Tommy Collins
Encyclopedia
Tommy Collins, sometimes referred to as Tom Collins M.A.(Hons), Dublin City University, is an Irish
filmmaker.
, he moved as a child to nearby Derry
, Northern Ireland
. His works include Hush-a-Bye Baby (1989) (producer) with Sinead O Conner and Emer McCourt, The Bishop's Story (1994) (co-producer) with Donal Mc Cann, Bogwoman (1997) (director) with Rachael Dowling and Peter Mullan, and Dead Long Enough (2006) (director) with Michael Sheen.
Collins is also known for being photographer on the controversial documentary Mother Ireland (1986), which won a Femme Cathodique Cinamatography award.
He also wrote and directed Teenage Kicks - The Undertones (2006), a widely acclaimed 'rockumentary' on the Derry band The Undertones
. The film was presented by the late John Peel. The film received a five-star review from the Times of London.
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 plus Donal Mc Cann - It Must Be Done Right.(2000). He directed The Boys of St Columb's, a documentary for BBC and RTÉ in 2009.
In 2007 his film Kings
, which tells the story of a group of young men who left the west of Ireland in 1977 for London, was entered as Ireland's choice for Oscar nomination. Kings was placed in the Best Foreign Language Film
category as it was filmed in native Irish. The film stars prominent Irish talent such as Colm Meaney
, Brendan Conroy, Donal O'Kelly, Donnacha Crowley and Sean O'Tarpaigh.
Collins won the Director's Guild of America / Ireland New Finders Award in 2007.
Kings was nominated for a record 14 Irish Film and Television Awards in 2008; 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 Hamptons Film Festival 2007; was awarded Best Film at the Weschester Film Festival 2007 and was awarded Special Commendation Foyle Film Festival 2007.
He is presently developing a documentary on the British Education Act of 1947. An Act of the British parliament which led to free secondary education in Northern Ireland. The film will be called The Boys of St Columb's and will feature Seamus Heaney, Seamus Deane and John Hume.
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...
filmmaker.
Biography
Born in County DonegalCounty Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, he moved as a child to nearby Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. His works include Hush-a-Bye Baby (1989) (producer) with Sinead O Conner and Emer McCourt, The Bishop's Story (1994) (co-producer) with Donal Mc Cann, Bogwoman (1997) (director) with Rachael Dowling and Peter Mullan, and Dead Long Enough (2006) (director) with Michael Sheen.
Collins is also known for being photographer on the controversial documentary Mother Ireland (1986), which won a Femme Cathodique Cinamatography award.
He also wrote and directed Teenage Kicks - The Undertones (2006), a widely acclaimed 'rockumentary' on the Derry band The Undertones
The Undertones
The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
. The film was presented by the late John Peel. The film received a five-star review from the Times of London.
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 plus Donal Mc Cann - It Must Be Done Right.(2000). He directed The Boys of St Columb's, a documentary for BBC and RTÉ in 2009.
In 2007 his film Kings
Kings (film)
Kings is a 2007 Irish film written & directed by Tom Collins and based on Jimmy Murphy's play The Kings of the Kilburn High Road. The film is bilingual, having both Irish and English dialogues. It was premièred at the Taormina Film Festival in June 2006, and was selected as Ireland's official...
, which tells the story of a group of young men who left the west of Ireland in 1977 for London, was entered as Ireland's choice for Oscar nomination. Kings was placed in the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
category as it was filmed in native Irish. The film stars prominent Irish talent such as Colm Meaney
Colm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
, Brendan Conroy, Donal O'Kelly, Donnacha Crowley and Sean O'Tarpaigh.
Collins won the Director's Guild of America / Ireland New Finders Award in 2007.
Kings was nominated for a record 14 Irish Film and Television Awards in 2008; 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 Hamptons Film Festival 2007; was awarded Best Film at the Weschester Film Festival 2007 and was awarded Special Commendation Foyle Film Festival 2007.
He is presently developing a documentary on the British Education Act of 1947. An Act of the British parliament which led to free secondary education in Northern Ireland. The film will be called The Boys of St Columb's and will feature Seamus Heaney, Seamus Deane and John Hume.