YMVC – Youth Music Video Competition

The Youth Music Video Competition (YMVC) is Ireland’s unique mentorship programme for emerging directors aged 18-25. This programme celebrates a decade of YMVC by bringing the videos made as part of YMVC 2024 and 2025 to the big screen. 

Every year for the past decade First Cut Youth Film Festival has presented YMVC in partnership with director Brendan Canty (Christy) who devised it. Ten exceptional young filmmakers are selected annually to make a music video for a recognised Irish music act in a way that accurately mirrors the process directors working in the industry go through. Participants are mentored in this by a panel of top-tier directors including Canty, Bob Gallagher, Kate Dolan, Tara O’Callaghan and Ellius Grace. The results go from strength to strength and YMVC has been instrumental in launching the careers of a number of now established directors. 

YMVC is supported by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Cork County Council. 

Tickets are free - booking essential.

YMVC 2025 

Laura Dooney (Teenage Sacrifice – Thanks Mom) 

Yaroslava Kozulina (Outside – Jackie Deluxe) 

Caoimhe Gallagher Lawson (TEETH – GAG REFLEX) 

Ellen Lovell (Known – Bullpen) 

Jack McBride (As Long As We Win – Snowy Santana) 

Dara McManus (Poser Seltzer – Ahmed, With Love., David Armada) 

Douglas Morrison (CD’s – Elaine Howley) 

Adam O’Reilly (Did Ye Ever Get the Ride at the Wake House? – RÓIS & hhH) 

Megan O’Rourke (Dandelion – Last Apollo) 

Róisín Sinai (Personality Hire – Niamh Regan) 

YMVC 2024 

Charlotte Rose Ainsworth (Sunflower – Lemoncello) 

Conor Bradley (Safe for Me – Pesci Tooth) 

Lia Campbell (Grand Central Station – Phil Kieran) 

Cathal Eustace (The Trees They do Grow High – ØXN) 

Hiram Harrington (Days Like This – Bony X Strange Boy) 

Willow Kennedy (Take Your Aim – Elaine Mai Feat. Faye O’Rourke) 

David McCall (Eyes Wide Shut – Van Gone) 

Pippa Molony (See and Sleep – Barnburner) 

Meghan O’Shaughnessy (Swimming Pool – Houseplants)

Ashish Prasai (Tell Me I’m Good – Curtisy)