{"id":344586,"date":"2025-08-14T19:04:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T19:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/344586\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T19:04:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T19:04:15","slug":"derry-girls-star-and-belfast-comedian-among-big-names-set-to-star-in-three-new-bbc-northern-ireland-short-films","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/344586\/","title":{"rendered":"Derry Girls star and Belfast comedian among big names set to star in three new BBC Northern Ireland short films"},"content":{"rendered":"

The films will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland in 2025 and carried on BBC iPlayer across the UKl-r:- Orla (Louise Harland), Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), James (Dylan Llewellyn) and Michelle (Jamie-Lee O\u2fffDonnell)<\/p>\n

Saorise-Monica Jackson<\/a> is one of the big names announced for a new set of BBC Northern Ireland short films.<\/p>\n

Three short films have been named as part of the Green Lit initiative, a collaboration between BBC NI<\/a> and NI Screen to support emerging local writing, production, directing and acting talent.<\/p>\n

The scheme was launched in December 2024 when the invitation for proposals was opened to independent production companies.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: The Grinch and Blue Lights top Northern Ireland’s ‘most-watched list’ for 2024<\/a>READ MORE: Derry Girls actress to star in new BBC NI comedy drama<\/a><\/p>\n

Eddie Doyle, Head of Commissioning at BBC NI said: “The calibre of scripted ideas and scripts submitted through the scheme was truly impressive – a real showcase of the creativity and skill we have right here in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

“We eagerly anticipate the next phase, where one of these short-form projects may evolve into a full-length film or television series all made possible with the support from Northern Ireland Screen.”<\/p>\n

Richard Williams, Chief Executive Officer at NI Screen, added: “Nurturing emerging talent is at the heart of everything we do at Northern Ireland Screen, and it\u2019s exciting to see the Green Lit projects now moving into production.<\/p>\n

“Building on the success of our previous Hot House collaboration, this initiative offers an innovative platform for fresh voices to be discovered and we look forward to the next stage, when one of these productions will make it to broadcast, with the potential to develop into a full-length film or television series.”<\/p>\n

The films will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland in 2025 and carried on BBC iPlayer across the UK and will act as a \u2018proof of concept\u2019 for a bigger television production.<\/p>\n

The three new standalone 15-minute scripted projects are:<\/p>\n

HelplessGeorge Robinson, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, \u00c9anna Hardwicke and Vanessa Ifediora<\/p>\n

Helpless is the Belfast scripted indie FABEL Productions’ black comedy thriller starring George Robinson (Sex Education, Silo), Saoirse-Monica Jackson ( Derry Girls<\/a>, This City is Ours), \u00c9anna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment, A Very Royal Scandal) and Vanessa Ifediora (Foundation, Derry Girls).<\/p>\n

Newly disabled wheelchair-user Cillian (George Robinson) is a hopeless romantic, down on his luck, and obsessed with the curious girl next door, Grace (Saoirse-Monica Jackson).<\/p>\n

He suspects her shady boyfriend Joe (\u00c9anna Hardwicke) is abusing her, but help is in short supply – even his personal care assistant Fleur (Vanessa Ifediora) has fallen for Joe\u2019s charms. Desperate to save Grace, Cillian must overcome his fears and confront Joe himself, but behind closed doors the situation is more complex than he ever could have imagined.<\/p>\n

Helpless is a contemporary story from Northern Ireland with high stakes, dark comedy, and unexpected characters, written by multi-award-winning writers Michael Patrick and Ois\u00edn Kearney (My Left Nut).<\/p>\n

Cillian\u2019s situation is inspired by Michael\u2019s real-life experience as a newly disabled wheelchair user. Helpless explores prejudice, the lengths people will go to for love, and how things are not always as they seem.<\/p>\n

It will be executive-produced for FABEL Productions by Keith Martin, produced by Chris Myers and directed by Ois\u00edn Kearney.<\/p>\n

Mourning Glory (working title)Amy Huberman<\/p>\n

Mourning Glory written and created by Shane McNaughton, is a F\u00edb\u00edn Films NI production starring Nigel O’Neill (Bad Day For The Cut, Say Nothing) and Amy Huberman (Flora and Son, Derry Girls).<\/p>\n

It follows Dermot (Nigel O\u2019Neill), a recent widower who seeks unlikely solace in attending one wake after another.<\/p>\n

Encouraged by his neighbour Jimmy, played by Lalor Roddy (That They May Face The Rising Sun, Say Nothing), Dermot’s growing morbid curiosity leads to an awkward encounter with rookie undertaker Deirdre (Amy Huberman) and her funeral obsessed son, played by Finn Lennox Loughran (Say Nothing, Jimmy Won’t be at Work Today).<\/p>\n

This dark comedy breathes life into death through the world of wakes and funerals in the rural Glens of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

It has been written and created by Shane McNaughton for F\u00edb\u00edn Films NI. Exec produced by Darach \u00d3 Tuairisg and Ciar\u00e1n Charles \u00d3 Conghaile, produced by M\u00e9abh Nic Alastair and directed by John Carlin.<\/p>\n

RewardingCast of Rewarding<\/p>\n

Rewarding is a workplace comedy from Conker Pictures (a Banijay UK company) that follows co-workers Sinead played by Se\u00e1na Kerslake (Ballywalter, Blue Lights) and Francis (comedian Vittorio Angelone in his first acting role) as they navigate their first shift together in a private domiciliary care facility \u2013 a set of bungalows in rural mid-Ulster.<\/p>\n

New employee Sinead is an unstoppable force of positivity and idealism while long-term carer Francis is an immovable object of cynicism and pragmatism.<\/p>\n

Tasked with providing round-the-clock care for adults with learning difficulties and behavioural challenges, today\u2019s client is Cal (Lee Snodgrass), an autistic 30-year-old whose \u201cchallenging behaviour\u201d is the stuff of legends.<\/p>\n

During this shift, Sinead and Francis\u2019 very differing approaches to social care will come into conflict.<\/p>\n

Based on the writer’s own hard-earned experiences and observations over years spent in the sometimes strange \u201csticking plaster on a broken leg\u201d world of social care. The title is an in-joke amongst support workers, as the response to telling people what they do for a living is almost always (a slightly patronising) \u201cthat must be challenging… but rewarding\u201d.<\/p>\n

Rewarding also features Joanne Crawford (Blue Lights), Paul Mallon and Jo Dow and is written by Matthew McDevitt, executive produced for Conker Pictures by Kim Varvell and Tommy Bulfin, produced by Marie-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Mackle and directed by David Moody.<\/p>\n

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