Gar O’Rourke

Since the premiere of Sanatorium earlier this year, the international response has been incredible. This was a film that set out to show the power of healing, the resilience of community, and above all the strength of the Ukrainian spirit in the face of such traumatic times. None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of our Ukrainian crew (@denys_melnyk_dp @ssolodko @smthgoeswrong @kolorsound @wiktor.kon @thomas_shevskyi @vadimsmarchenko ) and Ukrainian co-producers @sashacherniavskyy @mariya_panasyuk at @2332film , our amazing producers in Dublin @andrewfreedman @kenwardrop and @corr_samantha at Venom Films, the phenomenal editing of @johnmurphyedit and the invaluable support of @screenireland , amongst our many other partners including @bbcstoryville @ced_ireland_media @france.tv @metfilm_sales @petitemaisonproduction @eclipsepictures.ie . To now have the privilege of representing Ireland on the biggest stage in world cinema is an incredible honour, and I’m deeply grateful to @iftaacademy and everyone who has been on this journey with us. Thank you ☘️🇺🇦

Very excited to announce that my new feature documentary film The Siege Of Paradise will premiere in competition at @tribeca this June 🇺🇸🗽💫 Trailer coming soon with more info and full credits, but for now I want to say a huge thanks to the team at @venomfilms @andrewfreedman @kenwardrop @jessie_hayden for their endless dedication and work on the film, our amazing coproducers in Switzerland at @dynamic.frame @rollingshutterframes @philippritler and our brilliant Italian partners at @jumpcut_2011 @selin_path @simonecargnoni Huge thank you to @screenireland @artefr @bbc Storyville @eurimagescoe @metfilm_sales and all our other partners on the film for their support. And of course an enormous thank you to our incredible crew and team who put so much effort, energy and enthusiasm into this film and made it what it is @johnmurphyedit @stevebattle @lukasgut_dop @alessiocassaro @alparodi ❤️🇮🇹 More info to come, stay tuned 💫

Thanks to everyone who made ‘25 a truly memorable year, it’s an impossible year to put in one post. Also, It seems you can only tag 20 people in a post, so to all those I didn’t tag and to those who didn’t make the post - I still love you 💔 Wishing you all a great ‘26 ✨💫

Recently announced as Ireland's selection for the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards. @garorourke ’s quietly observational film captures the heart and soul of a remarkable holiday & health resort revealing a different perspective of life in Ukraine during the war. SANATORIUM comes to the IFI this September. There will be a Q&A with director Gar O’Rourke on Friday 5th at 18.20! @eclipsepictures.ie ⏰ 18.20 📆 FRI 5TH 🎟️ LINK IN BIO

Huge thank you to @galwayfilm for this award! This was a film made with an incredible team - we’re delighted to receive this recognition 🇺🇦🇮🇪❤️ @venomfilms @2332film @petitemaisonproduction @metfilm_sales @eclipsepictures.ie A massive thanks to @screenireland for their support of the film along with @govie @ced_ireland_media @bbcstoryville @france.tv @andrewfreedman @kenwardrop @corr_samantha @jessie_hayden @sashacherniavskyy @mariya_panasyuk @ssolodko @hiflyparis @melnyk_dp @johnmurphyedit @steve_maher_insta @outerlimitspost @vadimsmarchenko @thomas_shevskyi @smthgoeswrong @kolorsound @katemelnyk_ @braga_zhenya @tessalouisesalome

The clientele of a rundown Soviet-era health resort search for love, health and happiness in war-torn Ukraine where air raid sirens and plumes of smoke from nearby Russian bombing raids disturb their much sought-after peace. Coming fresh from a stellar reception at @cphdox Sanatorium dir. @garorourke will have its UK Premiere at EIFF25! Sanatorium is a thoughtful, atmospheric documentary following a larger-than-life manager, medical director and disco organiser, trying their best to help their stoic fellow countryman and women achieve fulfilment in an ever threatening world. 🎬 Screening at @filmhouse_edinburgh @thecameocinema and @vue Omni Centre

The Clogherhead cowboy @killcon_ got the full Nashville send-off - boots, bourbon, and a band of esteemed headbangers. @rosanna_irwin__ you’ve wrangled one of the best. 💘🤠🌵

Sanatorium update and appreciation post ✨ We’ve had an amazing start to our film’s journey so far this year, starting a few weeks ago with our premiere in Copenhagen at CPH:DOX, where the film competed in the DOX:AWARD competition. Soon after, Sanatorium then kicked off the amazing Visions Du Réel festival in Switzerland. We have many more festivals lined up this year around the world which we are excited to share in the coming weeks and months, including our upcoming Ukrainian premiere. This will be the first time we will have our Ukrainian production team together for the screening, along with some members of the sanatorium in attendance, so it’s set to be a very special event 💫🇺🇦 We will be sharing more news soon, but in the meantime, here is some of the positive press we have been receiving towards the film, including some BTS of our incredible team who made this film what it is ❤️ 1. @screendaily review 2. Our @cphdox World Premiere in Copenhagen, with the wonderful Olena (from the sanatorium) who came all the way from Odesa. 3. @filmfestreport review 4. Sanatorium kicks off @visionsdureel festival in Switzerland 5. Yapping with Emilie Bujès, Visions Du Réel Artistic Director 6. @screendaily review 7. @deadline exclusive 8. @pov.international review 9. @hollywoodreporter interview 10. @highonfilms review 11. A muddy Andriy on the shores of the Kuyalnyk Estuary 12. An eagle-eyed Denys Melnyk 13. Portrait of sanatorium manager Dmytry by Denys Melnyk 14. Rooftop stakeout 15. Covering the tripod with (top quality) condoms to protect from salt in the mud 16. Said tripod condoms in action 17. Andriy gets a check up 18. Our incredible Ukrainian team with two of our stars, Natalia and her son Andriy

We kicked off the year in Peru with @canonusa , capturing a fashion shoot in the streets of Lima with @marinawphoto , filming with Chalanes on the hills of Pachacamac with @samnewton and catching penguins on Chincha island during sunrise with Keith Ladzinski. Thank you to the incredible team at @madebypixel for bringing us onboard for this special project. We’re excited to share the final series soon directed by @garorourke but for now, here’s some BTS snaps from the shoot, captured by the brilliant @liishenn 🇵🇪

I’m delighted to announce that my debut feature documentary Sanatorium, produced by @venomfilms , @bbcstoryville and @2332film , will have its world premiere at @cphdox next month. The film has been selected to compete for the DOX:AWARD in the International Competition and will premiere on March 24th. “Shot on location in Ukraine, Sanatorium takes viewers inside Kuyalnik Sanatorium on the outskirts of Odesa, a vast Soviet-era health resort where visitors undergo unique treatments, find community and navigate a summer like no other - despite the war unfolding around them. The film offers a striking and deeply human portrait of resilience, longing, and the pursuit of solace in an uncertain world.” Making this film has been one of the most enjoyable, challenging and rewarding things I’ve done in my little life to date and it would not have been possible without the dedication of the incredible team of people who were part of it - both in front of the camera and behind it. More posts with credits and mentions to follow, but for now I just want to express my deep gratitude to @cphdox @screenireland @bbcstoryville @creative.eu @france.tv for their support and belief in the film. Vi ses i København! 🇩🇰🥂

@letreirogaleria has been salvaging and preserving old neon signs from various defunct businesses in Lisbon and other cities for many years, reestablishing and immortalizing these important elements of public space and of the city’s identity. Gar O’Rourke went to meet graphic designers Paulo Barata and Rita Múrias who are behind the collection, creating the documentary ON & OFF. Catch it tonight, at 10:30pm #onTV

Dream project filming in Peru these past two weeks for @canonusa with an amazing group of people. Thanks for making this one to remember @canonusa @madebypixel and @tinyark 🦙🇵🇪✨ Thank you to @ladzinski @marinawphoto and @samnewton for being so fun and professional to work with 🙏 Big thanks to the talented team at @madebypixel CEO - @jameshbao Creative Director - @christopherkelly.studio Agency Producer - Hunter Blakely Senior Accountant Manager - @miafelin Account Coordinator- @steph.tangg Editor - @jslasher Stills + Social - @liishenn Thanks to @liishenn for some of the tasty snaps in this post ✨ Big up the amazing @tinyark team who brought their A-game and endless banter Exec Producer - @liam.hark Producer - @paulinekausch DP - @leon.mf 2nd Camera - @sarah_dillon2310 Assistant Camera - @empix And a huge thanks to our talented Peruvian team who made our trip extra special Fixer Extraordinaire- Bibi Melzi Drone Op - @danielgarate77 Swing - @martin_angulo_ruzicanin Sound Op - @sebaslegaspi PA Client - Celeste Paz Runner - Marcela Paz And of course, thank you to our dedicated driver Juan Jose Gutierrez, who got us around the country safely and who’s ring tone I will never get out of my head