Shimmy Marcus
Directing
Biography
Shimmy Marcus is a multi award winning filmmaker working across a variety of formats and genres. In 1999 he won the Miramax Script Writing Award for his feature script 'Headrush' which he also directed. The film won a variety of International awards including Best Feature at festivals in Michigan,New York, and the Braunschweig Film Festival in Germany. His critically acclaimed feature documentary 'Aidan Walsh - Master of the Universe' became the first Irish documentary made on video to receive theatrical and video distribution. More awards followed for his short films and notably for his contribution to the feature documentary 'Imagining Ulysses'. Noted for creating many innovative music promos for bands including Fun Lovin' Criminals, Gavin Friday, Skin (Skunk Anansie), and Republic of Loose, and BP Fallon and Jack White of the White Stripes. His sophomore feature 'Soulboy' (Felicity Jones, Martin Compston) set against the background of the Northern Soul movement in 70's Britain won the 'Enfant Terrible' section of the Gijon International film Festival. In 2010 he joined The Factory as guest Director and continued to produce and direct films including the award winning short films 'Rhinos' and 'Hannah Cohen's Holy Communion' and documentaries on Parkinsons, and Holocaust Survivors living in Ireland. Presently he is Director of Bow Street Academy - The National Screen Acting School of Ireland which he set up in 2014 with Casting Director Maureen Hughes and Acting Coach Gerry Grennell. He is also a co-founder of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland.
Known For
The hidden memoir of an elderly woman confined to a mental hospital reveals the history of her passionate yet tortured life, and of the religious and political upheavals in Ireland during the 1920s and 30s.
The Secret Scripture
This documentary film, with its innovative style and content, looks at the masterpiece that is Ulysses and like the original book takes the form of 18 different episodes. Each of these is designed to have it's own distinctive theme and style. Narrated by Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker, with Patrick Bergin as the voice of Joyce, the film shows Ulysses in and imaginative, accessible and original way.
Imagining Ulysses
A Garda from a small rural village in Ireland, moves to Dublin City and must adjust to life as a big-time Garda, with hilarious results.
Mattie
1974. Amidst power cuts, strikes and boot-boy aggro on the football terraces, Joe McCain is bored of a life that's going nowhere. Enter hair-dresser Jane: blonde, beautiful, and moving to the beat of a whole new world of sound, movement and all-nighter dancing at The Wigan Casino - the home of Northern Soul. Swept along on this tide of pulsating dance and lust, Joe becomes embroiled in the darker side of soul scene that will put his friendship to the test.
SoulBoy
An unemployed slacker, his aged mother and his niece must overcome their many differences to find a lost fortune.
Life's a Breeze
A spirited 7-year-old, growing up in Dublin in the 1970's, can't wait to make her Catholic Holy Communion. The only problem is - she's a Jew.
Hannah Cohen's Holy Communion
Headrush is a crime comedy about two disillusioned youths, struggling through a haze of cannabis, who hope to solve all their problems by smuggling a consignement of drugs for a local gangster. It's set in the present day in Dublin, Ireland against the backdrop of the end of the Celtic Tiger: the bursting of the bubble of this economy boom that's supposed to have done wonders for us all.
Headrush
Haunted by his father’s accidental death thirty years ago, Stephen leads a masked kidnapper to his childhood home instead of just talking to his wife.
GAP
Ingrid and Thomas are thrown together by circumstance. Despite a language barrier, they learn more about each other than they thought possible.
Rhinos
In 1960s rural Ireland, a priest is called to the bedside of a parishioner, the wife of a prominent politician. She has just given birth. Whilst her husband has gone out to celebrate, she confides a secret in the priest and asks for help.
Our Father
Poor Ivor can't sleep. Masturbation is his last resort but it's not without its drawbacks.