Dunboyne College of Further Education film ‘Home Visits’ wins award at PRIOSMA Queer Film Festival in Cork

Former second-year students at Dunboyne College of Further Education have won an award for their film at the PRIOSMA Queer Film Festival in Cork.

‘Home Visits’, directed by Brodie Harold and Sophie O’Toole, won the SPARKED Best Emerging Filmmaker Award at the festival.

PRIOSMA hosts a selection of feature and short film screenings, talks and industry events, as well as collaborations with local community projects. The festival focuses on LGBTQ+ representation while promoting inclusivity and diversity within the film community and wider industry.

The film was made by second-year Higher National Diploma (HND) students at Dunboyne College and stars Ben Waddell, Catherine Ward, Culann McCarthy and Brian Buckly.

‘Home Visits’ follows Donal, a young priest who cycles around his parish delivering communion to people who are unable to leave their homes. After forming a friendship with an older woman, their shared experience of institutionalisation leads Donal on a journey of self-discovery.

The film was shot on a Canon C70 over six days, with filming taking place across a number of locations in counties Meath and Kildare, as well as Dublin.

The production crew included directors, writers and producers Brodie Harold and Sophie O’Toole, with Daniel Flattery as executive producer and Ronan Power serving as cinematographer, producer and editor.

The wider crew included production designer Miriam Khalil, costume designer Niamh Power, boom operator Keira McCormack, sound by Martin McDonagh, second camera assistant Daniel Barrett, lighting technician Jamie Donnelly, first assistant camera Shane Hughes and camera operator Jessica Murray. Music for the film was composed by Köln.

Brodie and Sophie spoke about winning, saying "A big thanks to PRIOSMA, this was our first film festival, and we were really lucky to go down and see it. Another big thank you to our families for all the work they put in, and especially our grandparents, who gave up their time and homes and helped make this film a reality".

The directors also added by giving thanks to their cast and crew as well as their lecturers at Dunboyne College: " A huge thank you to our former lecturers, Ronan Power and Daniel Flattery, for being a massive inspiration for us as filmmakers, as without whom, this film wouldn't have been made".

The second-year film students produced more than 20 major films across the drama and documentary genres during the academic year.

‘Home Visits’ also received recognition earlier this year, winning the Best Narrative Short Film award at the newly established Dunboyne Film Festival.