund the production of a 10-minute short film, the Virgin Media Discovers competition also provides mentorship, PR, advertising and marketing support. Award winning filmmaker, Frank Berry, (I Used to Live Here, Michael Inside, and Aisha) will be mentoring writer/director O'Rourke along with producers Ronan Cassidy & Gregory Burrowes.
He said: "I'm delighted to be a mentor on the Virgin Media Discovers Short Film competition again this year which I think is one of the most important spaces on the Irish film landscape. Working with the uniquely talented Rehan Ali last year was a very special experience, and I'm very much looking forward to working with more exciting talent this year."
Andrew Byrne, TV Manager with Screen Ireland said: "Screen Ireland is delighted to support the Virgin Media Discovers scheme, developing new and diverse voices, and telling powerful stories like Calf, which shines a light on issues that affect families everywhere. Our congratulations to writer/director Jamie O'Rourke and the creative team behind Calf as they begin their production journey."
The final production will be broadcast on Virgin Media Television, Virgin Media on Demand and as part of the Dublin International Film Festival programme of events, along with the two other finalists' films. These include 'Good Chips' which takes the audience back to Dublin in 1989, as a family of Vietnamese immigrants struggle to keep their takeaway business afloat while their 12-year-old daughter befriends one of the customers, a local Irish boy and comedy 'Unhinged' which follows a self-deprecating millennial who discovers the love of her life and colleague on Tinder and must find the confidence to swipe right before his leaving party, all while navigating a fatphobic workplace.
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