GODOT’S BEACH PARTY
During the middle nineteen seventies Paul Yates and Samuel Beckett engaged in a ‘dialogue by postcards’ between Paris and Belfast concerning two texts by Yates, The Leaves and The Playing Cards. In 1995 Paul Yates made this short film in homage to Samuel Beckett.
Cast: Alvin J. Patterson, James Ellis, Ken Stacey
THE STORY OF A SECRET
Featuring the British masked wrestler Kendo Nagasaki this film tells the story of a mysterious ritual of transformation. Surreal, stylish and utterly intriguing the film reunited Paul Yates and Kendo Nagasaki following the huge success of their creative collaboration on MASTERS OF THE CANVAS.
Photograph by Terence Donovan
‘Magic and mystery from the creator of the Sunday Times documentary of the year, MASTERS OF THE CANVAS… a surreal masterpiece…’
THE GUARDIAN
TWELVE MONTHS OF MOURNE
Winner of the ‘Best Direction’ award at the prestigious New York Film and Television Festival, this series of twelve films, commissioned by UTV, paint a yearlong portrait of the legendary Kingdom of Mourne. Yates’s mesmerising narration and lavish photography lead us through the turn of the seasons, folkways and lore to reveal his personal vision of the hidden spirits of Mourne.
Nicola Bell
Lead player in May & October episodes
UTV Commission
TWELVE MONTHS OF MOURNE – FEBRUARY
TWELVE MONTHS OF MOURNE – MAY
NATIONAL POETRY DAY
Excerpts: a BBC 2 commission
Cast: Frances Tomelty, Stephen Rea, Sinead Cusack
‘Outstanding, Paul Yates has set a new benchmark
for the re-imagining of poetry through film.’
TIME OUT
EAST
Film excerpt from
The Actor’s House
UTV Commission
EAST, an epic prose poem by Paul Yates, written especially for the voice of his close friend the actor, James Ellis. The poem portrays Yates’s native East Belfast, ‘past, present and imagined.’ This rare film version of the closing section of the poem was broadcast in tribute to James Ellis by UTV on the day of his funeral.
RETURN JOURNEY
Paul Yates’s award winning film portrait of his creative mentor, Jack Pakenham.
Excerpts: a BBC commission
‘The remarkable story of artist Jack Pakenham and his stunning visual response to the Northern Ireland Troubles, bold, imaginative and intensely thought provoking, an outstanding documentary.
THE TIMES