A 21 year old acting student from Laois has recently produced a highly successful short film, receiving recognition across the UK and Ireland.

'Into the Silence' has been shortlisted for several awards at film festivals in Ireland and abroad, which Stradbally based assistant director and producer Indah O’Reilly has likened to ‘a dream’.

“I’m studying acting, and last year our short film’s director reached out to me to see if I had any interest in working behind the scenes on the film,” Ms O’Reilly told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Pictured: producer and 1st assistant director Indah O'Reilly with writer and director Michael Antonio Keane, and executive producer Caitriona Boyd at the Underground Cinema Film Awards

‘Into the Silence’ takes viewers back to Dublin’s rave culture in the 1990’s, following two young DJs who find their lives forever changed. Main character Bastien goes on a journey of healing through music, using loss as a creative tool.

The film has been officially selected for many festivals, including The Underground Cinema Film Festival, Mallow Arts Festival and more. 

As the producer and 1st assistant director, the Stradbally student recently made her UK debut at the New Genesis International Film Festival in Brighton, England.

“This film was fundraised through a Kickstarter, we aimed to raise €2,500 and managed to raise €3,000, it was brilliant,” she said.

“I’m studying acting at the Bowe Street Academy, and it’s amazing. I have done screen work acting before, and this is completely different. It’s great to see the different ways it can be taught.”

Born in Indonesia, Indah and her parents Phillip O'Reilly and Ade Rahayu moved to Dublin in 2004, when Indah was three months old. The family moved to Laois in 2006, following the birth of Indah's sister. Ms O'Reilly went on to study at Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise.

Watch: Trailer for 'Into the Silence', a short film from Michael Antonio Keane

As a filmmaker in rural Ireland, it can be difficult to network outside of Dublin.

“I live outside of Stradbally and went to school in Portlaoise. The arts scene is a very small community, I don’t know any filmmakers in Laois. It’s very different to what I’ve experienced in Dublin, I feel that a lot of creatives from other counties come to Dublin for this kind of work,” Ms O’Reilly explained.

“The reception of the film has been like a dream, it almost doesn’t feel real.  We’re hoping people can continue to support us by attending the festivals, and hopefully enjoying the film!” she said. 

The film was shot last winter in a variety of locations, with a team Ms O'Reilly hailed as 'amazing'.

“Production took place this time last year, we started filming mid-December. It was mostly filmed around Dun Laoghaire and Cellbridge, our biggest scene was a rave scene filmed in the Lighthouse in Dun Laoghaire. A lot of the crew were IADT students, our director Michael had a lot of people who were ready to help us out,” Ms O’Reilly said.

Pictured: a still from 'Into the Silence'

“We had maybe thirty people on the crew, and forty or fifty extras on set, it was brilliant,” she said.

What’s next in the cards for the Stradbally actress?

“I think my main priority is pursuing acting, but I would definitely love to continue working on projects as crew, either as a production assistant or maybe my own directing debut,” she said.

“Acting can be very psychological, and producing is more logical, though they’re both creative," she finished.

For more updates on Into the Silence, see their Instagram page here.

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