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Martin has extensive experience as a film editor, a writer, a
script analyst, and a director.
He has directed three feature films. |
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In 1999 Martin directed
THE
TESTIMONY OF TALIESIN JONES
(SMALL MIRACLES -US) in
Wales, the cast of which includes Ian Bannen, Jonathan Pryce,
Geraldine James and Griff Rhys Jones. It has won several prizes
including; Best Feature at the Austin Film Festival in Texas, a
‘Special Mention’ citation from the Jury in the children’s
section
of the Berlin Film Festival 2001, and a special prize at the
Chicago International Childrens Film Festival.
Best Film, Heartlands Film Festival, USA 2000.
President's Award, Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, USA 2000.
Third Prize, Emden Film Festival, Germany 2001.
Humanitas Camerio Award, Carrousel International Film Festival,
Canada 2001.
UN Rights of the Child Award, Chicago International Childrens
Film Festival USA 2001.
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In 1998 he directed
THE BUMBLEBEE FLIES ANYWAY in New York. The film was produced by Steven Haft and The Shooting Gallery. Martin
co-wrote the script from the novel by Robert Cormier.
The film stars Elijah Wood, Janeane Garofalo, Joe Perrino and
Rachael Leigh Cook. It was selected for official competition
at the Deauville Festival of American Cinema, 1999. The film
has been released on cable in the US and has received extensive
video release there. Following the success of LORD OF THE RINGS,
it has sold throughout the world including in Japan and Germany.
Bronze Griffon Award, Giffoni Film Festival, Italy 1999.
Selection for Deauville Festival of American Cinema,
France 1999. |
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Martin’s first feature, in 1996, was
THE BOY FROM MERCURY which he also wrote. It was
produced through the Irish Film Board, RTE, and Le Studio Canal
Plus. It stars Hugh O’Conor, Rita Tushingham, Tom Courtenay and
nine year old James Hickey.The film has won several awards and
enjoyed strong critical and modest commercial success on its
release in England by Blue Dolphin distributors.
Special Commendation, Prix Europa, Germany 1996.
3 Jury Awards, Giffoni Film Festival, Italy 1996.
Best Film, Hayange Festival of first time film directors, France
1996.
Distributors' Award, Oulu Film Festival, Norway 1996.
Jury Prize, Olympia Film Festival, Greece 1996.
Jury Prize, Celtic Film and Television Festival, 1997. |
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Martin is a member of the Board of the Screen Directors Guild Ireland.
In 1999 he co-scripted the Fox Family Channel TV film on the life of
Ireland’s patron saint,
SAINT PATRICK, the cast of which includes
Patrick Bergin, Malcolm McDowell and Alan Bates. It attracted the
third highest viewing figures ever for a TV film on the channel.
Martin’s background is as a film editor and
writer. His editing work
over fifteen years in Irish national television and freelance
includes such
award winning films as
HUSHABYE BABY,
THE
BISHOP’S STORY (BUDAWANNY),
THE
ROAD TO GOD KNOWS WHERE,
THE DUBLINERS’ DUBLIN - which he also scripted - and
RTÉ/BBC’s definitive two hour documentary on
SAMUEL BECKETT.
Martin’s writing includes two novels for young people - ONCE UPON A
UNIVERSE and MOTHERSHIP - and several plays for television, radio
and stage
including POOR ALBERT, THE APOLLO, and
GOOD SOLDIER BRECHT. He also
worked with
healer Finbarr Nolan to write his autobiography SEVENTH SON OF A
SEVENTH SON.
Martin has written consistently through the years for children and
young people. This work has ranged from television episodes of the
comedy
series
WANDERLY WAGON and
FORTYCOATS to a pantomime for the latter
based on a
character he had created - "Sir Something-or-other the Lost". Martin
has also written comedy material for radio and television sketch
shows.
He has written often for animation series, including the
German-produced series ALTAIR and most recently the new
ISLAND OF
INIS COOL
series.
He wrote, edited and directed the short film SPLICE OF LIFE
and wrote
and co-directed a team produced drama, THE CURE, with a group
of teenage cancer patients.
Martin is developing other projects including the family
film THE
WISH,
and the ghost story
LITTLE BOY PRIEST. Working with the US/Irish company
Anam Films, he has developed the feature film script FELLOWSHIP.
Over many years Martin has acted as script editor for RTÉ and for
Irish
independent production companies. He has worked as consultant
director/writer for North by Northwest, and was one of the four
drama advisors for the
2001/2 Winter Academy of Forderverein Kinderfilm e.V in Gera,
Germany.
For three
years he facilitated actor's masterclasses in the
Galway Film
Fleadh - working with Woody Harrelson, Colm Meaney, and Aidan
Quinn.
He was a member of the International Jury of the Berlin
Kinderfilmfest, 2003.
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