Sadhbh Vella
Role: Writer
Ceangailte is an Irish-language horror about grief, witchcraft, and sisterhood. After her sister’s apparent suicide, Emily is consumed by loss. When she takes hallucinogenic mushrooms, she’s shocked to see her sister again; not in a dream, but in vivid, visceral reality. Her dealer is no ordinary supplier; she’s a witch, and the visions are real. In order to continue communing with the dead she must give up parts of herself. Literally.
Role: Writer | Director
Protection is Pleasure is a 30-second spec Kodak ad created for Brook, a UK-based charity dedicated to youth sexual health and education. The ad aims to challenge the stigma around condoms being perceived as “unpleasurable,” promoting a positive and empowering message around safe sex.
Role: Editor
After relocating to rural Ireland, a defiant Polish teen finds himself at odds with everything around him - especially his father. Stuck in a place that feels nothing like home, their clashes simmer until rebellion turns personal, and the fallout becomes impossible to ignore.
This thesis examines the portrayal of mother-daughter relationships in three screenplays written by Greta Gerwig. Through close analysis of Lady Bird, Little Women, and Barbie, it explores how Gerwig reimagines maternal dynamics in ways that reflect both personal and cultural evolution.
Chapter I analyses the relationship between Lady Bird and her mother, Marion, in Lady Bird. Central to this chapter is the daughter's realisation that her mother was once a daughter herself. The chapter draws on the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone to deepen the exploration of their bond, particularly in relation to generational cycles of care, conflict, and identity.
Chapter II examines Little Women, focusing on the distinct relationships each March sister has with their mother and with one another. This chapter explores how Gerwig’s adaptation empowers each character to “own” her narrative, positioning the film as a call for contemporary women to embrace authorship over their own lives.
Chapter III turns to Barbie, analysing the dynamic between Sasha and her mother, Gloria, as well as Gloria’s symbolic connection to Barbie herself. This chapter investigates how the daughter becomes a catalyst for the mother’s reawakening - pushing Gloria to rediscover her own voice and sense of purpose.
Sadhbh Vella is an Irish-Maltese filmmaker with a passion for storytelling. An emerging writer, editor, and director, she is graduating from the National Film School at IADT.
For her screenwriting major, she penned Ceangailte, an Irish-language feature script that explores themes of sisterhood and grief through the lens of horror. Her editing major focused on Tymek, a Polish-language punk coming-of-age short film.
Sadhbh also directed a spec Kodak ad for Brook, a sexual health charity, showcasing her versatility across genres and formats.
