A stalwart supporter of the film industry and IMAGE's Creative Businesswoman of the Year 2023, Nell Roddy co-founded Break Out Pictures in 2019. As Ireland's most innovative and ambitious film distribution company, they are dedicated to supporting both emerging and established creatives and have collaborated with some of the biggest names in Irish film over the past six years – including the team behind the Oscar-nominated An Cailín Ciúin.
The last thing I saw and loved… any work by Teac Damsa is always so beautiful and incredibly moving – I recently saw their latest show NoboDaddy at the Dublin Theatre Festival and loved it.
The book I keep coming back to… I’m a big fan of all Claire Keegan’s writing and would happily reread her books at any stage. I also found Meg Mason’s Sorrow and Bliss a quietly powerful and nuanced read.
I find inspiration in… art in all its forms really.
My favourite film is… I’m not going to pick an Irish film as I couldn’t pick a favourite but internationally, I love Richard Linklater and his Before trilogy. I kinda love any mumblecore film as a genre!
My career highlight is… travelling with the An Cailín Ciúin gang to LA for the Oscars.
The song I listen to to get in the zone is… currently anything by Chappell Roan.
The last thing I recommended is… there’s so much great stuff to watch on TV right now. I recently watched—and loved—Hacks and Somebody Somewhere.
I never leave the house without… probably my phone, unfortunately.
The piece of work I still think about is… David Byrne’s American Utopia show that I saw with some great pals off-Broadway. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen.
My dream actor/director to work with would be… we’ve such a wealth of great Irish talent who I admire hugely but I’ve never worked with Sharon Horgan and I’m a big fan so it would be great to have an opportunity to collaborate with her at some stage.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… a few hours before my dad passed away he raised a toast to all his children and simply said ‘Be happy, be happy, be happy’. They’re good words to try to live by.
The art that means the most to me is… sitting in Murray’s in Inishbofin listening to a great trad session. Magic!
The most challenging thing about being in film is… it’s an incredibly competitive market, especially when you are working on an independent, often smaller-scale, budget film and competing with huge Hollywood juggernauts.
The magic of film to me is… sitting in a packed cinema on the opening weekend of a film, watching it resonating profoundly with an audience. Film has the power to reveal deep truths about the human experience and it’s a privilege to play a small part in that journey.
Photography with courtesy of Nell Roddy.
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