The inaugural Laois Short Film Bursary of €10,000 was awarded to Swandive Productions for their short film SUPERHUMAN. The film explores universal themes, with a micro lens on para-athletics and being black and living in Ireland. It showcases a young person overcoming great challenges, as well as people giving support to those who need it most. It is a pertinent film and sheds light on new types of narratives and the lives of those that often go unseen. The successful team awarded the Bursary consists of writer/director Michéal Fleming from The Swan and producer Michael-David McKernan.
SUPERHUMAN went into production in Laois in March 2022.
Filming of ‘Superhuman’ at St Abbans Athletic Club, Monavea, Crettyard. Picture: Alf Harvey
Premiere Screening
The Laois premiere screening of Superhuman written/directed by Mícheál Fleming and produced by Michael-David McKernan took place in July 2022 at the Dunamaise Arts Centre and is the first short film made as part of Laois’s 2021 inaugural Short Film Bursary Award.
Sarah Delaney, set director; Micheál Fleming, writer/director; Esosa Ighodaro, actor; Michael-David McKernan, producer; Muireann Ni Chonaill, Laois Arts Officer and actor Aaron Edo at the Laois Film Bursary Award Laois Screen Premiere of ‘Superhuman’ at Dunamaise Arts Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
After being rejected from professional football and diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, an African-Irish secondary school student is guided towards para-athletics and a new identity.
The 2021 Laois Short Film Bursary was awarded to Swandive Productions and explores universal themes, with a micro lens on para-athletics and being black and living in Ireland. It showcases a young person overcoming great challenges, as well as people giving support to those who need it most. It is a pertinent film and sheds light on new types of narratives and the lives of those that often go unseen. Superhuman went into production in Laois in March 2022.
The cast involved in Superhuman are Aaron Edo who most recently filmed the role of Tecky alongside Aidan Gillen in the feature film ‘Barber,’ and the role of Jonner alongside Angeline Ball in the Screen Ireland-backed feature film ‘Deadly Cuts’, directed by Rachel Carey.
Film and theatre producer Arthur Lappin interviews Superhuman creators Micheál Fleming and Michael-David McKernan at the Laois Film Bursary Award Laois Screen Premiere of ‘Superhuman’ at Dunamaise Arts Centre.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Esosa Ighodaro is recogisable for her TV roles in ‘Harry Wild’, ‘Kin’, ‘Smother’, ‘Taken Down’ (2018) and Irish drama film ‘Rose Plays Julie’. Aoibhinn McGinnity, well known for her role in Love/Hate, and John Cronin, a regular on Fair City.
The Laois Short Film Bursary supports and encourages filmmaking within the county and is funded by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.
‘Superhuman’ actor Aaron Edo on location at St Abbans Athletic Club,
Monavea, Crettyard. Picture: Alf Harvey