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Patrick Ireland is a multi-award-winning writer and director with a diverse and compelling portfolio spanning film and television. His work ranges from high-end narrative drama to news and current affairs, entertainment and reality programming, as well as commercials and branded content.
He has written and directed four independent short films that have screened at festivals worldwide: the documentary Anonymous: A Million Men (2015), the award-winning drama One in a Million (2017), the satirical comedy The Director (2018), and the multi-award-winning fantasy drama Ill Fares The Land (2023).
Since its release, Ill Fares The Land has received widespread critical acclaim for its thematic depth, powerful performances, and striking visual style. Indie Shorts Mag named it Best Short Film of 2023, while UK Film Review, Short Films Matter, Take 2 Indie Review, and Indie Film Critics all awarded it ★★★★★, praising it as “powerful and poignant, pressing all the right hot-button issues” and “an innovative, bold tale.” Critics have further noted that writer-director Patrick Ireland “transcends beyond being an accomplished filmmaker” in this ambitious fantasy drama.
The film follows a young boy who discovers a mermaid washed up on the shores of his seaside home while his older brother is swept up in the rising tide of far-right nationalism. It has screened internationally and received numerous accolades, including Best Drama at the BIFA-qualifying Beeston Film Festival, Brighton Rocks Film Festival, and Unrestricted View Film Festival , as well as awards at the Hamilton New York Film Festival, Hastings Rocks Film Festival, Phoenix Rising Film Festival, and Vero Beach Film Festival
His earlier work has also garnered recognition. Anonymous: A Million Men was acquired for distribution by Shorts International and later screened at the Houses of Parliament, followed by a Q&A with Chi Onwurah MP. One in a Million received multiple international nominations and won Best Social Realist Film at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London.
In addition to his independent film work, Patrick has produced and directed content for major broadcasters and global brands, including ITV, Channel 4, DS Smith, Asda, BNP Paribas, and Stand Up To Cancer. His broadcast credits include Emmerdale: 50 Unforgettable Years, Good Morning Britain, This Morning, and the first-ever Youth Leaders TV Debate.
Over the course of his career, he has worked extensively both in the UK and internationally, producing and directing live and pre-recorded content in countries including France, Italy, Switzerland, Vietnam, Egypt, Sweden, and the United States. He has collaborated with a wide range of on-screen talent, including Richard Madeley, Ranvir Singh, Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson, Danny Dyer, Georgia Toffolo, Lisa Snowdon, and Andi Peters.
He is currently in development on his debut feature, the crime/thriller Driver, starring Dafne Keen and Aidan Gillen.