Private Project

Unlocking Ireland

Shining a light on real people experiencing homelessness in Galway, Ireland.

  • Johnathan Connolly
    Director
  • Johnathan Connolly
    Writer
  • Johnathan Connolly
    Producer
  • Johnathan Connolly
    Cinematographer
  • Johnathan Connolly
    Editor
  • Johnathan Connolly
    Music Composer
  • Johnathan Connolly
    Sound Design
  • James
    Key Cast
  • Helena
    Key Cast
  • Jean
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 16, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    0 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Blackmagic Raw, 4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Atlantic Technological University MA End of Year Exhibition
    Galway
    Ireland
    September 16, 2022
  • Hollywood Screenings Film Festival
    Los Angeles CA
    United States
    March 19, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Fastnet Film Festival
    Schull, Cork
    Ireland
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Johnathan Connolly

Johnathan Connolly is a multi-award winning filmmaker based in Galway, Ireland. While completing his BA in Film & Documentary at Atlantic Technological University, Connolly started his own production company, Bright Blue Productions. Bright Blue Productions specialises in documentary filmmaking as well as live streaming and videography for corporate events. Connolly graduated from Atlantic Technological University in 2022 with an MA in Creative Practice. His work in documentary gives an unfiltered look into the real lives of people in Ireland today.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This documentary entitled ‘Unlocking Ireland’ shines a light on real people experiencing homelessness in Galway. Alongside the film, Connolly is showcasing 1,329 keys he collected over the course of this year – one to represent each vacant home in Galway city. The displayed keys were donated by both Locksmiths shops and individuals. The large number of them speaks to a damning statistic about the state of housing in Galway city, but each single key also bears its own story. All of these keys came into the world with a purpose that is now lost. They were abandoned or forgotten about. Homeless people are among the most disregarded members of our communities. These keys unlock a door to remembering forgotten people, but the keys are suspended just out of our reach or discarded on the floor, just like the solutions to this everyday tragedy.