Jonathan Hughes
Directing
Biography
Jonathan Hughes is a screenwriter and playwright based in Limerick City. He completed an MA degree in Script Writing at Goldsmiths University of London and a BA(Hons) in Film & TV Production from the National Film School of Ireland at IADT. Jonathan has channeled his turbulent upbringing and years spent in the closet into a fresh perspective on contemporary life which has seen his scripts in high demand. Jonathan was awarded Best Screenplay at Waterford Film Festival for his short project, The Wake. The Wake was also selected as the recipient of the Clones Film Festival funding award. Two of Jonathan's scripts were produced for Goldsmiths University of London; winning a best screenplay award for his work on graduation film See You In Hell. He won the Filmbase/RTE Short Shots funding award for his short comedy script Acorn. The film premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh 2017 before playing the festival circuit worldwide. Jonathan was awarded the Galway Film Centre/ RTE short film funding prize for his short script MOTHER. He also received funding from Screen Ireland for his short project Mary through their Short Stories scheme. Both Mary and MOTHER premiered at the 30th Galway Film Fleadh in 2018 screened worldwide at various festivals. In January 2019, Jonathan received a nomination for the prestigious Discovery Award at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival. In 2020, his directorial debut, the short film Operator, was selected for the first ever online Galway Film Fleadh and has since gone on to screen at dozens of festivals at home and abroad. Also in 2020, his short film project La Tumba was awarded the DLR First Frames funding prize by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the National Film School of Ireland at IADT. Jonathan's distinct voice has translated into comedy projects that have strong universal appeal; his scripts have tickled the funny bones and warmed the hearts of audiences all over the world.
Known For
A drama set in the East End of London in 1889, during the aftermath of the "Ripper" murders. The action centres around the notorious H Division – the police precinct from hell – which is charged with keeping order in the chaotic streets of Whitechapel. Ripper Street explores the lives of characters trying to recover from the Ripper's legacy, from crimes that have not only irretrievably altered their lives, but the very fabric of their city. At the drama's heart our detectives try to bring a little light into the dark world they inhabit.
Ripper Street
Coming-of-age drama about lovable rogues Conor and Jock as they navigate their awkward teenage years, hatching plans and adventures to help distract from their tough home lives and their inability to stay out of trouble at school.
The Young Offenders
Orderly, structured Joy is dealing with a messy breakup when a new work assignment forces her to look for happiness in the most unusual places.
Finding Joy
As a kid, Darcy had no control over her family’s holidays and thus, has grown up to be a Christmas control freak — so much so that she loses sight of what the holidays actually mean. Suddenly, she finds herself magically transported into her idea of the perfect Christmas Village and learns that ‘perfection’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Christmas Perfection
Two teenage boys from inner-city Cork steal bicycles and ride off on a 160km quest to find an unrecovered bale of cocaine worth 7,000,000 euros.
The Young Offenders
A young boy falls in love with a dead rat. It begins to rot him, setting off a frenzy in his village with disastrous consequences
Rat King
Galway Film Centre / RTE Short Film
Mother
A worker is hunted by a sadistic killer during his lunch break, for the entertainment of online viewers. The directional debut of Jonty Ross, made as part of the 2022 edition of ‘Fresh Blood’.
Stream
A self-obsessed call centre worker deals with a personal heartbreak while on shift as the world crumbles around him - due to a zombie apocalypse.
Operator
When park ranger Paddy discovers Pilar, an elderly Spanish lady who doesn't speak any English, at a freshly dug grave, he thinks his fantasy of solving a murder case has finally come true.
La Tumba
What can you do when you’ve accidentally smashed the local statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary? The only thing you can do: frame your older brother.
Mary
The Talk chronicles the life changing conversation that takes between father and son when staunchly unionist father Dennis walks in on his son Barry in bed with a man. However, Barry isn't the only one hiding a secret from the family.