Short films produced in Clare will show a 'new wave of bold, creative storytelling'

Engine Shorts, the short film training and production scheme for emerging talent in the mid-west, has announced that two incredible home-grown projects will be produced in Clare. 

The initiative is run by Innovate Limerick through Film in Limerick, in partnership with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, the Local Arts Offices in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and the three Local Enterprise Offices in the mid-west. This scheme provides €12,500 in production funding for each team, alongside industry training and mentoring.

From a pool of nearly 100 applicants, six teams were commissioned following a competitive pitch process judged by film industry experts. Charlene Lydon- producer and programmer, Gillian Cooper- Head of Distribution at WildCard Distribution, and acclaimed script and story editor Kate Leys. Two standout projects from Clare, Tipperary and Limerick were selected, ensuring strong regional representation.

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Production of the six films is taking place over the coming months across the mid-west. The films will be completed before the end of the year before being submitted to national and international film festivals.

Commenting on the winning projects, Regional Film Manager, Paul C Ryan, said: “Engine Shorts continues to unlock incredible creative potential across the mid-west. Each edition strengthens the region’s reputation as a centre of excellence for filmmaking, and we’re proud to support the next generation of Irish storytellers. The collaboration between local authorities, education partners, enterprise offices and filmmakers is at the core of this scheme. We’re seeing real careers begin here, and the projects represent a new wave of bold, creative storytelling rooted in the region and reflecting a diversity of voices, genres and themes.”

Two films, ‘Night Shift’ and ‘Call Me Anon’, will be produced in Clare. Written and produced by Maeve Stone and directed by Alex Gill, ‘Night Shift’ is the story of Maria, a Filipino nurse who is searching for her absent Irish born daughter Jasmine. Events come to a head as their radically different childhoods cause resentment and misunderstanding, resulting in a car journey from hell.

Maeve Stone said, "It's a really special film about the Filipino experience in Ireland, developed with young people with lived experience of having a parent working in the hospital system, and the impact that has on a family unit. Thanks to Engine shorts, we have a chance to make it in Clare, where we live and with a brilliant local crew."

Writer and director Oisín McKeogh, along with producer Gráinne McCormack have teamed up to produce ‘Call Me Anon’, the story of a young gay man returning to his rural hometown. He is desperate for connection and seeks solace in an online hookup, only to be drawn into an unsettling encounter that forces him to confront his past.

Oisín McKeogh said, “This story came from a very personal place, about digital life, anonymity, and being seen. We’re excited to tell it authentically, with a team that understands its urgency and complexity.”

Engine Shorts is designed to support and elevate emerging writers, directors and producers to create compelling, world-class short films that speak to local and global audiences. The initiative continues to strengthen the mid-west’s reputation as a growing hub for Irish film.

Filming of the Engine Short films is now under way. When completed, they are expected to play at film festivals internationally in 2026.