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Patrick Ireland is a multi-award winning Writer and Director with a diverse, compelling portfolio and a vast range of experience in film and television. His credits range from high-end narrative drama, to news and current affairs programmes, to entertainment and reality shows, to commercials and branded content.
He has written and directed four independent short films which have gone on to screen at festivals across the world. These include the documentary Anonymous: A Million Men (2015), award winning drama One in a Million (2017), satirical comedy The Director (2018) and the multi-award winning fantasy/drama Ill Fares The Land (2023).
Since its release, Ill Fares The Land has been praised by critics, noted for its deep themes, strong performances and striking imagery. Indie Shorts Mag named it the Best Short Film of 2023, while others such as UK Film Review, Short Films Matter, Take 2 Indie Review and Indie Film Critics all awarded the film ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ calling it “powerful and poignant, pressing all the right hot button issues”, “an innovative and bold tale”; and that “writer-director Patrick Ireland transcends beyond being an accomplished filmmaker in this ambitious fantasy drama.”
The film, which is about a young boy who finds a mermaid washed up on the shores of his seaside home while his older brother is swept up in the rising tide of far-right nationalism, has screened at festivals across the world and taken home awards at the BIFA-qualifying Beeston Film Festival (Best Drama), Brighton Rocks Film Festival (Best Drama) & Unrestricted View Film Festival (Best Editing), as well as the Vero Beach Film Festival (Best Drama), Hamilton New York Film Festival (Best Drama/Thriller) & Hastings Film Festival (Best Fantasy, Best Sound Design, Best Performance & Best Young Performance).
His previous films have also enjoyed some success. Anonymous: A Million Men was picked up by Shorts International for distribution and later screened exclusively in the Houses of Parliament, followed by a Q&A conducted by Chi Onwurah MP. One in a Million was nominated for awards at various international festivals, and went on to win Best Social Realist Film at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London.
In addition to his filmography, he has produced and directed content for the likes of ITV, Channel 4, DS Smith, Asda, BNP Paribas and Stand Up To Cancer. His broadcast credits include programmes such as Emmerdale: 50 Unforgettable Years, Good Morning Britain, This Morning, and the first ever Youth Leaders TV Debate.
Over the course of his career, he has produced and directed content, both live and pre-recorded, across the world – France, Italy, Switzerland, Vietnam, Egypt, Sweden, the United States, and up and down the UK. He has also collaborated with an extensive array of talent, such as Richard Madeley, Ranvir Singh, Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson, Danny Dyer, Georgia Toffolo, Lisa Snowdon and Andi Peters.