Tom Collins

Tom Collins has just completed shooting Penance. With funding support from Northern Ireland Screen and the Irish Film Board and and Irish Broadcaster, TG4. http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/Production_begins_on_Tom_Collins_PENANCE_with_LOVE-HATE_Actor_Peter_Coonan_in_Lead_Role/3164 The film builds on the success of the feature cut of the successful TV Series and feature film, An Bronntanas (The Gift) which was Ireland's entry in the Foreign Language Oscars 2015, and is doing a healthy tour of festivals, recently picking up the Jury prize at the Boston Irish Film Festival. Lagardere represents the film in Europe with sales to over twelve networks and Broadcasters. Collins' new Feature film project Priest Hunter has received financial support from the Irish Film Board and is presently in development. He is presently completing production of an animation on the classic Irish novel - The Poor Mouth (An Béal Bocht) with Tommy Tiernan.. He is known for the multi award winning feature film Kings, the film was Ireland's choice for Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category, as well as nominated for a record 14 IFTA'S and won Collins the Director's Guild of America / Ireland New Finders Award in 2007. Kings won the Gold Torc at the 2008 Celtic Film and Media Awards; picked up a Special Commendation at Prix Europa Best Drama 2008; won Best Cinematography Award at the Hampton's Film Festival 2007; was awarded Best Film at the Weschester Film Festival 2007. The film stars prominent Irish talent such as Colm Meaney, Donal O'Kelly, Barry Barnes, Brendan Conroy. His first production credit was as cameraman on the controversial documentary Mother Ireland (1986), which won him a Femme Cathodique Cinematography award. His first major drama production was the multi award winning feature film - Hush-a-Bye Baby (1989) with Sinéad O'Connor and Emer McCourt. His other work as producer includes - The Bishop's Story (1994) with the late Donal Mc Cann. His directorial debut was the successful Bogwoman ( Combat D'une Mere) (1997) with Rachael Dowling and Peter Mullan, other features include - Dead Long Enough (2006) with Michael Sheen. His documentary credits include - Teenage Kicks - The Undertones (2006), a widely acclaimed 'rockumentary' on the Derry band The Undertones. The film was presented by John Peel. The film received a five-star review from the Times. He has produced or directed 13 documentaries including More than a Sacrifice, (1996). First Love, (1997.) Cambat D'une Mere, (1998) A Mother's Story, (1999) The Johnie Walker Story (2000) plus Donal Mc Cann - It Must Be Done Right.(2000). He directed The Boys of St Columb's (2009), a documentary for BBC and RTÉ in 2009 which featured the late Nobel prize winners Seamus Heaney and John Hume. He wrote the The Guard based on Ken Bruin's Jack Taylor novels the feature length pilot was for Magma Films/ TV3 and RFL Germany.