<\/p>\n
A Canadian-born filmmaker, raised in America but with family roots in Lisnaskea, has revealed plans to potentially make a film in Fermanagh.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Impartial Reporter from his uncle\u2019s home, Daniel Hanna described his deep connection to the area as wide windows framed the Lisnaskea countryside behind him. His words echoed the backdrop of farmland and rolling green hills curving into the horizon, reflecting both his heritage and creative vision.<\/p>\n
Filmmaker Daniel Hanna(Image: John McVitty)<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe used to come [to Fermanagh] a lot when we where kids, every other summer and then the older you get the less often you come back,\u201d Daniel told this newspaper.<\/p>\n \u201cI spent a lot of summers here out at the farm and just around Lisnaskea and Enniskillen<\/a>.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt\u2019s been about 10 years since I have been back, I love being back here, the people and the landscape and driving back into Lisnaskea feels like coming home in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n The Toronto-born, Arkansas-raised filmmaker has won many awards, among them the Academy Nicholl Fellowship in 2021 recognising his screenwriting. However, his love for the cinematic arts stems from childhood.<\/p>\n \u201cI made my first film right after high school when I was 17 but I went to grad school in 2008,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Daniel has been working as a professional filmmaker for 15 years and has lived in Los Angeles for almost 20 years.<\/p>\n Describing where his love of visual storytelling originated, he said: \u201cI always loved writing, as a kid I wrote a novel but never did anything with it because I was like 10 years old.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ve always liked storytelling and creating. I started watching different movies and it just felt like that was a medium which was exciting and collaborative.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel continued: \u201cEvery movie needs something different but I\u2019m always trying to look for something that doesn\u2019t feel false.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me it\u2019s about trying to capture something that feels spontaneous because I think that is something film does. It\u2019s one specific moment captured in time and I want the style to reflect that and make you feel that as much as possible being there and experiencing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Stills from Daniel Hanna\u2019s latest film, Succubus.(Image: Succubus (2024))<\/span><\/p>\n Among his extensive film and writing credits, his latest film, Succubus, marks his foray into the horror genre as writer and director.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like in horror, you can tell any kind of story, you can deal with any kind of subject matter,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Highlighting the creative freedom the horror genre provides, Daniel added: \u201cPeople accept a lot more flourishes and style that might get in the way of a standard drama.\u201d<\/p>\n (Image: Succubus (2024))<\/span><\/p>\n (Image: Succubus (2024))<\/span><\/p>\n The narrative of Succubus focuses on a new father struggling with a failing marriage and emotional insecurities who joins a dating app \u201conly to swipe right\u201d on what might be an inhuman presence.<\/p>\n \u201cHe matches with this woman but something is wrong, and he starts going down this dark rabbit hole, it gets weirder and weirder,\u201d Daniel told this newspaper.<\/p>\n Describing the narrative themes, he added: \u201cIt’s a metaphor for things like internet addiction, it could be our fascination with not living in the real world and the dark things that are out there.<\/p>\n \u201cThe isolation [of the internet] … you’re sort of alone but connected at the same time.”<\/p>\n (Image: Succubus (2024))<\/span><\/p>\n (Image: Succubus (2024))<\/span><\/p>\n