I’m a documentary director from Glenarm, Derry & Leyton.
Keep scrolling for film links.
BOMBING BRIGHTON: THE PLOT TO KILL THATCHER
A fresh look at the Brighton bombing of 1984, featuring new testimony from many of those affected and a revealing interview with the man who planted the bomb, Patrick Magee. A Keo Films production for BBC Two.
Reviews
"Not really been able to stop thinking about Bombing Brighton for days. I've never seen a documentary like it." (Tom Peck, The Times)
"When asked about the hunger strike and Thatcher’s failure to understand the strikers’ grievances, Gummer says: 'There was nothing to understand'. Carefully and intelligently, this programme suggests otherwise." (Jack Searle, Guardian)
"Exemplary...sad, sober, open-minded." (Jasper Rees, Telegraph)
“Unmissable...Anyone wowed by Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (widely considered the finest documentary series ever made about the Troubles) will have been equally impressed by the production team’s latest film....If the documentary had finished there, it would still have been an important, skilfully made piece of oral history. But there was a twist that elevated it into something more....this riveting, even-handed documentary challenged us to make up our own minds.” (Gerard Gilbert, The i)
THE FALL: SKYDIVE MURDER PLOT
A three-part docudrama starring MyAnna Buring broadcast on Channel 4, June 2024, using an innovative combination of verbatim drama and documentary interview.
The story of Victoria Cilliers, a skydiver who survives the failure of both her parachutes and two dogged detectives uncover a story of affairs, debt, sex clubs, escorts and murderous intent. Execs: Peter Beard, Adam Hopkins, Will Rowson, Alisa Pomeroy
Reviews
“One of the most engrossing documentaries I have ever seen. Despite being aware of the all the tools in the documentary-maker’s kit, I don’t think I’ve seen them deployed as cleverly and compelling as they are here. The game-changing approach is not simply to film its dramatic reconstructions beautifully using but very good actors, but to reveal that process…so viewer engagement reaches a whole new level.
“It’s all powerfully emotional television. However, at around 40 minutes into the first episode Buring delivers an unmissable masterclass in screen acting: a one-take close-up at a moment of shocking narrative revelation that is unlike anything I’ve seen on a TV screen.
“This feels like a bar-raiser; a fresh approach to documentary film-making that not only swerves away from cliches but has unexpected emotional intelligence too. Having trained as an online counsellor for domestic abuse victims, I can say that The Fall is the most potent and moving on-screen depiction of the damage wrought by psychopathic narcissism and coercive control that I’ve ever seen. It will say with me for ever.” Kathryn Flett, Mail On Saturday ★★★★★
“By the end of it I was texting other women telling them they had to watch. It is one of the best explanations of coercive control in relationships that I’ve ever seen. Everyone has to watch this. You’ll learn something and understand something that could save you – a truly brilliant piece of work.” Hayley Campbell, Radio 5
“This is a series on a mission to break new walls, told in groundbreaking style.” James Jackson, Times
“Utterly absorbing.” Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail
“More brave – and more disarming – than other programmes in the true crime stable.” Emily Watkins, inew
“Skilful blending of reality and drama.. could have come off as tricksy, worked brilliantly.” Keith Watson, Telegraph
OUR FALKLANDS WAR: A FRONTLINE STORY
WINNER: Best History Programme RTS AWARDS
NOMINATED: Best Single Documentary BAFTA AWARDS
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Best Doc BROADCAST AWARDS
A feature documentary to mark the
40th Anniversary of the Falklands War in 2022,
telling the story of ten men who fought on the frontline.
Made for the BBC by The Garden Productions.
Execs: Zac Beattie & Hamish Fergusson
“TV journalism that sets a new bench-marking standard for our profession. Truly a production that has to go down in history as the definitive narrative of the Falklands War – and a remarkable (and, for me, unprecedented) insight into the nature of war itself.” Sir Martyn Lewis CBE
“Unforgettable TV Gold” Sun ★★★★★
“Outstanding, visceral and brutal” Daily Mail ★★★★★
"Breathtaking, humbling, honest and surprising, and I say this as someone who has watched umpteen hours of Falklands stuff lately.” The Times ★★★★★
"Extremely well told with a unique voice that made for brilliant filmmaking.” RTS judges
DIFFERENT LEAGUE:
THE DERRY CITY STORY
WINNER: Best Sports Documentary CELTIC MEDIA AWARDS
NOMINATED: Best Specialist Factual RTS NI AWARDS
NOMINATED: Best TV Programme SANDFORD ST MARTIN AWARDS
“This doc is fantastic, it is amazing. There is nothing not to love about this documentary.” Mike Bubbins, comedian
"For generations to come people will be grateful for this film.” Mark Patterson, BBC
Execs: Mike Connolly, Ivana MacKinnon, Jonathan Smith, Daisy Scalchi, Justin Binding.
SUPERKIDS:
BREAKING AWAY FROM CARE
NOMINATED: Best Specialist Factual Programme BAFTA AWARDS
NOMINATED: Best Arts or Music Documentary GRIERSON AWARDS
NOMINATED: Best Arts Documentary RTS AWARDS
Poet and performer Lemn Sissay, who himself grew up in care, sets out to help seven young people find their voice through writing.
"Exactly what Channel 4 was invented for." Adrian Lobb, Big Issue
BORDER COUNTRY:
WHEN IRELAND WAS DIVIDED
NOMINATED: Best Specialist Factual RTS NI
A timely insight into the stories of the people whose lives were affected by the hard border, bringing 100 years of archival footage together with surprising character interviews.
“Heartbreaking” GUARDIAN
“Deeply personal” DAILY MAIL
“Heartbreaking, unflinching” OBSERVER
THE UNBREAKABLES:
LIFE & LOVE ON DISABILITY CAMPUS
NOMINATED: Best Multi-Channel Programme BROADCAST AWARDS
A three-part series for Minnow Films set in a specialist college for young people with complex disabilities. Executive producers Colin Barr and Darren Kemp.
“The genius of Guy King’s films was that they celebrated individuality not disability.” Andrew Billen, The Times
LOVE & DEATH IN CITY HALL
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Best Newcomer GRIERSON AWARDS
A single 60-minute film by Erica Starling Productions, set in a Belfast register office. Executive producers Mike Connolly & Alison Millar.
“Memorably good.” AA Gill, Sunday Times
“A thing of beauty.” Andrew Billen, The Times
"Documentary of the week, probably the month and very likely the year, filmmaker Guy King's criminally under publicised observational collage of events at the register office at Belfast City Hall is an example of how powerful and poignant television can be in the right hands. There's no narrator, just people. Tears will fall. Worthy of every reward going." Mike Bradley, Observer
LIFE ON THE PSYCH WARD
“Little is known about forensic psychiatry, a fascinating subject explored in Channel 4’s Life on the Psych Ward. This empathetic portrayal of the most helpless and hated people in society followed patients in River House, a psychiatric ward for prisoners in south London. A very human portrayal." (Inews)
Sun ‘Unexpectedly moving’
Telegraph ‘Ground-breaking careful, empathetic’
Daily Mail ‘Powerful and unexpectedly moving’
Times ‘Rare insight into a caring and humane institution’
Observer ‘Recommended’
I LOVE LARNE
Erica Starling Productions for BBC NI
"Fair, compassionate and kind, a multi-faceted portrait of a citizenry overflowing with the stuff of life – and how Larne could accommodate those lives and hopes.
“Gorgeous cinematography. A place so often associated with dourness – let's face it – ugliness, was portrayed as an area of natural beauty. I Love Larne showed people with a passion for, and faith in, the place. A classic film which made strangers view the town with renewed interest."
(Gail Walker, Belfast Telegraph)
A BLACK & WHITE KILLING
Two-part series for Expectation Factual and BBC Two
It looked like a cold-blooded murder. At midnight outside a convenience store, a white supremacist ran over and killed a young black man in his Jeep, while his girlfriend was heard yelling “Get him baby, get him”. Shortly afterwards, CCTV of the incident went viral and shocked America. Not just because of its brutality, but because of the question at its heart: was he killed because he was black?
Less a whodunnit than a whydunnit, Mobeen's journey takes him into a secret world of white supremacists, which provides a virulent back-drop to the trial. And getting to know more about the victim Larnell Bruce as the case unfolds, it soon becomes anything but black and white.
MY INJURED BRAIN
Erica Starling Productions for BBC Northern Ireland
Following two men whose lives changed forever when they both suffered head injuries, charting the profound lifelong affects of the injuries on them and their parents.
"What an incredibly powerful fly on the wall documentary. A heart breaking but redeeming documentary of survivors and their families." Tom Kelly, Irish News
THE JOB HUNT
Erica Starling Productions for BBC Northern Ireland
Charting the efforts by brothers Kieron and Gareth to land job interviews in the tough work climate of the north west, which has one of the worst job markets in the country.
THE FISHING TRIP
Erica Starling Productions for BBC Northern Ireland
Following a passionate skipper and his wife, elder brother, children and boat crew - who are all risking everything in a dangerous job for the promise of a better future.
ELVIS IS IN THE VAN:
A SHORT FILM ABOUT FREEDOM
Directed by Guy King and Carla Mackinnon Edited by Gareth Davies Music by Dominic de Grande
Seamus: local legend, drunk viking, king of the road. When his three sons come to stay Seamus is set on teaching them the value of freedom, whatever happens. This short film was produced with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. It was screened at festivals in Waterford, Luton and London. RIP Sea, we love you.
RECORDING WALTHAMSTOW
In 2015 a shop popped up on Hoe Street, E17. Passers-by were invited inside to have a portrait taken by Photographer Paula Smith, while filmmaker Guy King captured the process with surprising and beautiful results. A Reel Walthamstow Scene Moving Image Commission. Image copyright: ‘Barefoot Tony’ by Paula Smith.