Niamh Heery’s feature drama project ‘Why You Wanna Fly, Blackbird?’ has been selected for Screen Ireland’s inaugeral Perspectives filmmaking scheme. Perspectives is a new pilot programme from Screen Ireland to support the development and production of new Irish feature films, providing a window into experiences and viewpoints that may not have been widely represented on the big screen before. Perspectives received over 400 applications – the most applications for any Screen Ireland funding scheme ever.
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
This is an incredibly exciting new programme designed to support original, authentic stories that explore a wide range of experiences across Irish life and culture.
Why You Wanna Fly, Blackbird? is working class coming of age feature adapted from ‘Filling in the Blanks’ by Niamh Heery, an RTÉ National Short Story Competition Finalist. Sent to a social farm from gritty North Dublin, defiant teen Ava finds escape from home violence through nature and unexpected connections, but her world threatens to pull her back.