Giovanni Peresson
Documentary Filmmaker
What is the Project?
A PaR auto-ethnographic film set in the West Belfast Gaeltacht
The aim of the project was to create a film based on my lived experiences in the West Belfast Gaeltacht. Being from Donegal, I came to Belfast as an outsider, wanting to find out more about the unique Gaeltacht rapidly emerging in the urban landscape of Belfast, a complete opposite to the Gaeltacht back home in a rural setting.
The film has been made through locals who acted as gatekeepers, they placed me into situations such as the Hawthorne bar or to meet with participants for a conversation. This is part of the co-ownership agreement between myself and participants, they are co-owners of the film and have acted as co-creators in shaping my experiences. My filmed experience was then put together as a 13 minute short film.
This project has been completed as a dissertation practice as research project for an MA in film Studies at Queens University Belfast. The academic element being the methodology, challenging traditional ethnographic film and creating a reflexive, participative and anti-colonial film through Practice as Research.
Stills
What happened During the Project?
Over the summer of 2025 I spent time with organisations such as the grassroots BRC and saw what they are doing for their community including the community garden and their anti-speeding campaign. I became close with Sean I went to their local bar the Hawthorne and saw how they discussed issues and came up with ideas, it was a key part of the community. There I met the Seadhna and the Falls Band. I also went with Sean to the Anti-Racism World Cup where I managed to speak to some of the players and locals about the language and its role in their lives.
I also got to see culture and art, particularly music, music was a key part of the film I met with a musician/teacher Patrick Davey, I managed to see him and two of his students. I also managed to hear Eoghan Edwards sing and play at the Hawthorne. This experience which I had and captured on camera was then put together to show the Urban West Belfast Gaeltacht and its rapid Growth.
