Hope in a Crack Epidemic film scoops Best Documentary award

A short documentary film that sheds light on a vital frontline addiction service for women in Tallaght has won an award.

Hope in a Crack Epidemic, by filmmaker Patrick Doran, was awarded Best Documentary at the 16th Underground Cinema International Film Festival (UCIFF), at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire earlier this September.

Filmed in 2022 at CARP (Community Addiction Response Programme) Killinarden and released this January, the documentary investigates the growing crack cocaine epidemic in Ireland focusing in particular on the West Dublin area of Tallaght, and on techniques used by drug dealers to target vulnerable women and mothers.

Speaking to The Echo, Patrick said the UCIFF award was “really great” for both himself and for the staff at CARP who had taken part in the film.

“James Kelly, the manager of CARP, and then Debbie Dolan, the Crack Cocaine Support workers were hosting the documentary – we worked really well together on it,” he explained.

“They told me that it was great to get the recognition, that people are listening to the stories that we’re telling, and that the women of the support program, that their voice is heard.”

Hearing stories of addiction, particularly in areas like west Tallaght and Killinarden, can be “too raw or too awful” for people, but Patrick is adamant that it is a story that must be told, however uncomfortable.

“It’s very raw, it’s uncomfortable, it can be maybe seen as an inconvenient truth for society and people don’t want to recognise these issues,” he said.

He said the name of the film, Hope in a Crack Epidemic, highlights the fact that there are groups like CARP Killinarden who are working to improve the situation, with their treatment programme for women shown in the film and their more recently launched programme for men struggling with addiction to crack cocaine.

Patrick is back working with James Kelly of CARP on a follow-up to the documentary, with the pair having recorded a podcast together.

They are also working on a similar documentary covering the issues faced by the men’s programme.

“It’s different with the men, he said.

“I’ve already spent time down there with the men’s program now, and they come with a different set of issues and needs and such to issues with the mothers and the ladies would have faced.”

Hope in a Crack Epidemic is also up for another best documentary award at the Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival in October.