Real Films is an Irish based company who produce captivating film, TV and radio documentaries.

Real Films TV documentaries have had six Irish Film & Television nominations in the past three years and has won three IFTA s for Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

Our radio work has won a Gold Medal in the Best International Educational Section at the New York Festivals World’s Best Radio Programmes 2013 and was a finalist in 2014.

  • Producer

    Alison Toomey is a multifaceted professional, excelling as a TV Producer/Director and Radio Producer/Presenter. After completing her studies with honours at Colaiste Dhulaigh and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT) in 1992, Alison showcased her talent by writing, producing, and directing two critically acclaimed short films. Her works, "Eleven Stories" and "Where the Heart Remains," achieved recognition, with the former receiving the prestigious Kodak student film award and the latter winning the Best Short Drama Production at the Huesca International Film Festival in Spain.

    In 1993, Alison faced a significant setback due to a serious accident, requiring a two-year recovery period. Following her recuperation, she ventured into lecturing at IADT and served as a Production Manager for Scratch Films, contributing to the success of their award-winning documentaries, "Boys for Rent" and "Male Rape." In 1997, Alison relocated to Co. Donegal and established a high end, Craft & Art Gallery in Donegal Town known as "The Present Company & Crooked House Gallery." This venture garnered recognition from the Crafts Council of Ireland for its excellence in Irish Craft & Art, and it was hailed as the "Best in Ireland to visit."

    Returning to the world of Film & TV in 2009, Alison co-founded Real Films with her husband, Garry Keane. Their inaugural production, "The Writing in the Sky," earned multiple Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs), including "Best Director" and "Best Sound," along with nominations for "Best Cinematography" and "Best Editing." Their subsequent series, "The Irish New Yorkers," was also honoured with an IFTA for "Best Cinematography" and received a nomination in the "Best Editing" category in 2012.

    Alison was Producer and Production Manager for Real Films' feature documentary, "GAZA." The film premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 2019, was Ireland’s entry for the 2020 Oscars, and earned a place at number 31 on the Irish Times' list of "50 Best Irish Films Ever Made." Currently, she is one of the producers for Real Films' latest feature documentary, "In the Shadow of Beirut," set to have its World Premiere in June 2023.

    In addition to her accomplishments in visual media, Alison is a celebrated Radio Producer/Presenter with an impressive portfolio of over 50 radio documentaries. Her ground breaking nine-part series on autism, titled "The Moon is an Orange Triangle," secured a Gold Medal at the New York Festivals World's Best Radio Awards. Since 2014, she has also served as an esteemed International Grand Jury Judge for the World's Best Radio Awards.

  • Garry Keane embarked on his career by studying Journalism and Photography at the esteemed London College of Communication. He then honed his skills further by delving into the world of Film and TV at the renowned Irish National Film School at IADT. Graduating in 1990, Garry moved between New York and London, establishing himself as a Director of Photography before finally settling in Ireland, where he has been a documentary filmmaker for the last 25 years.

    Garry had directed over 100 hours of documentaries for esteemed European and American broadcasters, spanning across more than 20 countries worldwide. His body of work has earned him recognition and acclaim, with an impressive 20 nominations for the Irish Film & Television Awards. Amongst these nominations, Garry secured nine coveted awards, including two wins in the esteemed "Best Director TV" category in 2013 and 2018.

    His feature documentary, 'GAZA,' was five years in the making and premiered at the illustrious Sundance Film Festival in January 2019. The film transcended borders, captivating audiences in over 60 international film festivals, where it garnered an astonishing 11 award nominations, ultimately triumphing in eight categories. Notably, 'GAZA' proudly represented Ireland as the country's entry in the 'Best International Feature' category at the 2020 Oscars.

    Garry recently completed his latest feature documentary, 'IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT.' Set to have its World Premiere in June 2023, this poignant film unveils the compelling stories of four families residing in the notorious urban ghettos of Beirut, namely Sabra and Shatila. These neighbourhoods bear the haunting scars of the 1982 massacre, where the Israeli Defence Forces and Lebanese Christian militia claimed the lives of over three thousand innocent civilians. Despite the bleak circumstances, 'IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT' paints a picture of hope amidst adversity. Amidst the unsanitary ramshackle dwellings and the notorious reputation for violence and criminal activity, the film captures the unwavering resilience and genuine spirit of the majority of its inhabitants—hardworking, honest, and steadfast individuals.