Declan Cassidy
Encyclopedia
Declan Cassidy is a multi-award winning Irish television and film director. A founding member of the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA Awards), he began his film career in the documentary genre where his work includes War on Waste (2003), a documentary looking at vermiculture as a waste disposal alternative to landfill
and The Crew Cut (2006), a documentary charting the voyage of the Irish Naval flagship L.E. Eithne on its voyage to South America. His move into drama came in 2006 when he was commissioned by Amnesty International
to create a five-minute human rights film "Make It Stop".
In 2005 Cassidy teamed up with three-time ESB Media Award winning journalist Bill Tyson
of the Irish Independent
to establish Timesnap, a film production company. Cassidy directed the company's first film, Mrs Friendly, in 2007 starring Sara James (Boy Eats Girl
). In 2008 Cassidy directed a five-part television series entitled "Dancing Dublin" which was funded by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and screened on Irish television. In July 2008 his short film "Whatever Turns You On" premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. Written and directed by Cassidy, it went on to receive official selections at over 60 festivals around the world, winning eight awards. These included Best Short Short at Aspen Shortsfest USA 2009, Best Short Film at Florence International Film Festival Italy 2009, the award for Best Irish Short Film at the Kerry Film Festival
2008 and the Audience Award at Filmstock International Film Festival 2008 in Britain. It sold to six television stations around the world and received a theatrical release in Germany and Ireland. The win at Aspen qualified "Whatever Turns You On" for Oscar consideration - one of approximately 60 short films to do so.
In July 2008 Cassidy received a commission from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to write and direct a four hour television series for Irish television. "The House" went into production in September 2008 with a cast which included Irish journalist and politician Senator Eoghan Harris
. It screened in 2009 on Dublin's community channel, DCTV
.
2009 also saw Cassidy commissioned to direct the Irish Film Board
funded short film 'Veronique'.
Associations
Cassidy is the founder of a philanthropic organisation, Community Media Associates (CMA), aimed at building media capacity for charitable groups in Ireland
. In 2010 CMA sponsored a pilot digital film course, designed by Cassidy, for 16 young adults in Drogheda, County Louth in conjunction with FÁS and Drogheda Youth Development. Elements of this course are now being introduced to other FÁS funded courses.
2008 saw Cassidy found Timesnap.net, a private online social network service
for professional members of the film and television industry. Unlike many such online communities, Timesnap.net is open only to those who are invited by existing members. Its membership consists mainly of film industry professionals from Ireland, UK, Germany, Japan, Canada, USA, Norway and Italy.
Cassidy is a member of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild, Screen Producers Ireland and Irish Film and Television Academy.
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
and The Crew Cut (2006), a documentary charting the voyage of the Irish Naval flagship L.E. Eithne on its voyage to South America. His move into drama came in 2006 when he was commissioned by Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
to create a five-minute human rights film "Make It Stop".
In 2005 Cassidy teamed up with three-time ESB Media Award winning journalist Bill Tyson
Bill Tyson
Bill Tyson is a multi-award winning Irish writer and producer.-Financial Journalism :Hard hitting investigative journalism into controversial lending practices at the was the highlight of Tyson's stint as finance reporter with the Irish Independent . For this five-year campaign under unrelenting...
of the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
to establish Timesnap, a film production company. Cassidy directed the company's first film, Mrs Friendly, in 2007 starring Sara James (Boy Eats Girl
Boy Eats Girl
Boy Eats Girl is a 2005 horror film directed by Stephen Bradley and starring Samantha Mumba, produced and shot in Ireland. The plot tells of a teenage boy who comes back to life as a zombie, similar to the plot of the American film My Boyfriend's Back....
). In 2008 Cassidy directed a five-part television series entitled "Dancing Dublin" which was funded by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and screened on Irish television. In July 2008 his short film "Whatever Turns You On" premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. Written and directed by Cassidy, it went on to receive official selections at over 60 festivals around the world, winning eight awards. These included Best Short Short at Aspen Shortsfest USA 2009, Best Short Film at Florence International Film Festival Italy 2009, the award for Best Irish Short Film at the Kerry Film Festival
Kerry Film Festival
The Kerry Film Festival is an annual film festival in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland.The first festival with this name was held in 1993..From 2000, it has been called the Samhlaíocht Kerry Film Festival and funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland, as well as...
2008 and the Audience Award at Filmstock International Film Festival 2008 in Britain. It sold to six television stations around the world and received a theatrical release in Germany and Ireland. The win at Aspen qualified "Whatever Turns You On" for Oscar consideration - one of approximately 60 short films to do so.
In July 2008 Cassidy received a commission from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to write and direct a four hour television series for Irish television. "The House" went into production in September 2008 with a cast which included Irish journalist and politician Senator Eoghan Harris
Eoghan Harris
Eoghan Harris is an Irish journalist, fiction writer, director, columnist and politician. He currently writes for the Sunday Independent. He was a member of Seanad Éireann from 2007–11, having been nominated by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern....
. It screened in 2009 on Dublin's community channel, DCTV
Dublin Community Television
Dublin Community Television is a community access TV Station on UPC Ireland channel 802, broadcasting programmes made by, about and for Dublin communities. DCTV is Ireland's only democratically-controlled TV channel. Its logo asserts that it encourages diversity, empowerment, and participation...
.
2009 also saw Cassidy commissioned to direct the Irish Film Board
Irish Film Board
The Irish Film Board is Ireland’s national film agency and major film funding body. It was recommended for abolition by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in 2009.-Formative years:...
funded short film 'Veronique'.
Associations
Cassidy is the founder of a philanthropic organisation, Community Media Associates (CMA), aimed at building media capacity for charitable groups in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In 2010 CMA sponsored a pilot digital film course, designed by Cassidy, for 16 young adults in Drogheda, County Louth in conjunction with FÁS and Drogheda Youth Development. Elements of this course are now being introduced to other FÁS funded courses.
2008 saw Cassidy found Timesnap.net, a private online social network service
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
for professional members of the film and television industry. Unlike many such online communities, Timesnap.net is open only to those who are invited by existing members. Its membership consists mainly of film industry professionals from Ireland, UK, Germany, Japan, Canada, USA, Norway and Italy.
Cassidy is a member of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild, Screen Producers Ireland and Irish Film and Television Academy.