A first look at Ronan Corrigan’s website is revealing; the 29-year-old Irish filmmaker’s talent is evident in the compelling images found there, showcasing work that immediately invites a closer look.

Standing at a crossroads as a young man, Corrigan made an intuitive decision, taking a Joseph Campbell-like cue to “follow his bliss” and choosing a creative career path.

“I always loved films growing up,” he shares via email. “I first became serious about filmmaking when I was finishing school and deciding what to study. I was torn between film and computer science. One felt like a much safer option. I chose film because I knew I needed to follow what I was genuinely passionate about, and you need that kind of fuel for anything you do in life.”

After studying at the University of York, Corrigan moved to London. His willingness to pick up and relocate may very well be rooted in his own family history. “My father grew up in Belfast but moved to Derry as a teenager to get away from the Troubles in the city. I lived most of my life in Derry. It was a great city to grow up in, but I didn’t have a clear way into the industry or any real connections.”

Corrigan is clear about the challenges of breaking into the business. “The biggest thing is just getting a foot in the door. Filmmaking is a team sport, and you rely on so many people with specific skillsets. It is really a socially-driven industry. That’s great once you know enough people to embrace that, but it can feel very closed off to begin with. It takes a lot of perseverance and a bit of luck.”

As patience and chance would have it, Corrigan established himself in London. “A group of us began working in music videos, advertising, and digital content. I shot documentary work on Irish hip hop and worked closely with the Irish indie band The Academic, which helped me build a voice and figure out what kind of films I wanted to make.”

Fortunately, financial footing came from an industry source. “I stayed stable by working at Netflix as a creative editor for their social media accounts.”

With food and shelter taken care of, Corrigan was also nourished by filmmakers who inspired him, citing Danny Boyle, Spike Jonze, and Richard Linklater. “I love their films and rewatch them all the time. I respect how they carry themselves and lead through passion, which you can feel in their work.”

He gained major recognition of his own this past year. “Being in Forbes 30 Under 30 this year was crazy,” he notes, pointing to the listing in the magazine’s entertainment category. “And getting into SXSW (South by Southwest industry conference) was a genuinely life-changing moment for me.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, he then received an email from Irish actor Michael Fassbender telling Corrigan how much he loved the film.

“It felt like a stamp of approval that said ‘yes, you are a filmmaker…’”

Corrigan’s breakout film – Life Hack – was conceived during an unexpected return home.

“I moved back to Derry during the Covid-19 pandemic and regressed into being a teenage boy again, playing lots of video games that led me down this digital rabbit hole about kids in gaming spaces stealing money in these modern Catch Me If You Can style heists. My co-writer, Hope Kemp, forwarded me a competition call from producer Timur Bekmambetov to pitch a Screenlife feature film idea.”

Upon release, the response was immediate. “I remember Deadline and Variety dropping back-to-back, genuinely life-changing reviews of the film after the SXSW premiere. It felt like the floodgates to Hollywood opened up after that.”

Corrigan sees his work unfolding amid a larger cultural moment on the Emerald Isle.

“The green wave is real. Ireland is having a real moment in everything from music to politics, and film is no exception,” he shares, with a nod to Irish directors thriving at home and abroad. “It is inspirational and something to aspire to.”

His next film will be set in Ireland, continuing a path that began with that early decision to trust instinct over so-called safety. “I am still in it and I still love the process. There is something magical about filmmaking – you are literally playing make-believe as an adult.”

www.ronancorrigan.co.uk
@ronancorrigafilm