On December 20th, we hosted our very first Picturehouse Christmas Special! The event featured an exciting selection of short films, along with entries for our highly anticipated Christmas Challenge. Congratulations to John Bermingham and The Stag for taking home the top prize! Audiences were also thrilled by the live-action spectacle, Operation: NUTCRACKER, capped off with a surprise visit from the big man himself. It was a festive evening to remember! Where the films are not available online, we suggest getting into contact with the creators if you want to view them.
The Wren / Rachel Gough
Cast & Crew
Written and Directed by Rachel Gough
Assistant Director - Sean Hannon
Cinematography by Kieran Kelleher
Edited by Christy Taylor
Set Design by Sandra Costello
Starring
Noreen Gough as The Wife
Kevin Gough as The Husband
Interviewees
Kieran Kelleher
Sandra Costello
Last Christmas / 1SNAP Productions
Cast & Crew
Camera work - 1SNAP Productions
Producer - Axel Vapa
Korey Power
Caitriona Twomey
Roy O Regan
Jennifer O Regan and their wonderful children Jessica, Sasha and Shania.
Many thanks to UCC and The Marina Market on Ice.
A Chirstmas music video.
The Holly King / Conor & Jamie Hooper
Cast & Crew
Directed by Lakshika Serasinhe
Written by Conor Hooper
Produced by Conor and Jamie Hooper
Music by Tobias Barry
Cinematography by Philip Bond
Editing by Philip Bond, Shane Groake, Jamie Hooper, Brian McKermitt
Colourist - Shane Groake
Sound Department - Jamie Hooper
Camera and Electrical Department - Shane Groake
Cast:
Eavan Murphy
Mark Sullivan
Joseph Palmer
"The Holly King" follows the gripping story of Holly King, a determined podcaster in search of the ultimate narrative.
The most perfect pants ever put on a person / David Murphy
Cast & Crew
Made by David Murphy, Patrick Cronin, Mark Hennessy, and Shaun McWhinney
A pair of pants causes quite a stir at Christmas.
A Christmas Karen / Emily Murray
Cast & Crew
Karen Scrooge – Cáit Moloney
Christmas Past – Séan Doyle
Christmas Present – Caoimhe Mulcahy
Bob/Christmas Future – Jamie Hooper
Narrated by Conor Hooper
Directed and shot by Emily Murray
Written and Visual Effects by Jamie Hooper
Sound and Original Music by Dónal Kennedy
Costumes and Makeup by Jane Quigley
Karen Scrooge is an utter bastard. But one Christmas night a ghost tries to bring her on some sort of lame vision quest; will Karen learn the error of her ways?
The Red Mad Man / Aaron O'Caoimh
Cast & Crew
Written & Directed by Aaron O'Caoimh
Cinematographer - Owen Warren
Production Design - Hannah Lane
Hair & M.U.A - Tracy Keating
Sound - Alex Kiely
Produced by Bolt Productions
Poster - Darragh Kiely
Cast:
Matthew Real
Sam Torres
Jodie Lyne
In 1889 France, Vincent Van Gogh creates his most iconic painting, within the confinements of St Remy's Mental Asylum.
THE PICTUREHOUSE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE 2023 ENTRIES
A Very Bjornism Christmas / Bjørnism & Robin Guiton
WINNER: Best Screenplay (Bjorn & Robin Guiton) & Best Editing
Cast & Crew
A tale of one boys persistence to reanimate the Christmas spirit... by any means necessary!
Birdín's Gone /Elena Bennig, Lawrence Cook & Toni O'Conor
Cast & Crew
A Christmas Film.
A Very Jumbo Christmas / Adam Barry Murphy
WINNER: Audience Award
Cast & Crew
Written & Directed By Adam Barry Murphy
Voiced by Oscar O'Sullivan
On Christmas Eve, Jumbo receives a very special letter.
San Claus/ Nicole DeLarge
Cast & Crew
An OUT OF FRAME Production
Producer: Benjamin Rupprecht
Director and Cinematography: Nicole DeLarge
Written by: Benjamin Rupprecht and Martha Mourouzidi
Assistant Director & Sound: Martha Mourouzidi
Art Design: Benjamin Rupprecht, Nicole DeLarge, Jade Segrillo
Edit and Colour Grading: Nicole DeLarge
Music: The Love Buzz
Cast: San Claus - Naoise McGuinness
Having taken over from her father, San’s job as the new Santa Claus seems to have taken a toll on her. People’s reactions towards her aren’t what she expects and life as Santa is not easy.
Toxic / Ronan Murphy
Cast & Crew
Written, Edited and Directed by Ronan Murphy.
Productions Assistants - Mark Delaney and Aideen Murphy.
In Order of Appearance:
Oisin Nedel
Botond Gyore
Sean McGath
Orla McCauley
Joe Griffin
Several student housemates silently act upon their frustration at Christmas dinner during COVID-19.
Selection Boxes and Mulled Wine / Graham & David McSweeney
Cast & Crew
Written and Directed by Graham McSweeney
Produced by David and Graham McSweeney
Cast:
David McSweeney
Megan Prendergast
Shane Kelleher
Graham McSweeney
Sarah Kate McSweeney
and Callan Buckley as the Narrator
Cinematography, Sound and Editing by Graham McSweeney
Production Design by Natalia Wajda
Poor Wesley, all alone on Christmas, tells us about what would have been his usual holiday plans had his family and friends not abandoned him.
The Stag / John Bermingham
WINNER: Best Film & Best Actor (Patrick Curran)
Cast & Crew
Written, Directed, Edited, VFx'd, and Sound Designed by John Bermingham
Starring Patrick Curran, Kris Cowming
Featuring the song "All I Want This Year" by David Ryan
A man makes a decision he soon regrets as he is terrorised by a decoration on the way home after a night out at Christmas.
Operation: NUTCRACKER / Adam Byrne & Andrew Wrenard
Cast & Crew
Written by Adam Byrne, Andrew Wrenard & Conor Dineen
Directed by Adam Byrne & Andrew Wrenard
Produced by Jamie Hooper and Shane Grourke
Starring:
Kenny Todgers
Sam Perez
Sam Peare
Shane Kelleher
Megan Pendergast
Orla Begley
Harry Ryall
A transmedia piece of live-event theatre, Nutcracker hacked the Picturehouse airwaves to repeatedly interrupt our Christmas Special.