Ten new submissions have been shortlisted to take part in the 2022 Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition, benefiting from total prize fund of €200,000.

Each shortlisted project will receive an investment of €6,000 to develop their script with a mentor and the three finalists will be chosen and awarded €30,000 to bring their script to life on screen with the production of a 10-minute short film. The final production will be broadcast on Virgin Media Television and Virgin Media on Demand.

The 10 shortlisted projects are:

Always Find Him in the Kitchen At Parties (Drama) Writer/Director: Zoë Gibney & Producer: Jo Halpin

Fake it ’til you make it, that’s what Sean keeps telling himself. But how far will he go to cover his shame?

Location: Dublin

Blith (Drama) Writer/Director: Gerard Walsh & Actor: Fabu-D

David has recently moved to Ireland to create a better life for his daughter as a paediatrician. He soon finds out it’s not that simple.

Location: Dublin

Calf (Drama) Writer/Director: Jamie O’Rourke

A near fatal farm accident leaves teenager Cáit with a terrible decision to make in order to do what she must to protect her family.

Location: Tipperary

Casper (Drama) Producer: Jason Forde & Writer: Jody O’Neill

A dark film about the final week of 8-year-old autistic boy Casper’s life. Utilising straight to camera address, visuals and sound inspired by the autistic experience to mesh avant-garde documentary style with narrative.

Location: Wicklow & Cork

Coasteering (Drama) Writer/Actor: Orla Sanders & Writer: Joanne Fitzgerald

Following a series of unsuccessful rounds of IVF, Sinead runs and Peter gardens; creating life can destroy you.

Location: Dublin

Crushed (Comedy/Drama) Director: Eilís Doherty & Producer: Olivia McLaughlin

A dramedy about what happens when your feelings are strong, but your vodka is stronger. Emma battles with ‘the fear’ when she overshares about her crush on a night out.

Location: Dublin, Donegal & Kildare

Good Chips (Drama) Writer/Director: Nell Hensey & Writer: Brigid Leahy

Dublin 1989. A family of Vietnamese immigrants struggle to keep their takeaway business afloat while their 12 year old daughter befriends one of the  customers, a local Irish boy. When he disappears, she sets out to find him.

Location: Clare & Dublin

Home Safe (Neon-Noir / Thriller) Writer/Director: Jaro Waldeck & Producer: Grace Sexton

In a normal world, walking home may seem like a straight-forward thing to do. But in the world of a sketchy man, hooded and hard to read, this task proves to be quite the undertaking. What dangers can he encounter on his way home?

Location: Longford 

Unhinged (Comedy) Writer: Mary Kirwan & Director: Zoë Brennan-Whitmore

After discovering the love of her life and colleague on Tinder, a self-deprecating fat millennial must find the confidence to swipe right before his leaving party, all while navigating a fatphobic workplace

Location: Wexford, West Cork & Dublin.

Why the Sun & Moon Live in the Sky (Fantasy) Writer/Director: Aisha Bolaji & Producers: Alfonso Films

Living in the mundane suburbia of Farraig-Mor, two teens plan to escape by building a spacecraft and living in the sky.

Location: Dublin, Meath & Wicklow