Shaun Dunne

Country: Ireland

Biography

Shaun Dunne is a Dublin based writer and director who works extensively across film and theatre. He was the Arts Council’s Next Generation Film Artist for 2020 and is currently developing new feature-length narrative concepts with support from Screen Ireland. Experimental work includes The First was a Boy, Iarscoláire (Past Pupil) and Dúirt Tú (You Said), all of which were awarded top prizes at premiere Irish Film festivals including Cork International Film Festival and Dublin International Film Festival. Recent narrative shorts include Red Lake (Pull the Trigger) and Tar Anseo (One Two One Two).

In 2022, Shaun presented his debut documentary feature at Dublin International Film Festival. Adapted from his theatre show Rapids, HOW TO TELL A SECRET was made in collaboration with Anna Rodgers and Invisible Thread Films. It was awarded Best Documentary at Irish Film London and has screened at festivals around the world since its debut. The film was nominated for Best Documentary at the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2023 and has since been acquired by Netflix.

In theatre, Shaun has toured extensively across Ireland and is best known for his unique hybrid of documentary material with new writing and inspired fiction. Works of note include the multi-award winning Making a Mark, Restoration, The Wasteground Party, Rapids, Death of the Tradesmen, as well as his recent premiere of This Solution at Dublin Theatre Festival, 2023.

He is currently developing new theatre live-work for Rough Magic, Brokentalkers, Access All Areas and OneTwoOneTwo.

A trained facilitator, Shaun has been the engagement and participation artist in residence at The Ark for the past seven years. Here, he works with responsibility to the Children’s Council; a steering voice of 40 young people who contribute to decision making at the Ark.