Private Project

Social

After a long period of isolation, Conor begins reaching out to friends and loved ones, making an effort to reconnect. His return is met with warmth and curiosity—some relieved to hear from him, others unsure of what to expect. However, there may be more to his sudden reappearance than meets the eye.

  • Sam O'Neill
    Director
    Some Strange Being, Elephant Factory, No More Blue Tomorrows
  • Ciarán Hemeryck
    Writer
  • Shauna Radford
    Producer
  • Ciarán Hemeryck
    Key Cast
    "Conor"
    Kathleen Is Here, Finding Joy, Blood
  • Shauna Radford
    Key Cast
    "Emma"
    Sludge
  • Rhys Mannion
    Key Cast
    "Declan"
    Silver and the Book of Dreams, Freud's Last Session, Clean Sweep
  • Vinnie McCabe
    Key Cast
    "Joe"
    Game of Thrones, The Noble Call, Veronica Guerin
  • Barry McNamara
    Key Cast
    "Matt"
    Fair City
  • Gerry Brauders
    Key Cast
    "Kevin"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Dark Comedy, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 7, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    6,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sam O'Neill

For my ninth birthday, I was given my first camera, and I’ve been writing and directing films ever since. I’d like to think that my skills have evolved since then, but my passion for film remains just as strong. My goal as a filmmaker is to tell stories that resonate deeply and move audiences in a profound way.

In recent years, I’ve had the privilege of directing several short films, music videos, and a crowd-funded feature set for release later this year. My last three films—Some Strange Being, Elephant Factory, and Whispers We Share—have collectively earned 15 awards, including recognition from the Irish Film Institute upon my graduation from IADT.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When Ciarán asked me to take on this project, I was truly honoured by his trust in me to bring such a personal story to life. Social explores a deeply vulnerable and often overlooked aspect of mental health—one where the signs may not always be immediately visible. Throughout the process, I gained a profound understanding of the subject, learning more with each step.

Through neutral storytelling and objective camera angles, Social is designed to reveal its layers over time—immersing the audience as if they were one of the characters that Conor is masking his true feelings from. Upon reflection and repeated viewings, all the signs are there, waiting to be seen.