Director's Works
Mile 24 Colin Peppard
Colin Peppard, a director originally from Monaghan and now based in Dublin, discovered his passion for storytelling by shooting music videos on his iPad, which evolved into creating student campaign videos in college. Colin's debut short film, a covid-college assignment called "So Say All of Us," won 'Best Quarantine Short Film' at the Desert of the Light Film Festival in 2020. Since this, he has directed various videos for Irish bands like Post-Party, Gurriers, Ailbhe Reddy, Still Blue and most notably, Wild Youth's "We Are One" music video, which was Ireland's Eurovision entry for 2023, garnering over a million views on Youtube. Recognised as an emerging talent by Brendan Canty and the Youth Music Video Competition, he was chosen to direct Ailbhe Reddy's "Inhaling" music video, which was long listed for the 1.4 awards and shortlisted for the Berlin Commercial Awards 2024. Colin was recently shortlisted for the National Talent Academy’s First Credit Short Film Scheme and his short script "Muscle Bound" was a finalist for the BVIFF Short Film Bursary and is currently a Quarter Finalist for the Script Competition at Kerry International Film Festival. He has received the Clones Film Festival’s Bursary for his first funded short, "Mile 24", which is starting it's festival run.
“Mile 24” is a deeply personal story. It’s a reflection of my own relationship with my dad, a dedicated athlete who taught me about discipline, perseverance, and the sacrifices that come with pursuing one’s goal. Growing up, I was always in awe of his accomplishments as a runner - from earning a full scholarship to Notre Dame in the US, running three marathons and placing third in the 1991 Irish National Seniors, a race that we’ve included in the film. That legacy shaped a lot of my own understanding of dedication and ambition. As I grew up, my passions took me down a different path, although the values and lessons prevailed. Niall’s story in Mile 24 is very much my own. Like Niall, I felt the tension of navigating between a father's expectations and the pull of my own dreams. Niall's father, Declan, is driven by his love for running and the belief that his son should follow in his footsteps. Niall, however, discovers a different passion - acting. The clash between their worlds - running and theatre - creates a divide between them, but it’s also a testament to the love they share, even if they express it in vastly different ways. The marathon in the film, and the 24th mile in particular, is a metaphor for the endurance we all need in relationships and that point we reach where we need to decide whether to push through or to settle for less. Running is both an escape and a bond for Declan and Niall, but it’s also the source of their conflict. How do we reconcile the expectations of those who love us with the desires that make us who we are? That’s the question I wanted to explore in this film. Shooting "Mile 24" in Monaghan, my home county where I grew up, made the project even more special. It brought the story back to where it began for me. I first participated in the Clones Film Festival when I was fourteen, where I made a short for the 48 hour film challenge. Returning to the same community years later to make this film, now with the support of the festival, felt like closing a chapter while also beginning a new one. There’s something magical about bringing a personal story to life in the place where it all started. Tristan and Daniel brought an authenticity to the roles that truly went beyond my expectations. Tristan’s portrayal of Declan is powerful - his character embodies the kind of tough, but deeply caring father that I wanted to portray. And Daniel, who plays Niall, captures that mix of uncertainty, determination, and yearning that’s at the heart of this story. Together, they create a dynamic that reflects the complexities of family life - love, disappointment, pride, and ultimately, understanding.