YMVC 2020

First Cut! Youth Film Festival continued to partner with Feel Good Lost for the fifth annual YMVC. A group of outstanding young filmmakers were selected by directors Brendan Canty, TJ O’Grady-Peyton and Lochlainn McKenna for the opportunity to make a music video under their mentorship. Each finalist has been matched with a track from up and coming Irish acts.

The 2020 YMVC Award went to Richard Harvey for his beautifully shot video for Even The Sun Don’t Shine On Lonely Hearts In Shadow (ADT). The outstanding team of judges were: Marina Brackenbury – Head, TV and Film at Scott Free Films (UK), Brian Carmody – Co-founder/Managing Partner of Smuggler Films, Ayla Amano – Director, Allyn Quigley – Director / Editor, Aisling Malone – Producer, Daithi O’Dronai – Musician, Colm Hogan – Cinematographer, Norma Howard – Assistant Director, David Lester Mooney – Producer, Alan O’Gorman – Screenwriter.

Richard Harvey – ADT (Even the Sun Don’t Shine on Lonely Hearts in Shadow)

Elliot Ruddy – CMAT (KFC)

Daragh Goan – Pillow Queens (Ragin’)

Ann Upton – Ye Vagabonds (I Courted a Wee Girl)

The Filmmakers

Elliot Ruddy is a director, editor and motion designer from Sligo working full time at Bold Studios in Dublin. He started taking filmmaking seriously at 15, when he won second place in an online video advertising contest for Duracell. He has worked both on set and in post for large brands such as Tesco, AIB, Sky TV, Betfair, Facebook and Google.

Daragh Goan is a writer and director from Firhouse, Dublin. He’s in his final year of the BA in Film & Television Production at the National Film School, having just wrapped shooting on his final year project S.O.S. He’s interested in making character driven, socially conscious films.

Ann Upton is a stop motion animator and filmmaker from Waterford. She recently graduated from the BA in animation at IADT Dun Laoghaire. Her graduate short Dorothy premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh, andcontinues to screen at festivals. She now tutors on the animation program at IADT while perusing personal and commercial projects.

Richard Harvey is a director from Dublin. He studied filmmaking in IADT and has been freelancing ever since. He has a relaxed andmindful approach to directing and creates stylised films with personal subject matters. He often writes stories dealing with themes such as toxic masculinity and the dysfunctional family.

The Mentors

Brendan Canty is a writer/director from Cork. His phenomenally successful video for Hozier’s Take Me To Church received two MTV VMA nominations and was voted video of the year by The Irish Times. He has directed campaigns for Budweiser, Sky Sports, Lloyd’s Bank, Three Mobile and a campaign video for President Michael D. Higgins. He recently completed his second short film, Christy, which was funded by Screen Ireland.

TJ O’Grady-Peyton was shortlisted at the YDA in Cannes for his Adidas Super film after graduating from the London Film Schools filmmaking. He’s directed work for clients such as Asics, Volkswagen, Gatorade, Diesel, Good Year, GoreTex and BMW. His short films have screened in festivals such as Tribeca and Clermont Ferrand. His short Wave was picked up by The New Yorker after winning an IFTA for Best Short in 2018.

Lochlainn McKenna (A.K.A Locky) is a music video, film and commercials director from Cork. A music video he crafted for Cork electronic duo aboveDat won the 2017 YMVC. One of his videos for electronic artist Daithí received a Vimeo Staff Pick and another led to a nomination at the 2019 UK Music Video Awards. Locky has worked with world renowned acts such as Westlife and Keane, and has directed commercials for brands such as Heineken, Toyota, Aldi and Sky.