Brendan Canty reflects on the highs and lows of a first festival experience in his video for Dermot Kennedy. 

Following two girls from their initial arrival through to the bittersweet sunrise of the day after, it's a video which blends their fictional story within the Electric Picnic festival last year, where Kennedy performed an emotional 'homecoming' show.

Within the challenging confines of the actual festival Canty draws out riveting performances from his cast - young actors Jordanne Jones and Lauryn Canny. Shot in a documentary fashion, DoP Colm Hogan uses handheld movement and closeup shots to perfectly complement the live footage of Kennedy.  

Mirroring the flurry of emotion on screen, editor Allyn Quigley switches up the pace throughout to create a poignant yet high energy narrative.

BRENDAN CANTY: 

"Dermot Kennedy playing the mainstage at Electric Picnic 2019 was a monumental homecoming show for him. A landmark moment that underlined how far he has risen in just a couple of years - from busking on the streets of Dublin to playing to 20,000 people hanging off every word.

"To mark the occasion, I was commissioned to make a narrative film featuring Dermot’s performance at Electric Picnic. I wanted to capture the youthful euphoria of a first festival experience - the magical highs, disappointments and redemptions between friends.

"I cast two of the best young actors in Ireland in Jordanne Jones and Lauryn Canny, and with the best crew known to man and only one day of access, we somehow pulled this off - and I’m super proud of it!"