As Northern Ireland's booming film industry continues to shine on the world stage, a local filmmaker says the rise of the Irish language on the screen is "fantastic".
Joseph Jones from West Belfast is a growing name in the industry after the recent success of his short film Uilíoch' (Universal) which he wrote, directed and starred in.
The 26-year-old discovered a passion for the arts, particularly storytelling, when in secondary school and decided to up his life to follow his dream only two months after finishing school.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Joseph explained how he "took a leap of faith" and moved to New York to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and study acting.
He said: "It was an unbelievable experience and I stayed in the city for almost seven years. I acted and modelled and just before Covid, I was walking shows in New York Fashion Week. But when it hit, I lost my apartment, money, and upcoming jobs.
"While the world's borders were shutting down, I returned back home to Belfast temporarily and under lockdown, I decided to improve my Irish language skills again. Although I went to an Irish-speaking nursery and primary school and I would've always been involved in Irish language things growing up, I got very rusty while living abroad.
"I returned to New York in November 2020, I felt a shift in myself. In a way, I was trying to distance myself from Ireland, but in the end, it ended up being the very thing I should have been running towards."
After rediscovering his passion for the language, Joseph threw himself into the Irish community in New York, teaching it online at the Irish Arts Center in Manhattan and becoming a regular guest on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and BBC Blas.
After moving to Dublin last year, he felt it was "a natural transition" where he could combine all of his interests.
Joseph continued: "Not long after moving my friend recommended to me the award-winning TV & Film course with Nemeton TV in the Waterford Gaeltacht. Before that, I had never even been to Waterford.
"But I'm so thankful that I made that jump as I got to develop as a Director, Producer, and Writer through the mentorship of a production company all through the Irish language."
Uilíoch is a short film set during the Troubles that explores the depths of grief. Through a series of flashbacks, it follows two characters, a man and his younger self, who are struggling with their grief over the death of a loved one.
The film poses the question: how does something that brings silence, create so much noise? It was developed by NEMETON TV and supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
"I wanted to create a story with soul. I did a lot of reflection on my own life and when I started to think of grief. I felt something in my heart. I knew that this was it. I understand grief. Everyone understands. It's universal and that's why the title of the movie is Uilíoch," he explained.
"When you create a film in any language, you are telling a story that is shaped by the lens of that language. I wanted to create a movie that was routed in Ireland. You cannot get a more authentic voice, than the language itself."
Joseph said he has been "deeply humbled" to see the reaction to the film across the world - Uilíoch won 'Bilingual Short Film of the Year' at the 2023 Student Media Award and Best Live Action Short' at the Cinemagic On The Pulse film festival in Belfast.
"I have had people approach me in tears after watching," he said.
"We've had such an overwhelmingly positive response, and it's been an absolute honour to have been recognized at film festivals around the world with screenings in Belfast, LA, Cork, Manchester, Sweden, Rome, and Online.
"It's so important for us to have our own style of filmmaking and storytelling, the language gives us a vehicle to do that. We're seeing the Irish language now on a global stage.
"Just last week I was in Los Angeles for the screening of my film at the Irish Film Showcase, the next day I went to a screening and Q+A of Róise & Frank, while at the same time, An Cailín Ciúin was played in cinemas across the United States.
"Overall the talent from our wee island is insane, our craic is next to none and I'm so proud to be from here. There's no better time to come home."
Joseph's next short film set in Belfast is set to premiere on TG4 at the end of the year and he hopes that he will continue to create meaningful and impactful stories for the rest of his career.
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