Short: Belfast Walls

A reflection on Belfast’s murals, tracing conflict, sectarianism, resilience, and a shared hope for peace across borders.

The Troubles was an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland, lasting from the late 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, between Protestant unionists, who wished to remain part of the UK, and Catholic nationalists, who sought reunification with the Republic of Ireland.

Today, hundreds of murals cover Belfast’s buildings, walls, and gable ends - each a visual narrative of division, identity, and resistance. Belfast Walls documents these artworks, exploring their messages of conflict, sectarianism, resilience, and the potential for reconciliation - not only in Northern Ireland but in conflicts across the world.

Ecclesiastes by Derek Mahon is narrated by Rachael Tolan, daughter of former IRA prisoner Tommy Tolan.

Crew
Director: Gwilym Evans
Producer: James Nolan
Director of Photography: Joey Knox
First Assistant Director: Aaron Dalzell
Editor: Gwilym Evans
Colourist: Abe Wynen
Original Score, Sound Design & Final Mix: Matteo Di Giulio
Sound Engineer: Luke Thompson
Voiceover: Rachael Tolan
Titles: Guillaume Maurin-Belay
Film Scanning: Digital Orchard
Production Company: way out west.