Michael’s page on Film Freeway
“I began making films in 2003 when I realised that the advent of YouTube and online streaming outlets would one day make it possible for marginalised artists, like ANÚNA, to find an international audience without compromising the nature of the music. I had approached film-makers and it seemed to me that the actual process of creating films was often more important than the motivation behind them. It was a sellers market too, with ridiculous sums of money being quoted for unimaginative ideas. if I didn’t learn to create a visual representation of ANÚNA no one else would.
Many of the earliest efforts are pretty terrible, but some of them have come to define a certain style of video presentation for certain niche artists. They were edited in a very clunky version of Final Cut Pro and filmed on a Standard Definition camera (later a HD camera purchased on the back of surprising broadcasting payments for some of those early efforts) and resulted in a full length film “Invocations of Ireland” (see below). Since then I have filmed and edited many, many short and long form videos. You can see some of them below and others have been broadcast and released everywhere from Japan to the USA and Europe. You’ll catch them of Nordic TV platforms, Sky Arts, long-haul flights and at Festivals.
It has been a surprise to find that there is no mystery to film making. With the advent of AI and prompt-based creativity becoming the norm for the future, a world where nothing is what it appears to be, films made with minimal technological interference may find a singular space. In the meantime enjoy some of these modest efforts and realise they are an explorative body of work that never intended to be anymore than what they appear to be.”
FULL LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
M’ANAM : Between Two Worlds (2023)
61mins 4K
M’ANAM are a vocal group that combine the two ancient cultures of Ireland and Iceland, singing songs inspired by the natural landscapes around them. The men of M’ANAM have created a sound-world for our modern times using the words of those long dead including the Viking eulogy “Deyr Fé” and the 9th century Irish author of “Bitter Wind”. This film explores the creative soul of this unique group with interviews from the key people involved in their creation. M’ANAM : Between Two Worlds combines the evocative landscapes of Ireland and Iceland with live performances filmed in Dublin and Reykjavík.
Winner of the Documentary Award for the Munich Video Awards ‘23, Nominated at the Louth International Film Festival for Best Documentary Feature and selected for screening at this year’s Kerry International Film Festival. Nordic Premiere @ Bío Paradís, Reykjavík, January 2024
Behind the Closed Eye (2023)
Behind the Closed Eye (Trailer). Contact us for full viewing.
52mins 4K
Documentary featuring the work of Francis Ledwidge and the music of Michael McGlynn, with participation from ANÚNA, Apollo5, Cantus and The Ulster Orchestra with interviews by Eric William Barnum, Lucy Champion, Alexander Nishibun, Clare Stewart and Rory Musgrave.
Produced, directed and edited by Michael McGlynn.
ANÚNA : Evocations (2023)
Evocation (Full Film)
50mins 4K
A stunning visual representation of the music created and arranged by Michael McGlynn connected by a singular musical and visual thread.
Featured music includes the globe spanning “Maalaulu” features Marjukka Tepponen (Finland) and Ordained, featuring Isaac S.Cates from Kansas City USA. Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius Brava features on the iconic “Look Away…” filmed in Donegal.
Mårten Jansson : A Glimpse of Truth and Grief (2023)
24 mins 4K
Swedish composer Mårten Jansson is a renowned composer of music for choirs. In this film he is interviewed by Irish composer Michael McGlynn and discusses his inspirations and beginnings, his emotional connection to this most nebulous of art forms. The film includes beautiful performances by numerous vocal ensembles including internationally renowned vocal ensemble Voces8 and American poet Tony Silvestri.
Momenti Musicali (2022)
Momenti Musicali (Full Film)
50mins 4K
Commissioned from Michael McGlynn by The Wexford Opera Festival, this full length programme features a selection of the finest Irish opera singers.
We travel on a sumptuous journey across the Irish landscape with five singers Rory Musgrave, Sharon Carty, Mairéad Buicke, Gavan Ring, Owen Gilhooly-Miles and Rachel Croash and includes live performance from Wexford Opera House.
Songs of the Earth (2021)
Songs of the Earth (Trailer). Contact us for full viewing
47mins 4K
Full length musical documentary spanning music from the Irish tradition, the Sami tradition of Finland and the Native American tradition. Commissioned and an initial version premiéred by the Tampere Vocal Festival, Finland in June 2021, this version was completed in early 2023. Filmed by Michael McGlynn (Ireland), Joonas Saari (Inari, Finland/Sápmi) with sound by Janne Lappalainen & Russell Seaton (Washington State USA).
Produced, directed and edited by Michael McGlynn. Sound mastering Brian Masterson
ANÚNA : A Whisper of Paradise (2020/21)
1hr 4K
Performance with location footage, broadcast initially as part of the Voces8 Live from London series 2020. Filmed by Nejc Rudel and Michael McGlynn. Produced, directed and edited by Michael McGlynn. Sound recording and mastering Brian Masterson. Two new versions have been created for distribution for all year usage and Christmas (both approximately 1hr)
ANÚNA : On a Cold Winter’s Night (2020)
50mins 4K
Broadcast on Sky Arts TV New Zealand and TG4 Ireland on Christmas Eve 2020 & 21. Broadcast on SVT2 across the Nordic Countries December 2021/22. Filmed by Brad Ballew, Nejc Rudel and Michael McGlynn. Produced, directed and edited by Michael McGlynn. Sound recording and mastering Brian Masterson.
Contact Network Ireland for Distribution enquiries.
Invocations of Ireland (2008)
1 hr HD
Full length musical presentation released on DVD on DV1 (Australia) and Columbia (Japan). Also broadcast on Sky Arts TV. A pastoral representation of the work of ANÚNA told through visual tableau. SD and HD formats upscaled. Filmed, produced, directed and edited by Michael McGlynn. Sound recording and mastering Brian Masterson.
Contact Network Ireland for Distribution enquiries.
