WGI member Gemma Creagh’s horror/comedy Conveyance will screen at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, which runs from Tue, Jul 9, 2024 – Sun, Jul 14, 2024.

This short film, set against the backdrop of Ireland’s housing crisis, marks Gemma’s directorial debut and was two years in the making. The film, produced by Maeve McGrath and Keith Bogue for Dromglen Productions, showcases the talent and collaboration of a mostly women-led crew. 

Conveyance tells the story of a young couple, Brian (Patrick Martins) and Suzanne (Chrissie Cronin), who, after years of enduring sub-par rented accommodation, finally secure their dream home: a stunning, sea-facing apartment in South Dublin, facilitated by a cavalier real estate agent (Matty McCabe). When objects start moving on their own, Brian becomes convinced that Apartment 19 is haunted by a malevolent spirit. Despite Suzanne’s scepticism, Brian enlists the help of a white witch (Maeve McGrath) to cleanse their home. Even Suzanne’s mother Janet (Aisling O’Neill) gets involved, dragging her local priest (Paul Murphy) in to bless the place. As tensions run high, and their living situation becomes increasingly more and more dangerous, this couple must decide how much they are willing to put up with to have a roof over their heads. 

The dry humour of the film is enhanced by a rich on screen chemistry. Before they were dodging delf or eating cold prop chips en masse, the cast were busy accruing an impressive list of credits. Chrissie starred in feature film Swing Bout, which premiered at DIFF; Patrick just featured in Baltimore and will star in the upcoming series from Chris O’Dowd, Small Town, Big Story. Conveyance’s Real Estate agent Matty McCabe featured in Netflix Rom Com Irish Wish, while pantsless roommate Travis Nelson played a major role on the big-budget Amazon series The Lake as well as Netflix series The Recruit. Fair City’s Aisling O’Neill brings a subtle layer of warmth and humour to Suzanne’s vocal and world weary mother Janet; Paul Murphy has just appeared in Kneecap and the film’s producer Maeve made a wonderful cameo after her performance in Apple TV’s Bad Sisters.  

“I am so grateful to the Guild for the support over the years,” Writer/Director Gemma Creagh comments, “Development is a fun process, but when you’re constantly teasing out long form projects, you spend so much time in your own imagination. And alone. Working on Conveyance and getting a project across the line and into production, it’s been absolute magic. Last Autumn, over three very sunny days and one rather long evening in Dun Laoghaire, we got to bring these messy characters and heightened world to life. Working with a cast of this calibre and capturing it all on camera with a crew of such generous and talented creatives was one of the highlights of my career.”

Conveyance is a timely narrative that reflects the struggles many face in today’s housing market, wrapped in a story that is both tense and thought-provoking.

This short film screens at 11:30 am on Friday, 12th July as part of the Galway Film Fleadh’s 36th Edition. 

Conveyance (2024) Trailer from Unit A Productions on Vimeo.

You can listen to Gemma talking about the film on RTE Arena here.