North and East Housing Association (NEHA), in partnership with Clones Film Festival and the Arts Offices of Cavan and Monaghan County Councils, has announced the appointment of two Filmmakers in Residence who will work with NEHA communities across both counties from early 2026 to mid‑2026.

The residency will culminate in the premiere of new films at the 25th Clones Film Festival, marking a significant milestone year for the festival.

Supported through a €20,000 programme funded by NEHA, with additional backing from both local authorities, the residency invites filmmakers to explore stories of identity, place, community and regeneration. At its core, the programme focuses on lived experiences within NEHA homes across Cavan and Monaghan, including developments delivered through the sensitive repurposing of former fire stations, banks and commercial buildings.

Filmmaker in Residence for County Monaghan

Jackie Jarvis

Monaghan‑based filmmaker Jackie Jarvis brings a strong background in editing and assistant editing across international film, television and documentary. Her credits include The Pope’s Exorcist, Cocaine Bear, Vivarium, Modern Love and The Young Offenders.

Alongside her editorial work, Jackie has directed several short documentaries, including Who Is Mik Artistik? and Sean McQuillan: Engineer, Farmer, Pirate Radio Pioneer. Her storytelling is shaped by a strong interest in distinctive characters and real‑life experience.

Jackie holds a BA in Media Arts and an MPhil in Film Theory and History. During the residency, she will focus on directing and will create a new film that will premiere at the Clones Film Festival.

Filmmaker in Residence for County Cavan

Regina de Faoite

Cavan‑based filmmaker Regina de Faoite works across documentary, fiction and experimental film. She is a graduate of the National Film School at IADT, and her work includes The Lacey Way, Wildflower Wake, God Save Us All and A Stoirín.

Regina’s films have been screened at the Kerry International Film Festival and Louth International Film Festival. Her short documentary Shtick on the Kettle won the Drumlinia three‑minute film competition.

Her filmmaking is visually expressive and grounded in emotion, place and character. Through the residency, Regina will work closely with NEHA tenants in County Cavan to develop a film rooted in local experience.

A Residency Rooted in Story and Community

Over the coming months, both filmmakers will spend time engaging with NEHA tenants, exploring personal and collective experiences of home, memory and belonging. The residency includes community workshops, interviews, on‑site research and collaborative creative activities that invite tenants to take part in the storytelling process.

The programme will result in either one medium‑length documentary or two shorter films from each filmmaker. All completed works will premiere at the 25th Clones Film Festival, which celebrates a quarter century of championing independent cinema and local voices.

A Partnership that Supports Creativity and Connection

NEHA provides more than 900 homes across 12 local authority areas and places strong emphasis on community wellbeing and tenant voice. This partnership with Clones Film Festival and the Arts Offices of Cavan and Monaghan County Councils supports cultural participation, strengthens visibility for rural stories and recognises the everyday experiences that shape towns and villages across both counties.

At NEHA we see every home as part of a wider story about people, place and community. This residency gives us a chance to listen closely and to work with filmmakers who can bring these stories to life with care and authenticity. Jackie and Regina will spend real time with tenants, and that matters. Their work will help reflect the experiences that shape our towns and villages and bring attention to journeys that are not always visible.”

Thomas Zechner, Clones Film Festival:

“Clones Film Festival has always valued stories that come from the ground up, shaped by the people who live them. Partnering with NEHA and the Arts Offices in Cavan and Monaghan adds a meaningful new dimension to that tradition. We look forward to welcoming the finished films as part of our twenty fifth anniversary programme and to sharing local stories on a stage that belongs to the community.”

Jackie Jarvis, Filmmaker in Residence for County Monaghan:

“I am looking forward to beginning this documentary project in partnership with NEHA and Clones Film Festival. Spending time with residents in County Monaghan and bringing their stories to the screen is both a responsibility and a privilege.”

Regina de Faoite, Filmmaker in Residence for County Cavan:
“This residency is a valuable opportunity for me as an emerging filmmaker and a meaningful next step in my work. The support from NEHA and Cavan County Council allows time and space to step into a community and to listen carefully to the stories and voices that come forward. I hope to create a film that reflects the fabric of the NEHA community and the experiences that shape everyday life.”