Songway Films

27/10/2025

In this article, Assistant Editor Dev Murray sits down with filmmaker Denis McArdle, who penned short film Koji's Courage which has just secured funding from the National Talent Academy for Animation. Fresh from winning Best Director at the Naas Film Festival for his latest short, The Light Within,

21/10/2025

Almost 3 years to the day. (We filmed just after Halloween Nov 2022).

We are delighted to announce that 

The Light WithIn - An Irish Quaker Story will screen on 

RTÉ 2 Shortscreen 

Monday October 27th at 23:30 next Bank holiday Monday. It will also be available on the RTÉ Player for Two Years.

Eventually, our family and friends will get a chance to see it.

Unfortunately, this brings an end to its festival run. We thankfully picked up a few awards along the way.

Thanks to an amazing, cast and crew and such an effort from everyone to get this to the screen.

It has been an amazing journey. 

Proudly supported by the Laois Short Film Fund, Laois County Council and Creative Ireland Laois.

Written and directed by Denis McArdle
Starring
Robert SteveGunn
Lydia Finnuala Gillen
Margret Eliza Butler
Cailleach Caitríona Ní Threasaigh
The Old Man Martin Brennan
Whigham Andy Crook
Jacob Michael Creagh

Produced by David Butler
1st AD Sierra Dann
2nd AD Michael Behan
Director of Photography David Christopher Lynch
1st AC Brian Dooley
2nd AC Clapper Loader Robert Stanley
Production Manager Maria Sheridan Lambert
Key Makeup Artist Dawn Butler
Makeup Assist Nicola Conway
Location Sound Kyle McCarthy, Aoife Moran Terry Philip Kidd
Costume Supervisor Aoife Tracey
Costume Designer Sheila Rebollo
Milliner Laura Amy Dunne
Art Director Prop Master Eamonn Elders
Prop hire Sarah Delany
Art assistant Simona Ermerita McArdle
Scene prep artists Dayna Crossan Kellyann Cunningham Hyland
Doll designer Kayleigh Fallon
Stills Photography Kevin E. Byrne Daniel Geesen Photography
Behind the scenes Darren Warren
Project Assistant Richard Kearney Mgt K Rowe Anna Lambert.
Data Wrangler Liam Delaney
Runners Caoimhe, Sibylle and
Chaperone Tom Butler Vogue Murphy
Locations Colette Wrafter

Photo by Geesen

unitstillsphotographer.com/portfolio/the-light-within/

We are forever grateful.

Denis and Dave

17/10/2025

Come join our stop motion project

Kova's Courage

In a treacherous Arctic landscape, two Inuit teenagers orbit each other on small, floating icebergs, their love for each other just beyond reach.

Co-directed by Aisling Wallace and Anika O’Hagan-Ploug, Written by Denis McArdle and Produced by David Butler.
wallace.design .artanddesign

https://www.nationaltalentacademies.ie/courses-activities-programmes/first-credit-programme-songway-films-lead-stop-motion-animator

10/10/2025

KOVA’s COURAGE NTAA short film fund

Stop motion short based in Dublin (Churchtown)
CREW CALL PAID low-budget Project
STOP MOTION ANIMATORS
Lead animator (First Credit Scheme)
Expected duration 5 weeks
starting in Oct 27th
In a treacherous Arctic landscape, two Inuit teenagers orbit each other
on small, floating icebergs, their love for each other just beyond reach.
Co-directed by Aisling Wallace and Anika O’Hagan-Ploug,
Written by Denis McArdle and Produced by David Butler.
artanddesign Anika O'Hagan-Ploug .wallace.design
David Butler Songway Films
National Talent Academies Ireland
contact
[email protected] for more details

10/10/2025

KOVA’s COURAGE NTAA short film fund

Stop motion short based in Dublin (Churchtown)
CREW CALL PAID low-budget Project
STOP MOTION ANIMATORS
Lead animator (First Credit Scheme)
Expected duration 5 weeks
starting in Oct 27th
In a treacherous Arctic landscape, two Inuit teenagers orbit each other
on small, floating icebergs, their love for each other just beyond reach.
Co-directed by Aisling Wallace and Anika O’Hagan-Ploug,
Written by Denis McArdle and Produced by David Butler.

contact
[email protected] for more details

10/10/2025

KOVA’s COURAGE NTAA short film fund

Stop motion short based in Dublin (Churchtown)
CREW CALL PAID low-budget Project
STOP MOTION ANIMATORS
Lead animator (First Credit Scheme)
Expected duration 5 weeks
starting in Oct 27th
In a treacherous Arctic landscape, two Inuit teenagers orbit each other
on small, floating icebergs, their love for each other just beyond reach.
Co-directed by Aisling Wallace and Anika O’Hagan-Ploug,
Written by Denis McArdle and Produced by David Butler.

Anika O'Hagan-Ploug Wallace design
David Butler Songway Films

contact
[email protected] for more details

24/04/2025

19/04/2025

Hi folks, I was holding off for the Film Freeway official notification. But it looks like we won "Best Irish Film" in the Kalikari Film Festival in India 🇮🇳 A number of Irish shorts were screened.


Onwards and upwards. 👍

19/04/2025

Delighted to announce short 'The Light WithIn' has been selected for the inaugural Naas Film Festival. It will be screened at Lawlors Hotel April 20th.
Easter Sunday at 2PM bock of shorts
Tickets available at Naas Film Festival

19/04/2025

Hi folks, I was holding off for the Film Freeway official notification. But it looks like we won "Best Irish Film" in the Kalikari Film Festival in India 🇮🇳 A number of Irish shorts were screened.

Onwards and upwards. 👍