Four documentaries produced by Media & Communication Studies students at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) will be showcased for the first time at a special screening on Thursday 1 May at Dolan’s Warehouse in Limerick City.
The documentaries, which have been curated and produced by final-year Bachelor of Arts students studying the Media & Communication Studies (MCS) programme, cover a range of themes including generational divides, resilience, community and how fame can be short-lived in the digital world.
Each spring, Fourth Year MCS students collaborate in small groups to create a documentary on a topic of their choice, along with two television-style adverts. These projects are then showcased at a public screening at the end of the year.
The four documentaries that will be shown on the night are:
Boomers to Zoomers explores the generation gap through humorous stories and personal reflections bridging past and present. A compelling journey into what divides and unites us across generations.
Five Years On… revisits the lives of five individuals, reflecting on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through personal interviews, the documentary explores their struggles, triumphs and the lasting impact of the crisis.
From Light to Night at JJ Bowles is an abstract documentary capturing the atmosphere, routines and quiet charm of JJ Bowles, Limerick’s oldest pub. Through chats with bar staff and regulars, and glimpses of its rich history, the documentary paints a picture of a place where the past lives on and community thrives in every pint.
In a mocumentary ‘episode’ of the fictional TV Show, ‘Where Are They Now?’, David meets with Scotty Lee, a self-centred one-hit wonder who exploded in popularity during the early days of TikTok but fell into obscurity after an argument with his bandmate Eddie McGrath. The documentary follows Scotty as he attempts to revive his music career by making what he claims to be the “comeback of the century.
Speaking in advance of the screenings, Head of the Department of Media & Communication Studies, Dr Rosemary Day, congratulated the students on their accomplishments and praised the quality of their work: “This event is a highlight of the academic year, marking the culmination of four years of learning, growth, and hard work. Our final year students have really mastered the craft of filmmaking, and their documentaries reflect the talent and insight they bring to storytelling. Nicky Fennell has played a key role in guiding them to produce work of exceptional quality. It’s a night to celebrate their achievements and to wish them every success as they take the next step in their journeys.”
Nicky Fennell, Media & Communication Studies Lecturer at MIC, also spoke of the significance of the event: “It’s a bittersweet celebration, marking the end of a very formative phase in the students’ lives, made even more poignant this year by the passing of our friend and colleague, Dr Tony Langlois, last semester.”
The documentaries will be screened upstairs in Dolan’s Warehouse on Thursday 1 May at 7.45pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Click here for further information on MIC’s Media & Communication Studies programme.
