As Northern Ireland's booming film industry continues to shine on the world stage, a local filmmaker says the rise of the Irish language on the screen is "fantastic".
He said: "It was an unbelievable experience and I stayed in the city for almost seven years. I acted and modelled and just before Covid, I was walking shows in New York Fashion Week. But when it hit, I lost my apartment, money, and upcoming jobs. After rediscovering his passion for the language, Joseph threw himself into the Irish community in New York, teaching it online at the Irish Arts Center in Manhattan and becoming a regular guest on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and BBC Blas.
"But I'm so thankful that I made that jump as I got to develop as a Director, Producer, and Writer through the mentorship of a production company all through the Irish language." "I wanted to create a story with soul. I did a lot of reflection on my own life and when I started to think of grief. I felt something in my heart. I knew that this was it. I understand grief. Everyone understands. It's universal and that's why the title of the movie is Uilíoch," he explained.
"It's so important for us to have our own style of filmmaking and storytelling, the language gives us a vehicle to do that. We're seeing the Irish language now on a global stage.