Saoirse Ryan

I am a filmmaker whose work explores identity and contemporary Irish culture through character-driven stories.

My graduate short film Bullshite follows a Leaving Certificate student determined to become a rodeo clown, despite the ridicule he faces from those around him.

Inspired by my experience of emigrating from United States to Ireland as a child, the film blends Irish humour and language with American iconography. Drawing its central theme from the phrase “Cop on, you clown”, the title plays on the American phrase “bullshit”.

Combining deadpan comedy with emotional realism, the film acts as both a coming-of-age story and an ode to people from small towns who harbour unconventional ambitions and pursue creative lives beyond traditional expectations. The film also draws from my own decision to pursue filmmaking and a creative career over more conventional or “sensible” career paths.