Derry documentary makers land £40k Netflix prize

A pair of Derry filmmakers have been awarded £40,000 from Netflix to fund a documentary about a local rapper.

Sean Mullan and Michael Barwise were among 10 filmmaking teams from across the UK named as beneficiaries of the streaming service’s new Documentary Talent Fund.

Each recipient will receive up to £40,000 in financing and mentoring to create their own short film between 8 to 12 minutes long, answering the brief, ‘Britain’s Not Boring and Here’s a Story’.

Sean and Michael’s film is about Jordan-Lee Brady-James, aka HYFIN, a young Derry man who is told that someone with a Northern Irish accent can’t rap.

The final films will be delivered in January 2022 and published on Netflix UK’s social channels, with the potential for further development.