Zampano Productions produces thought-provoking documentaries for the Irish and international television market place. At the helm is Martin Dwan, a director and producer who has a number of critically acclaimed documentaries amongst his credits. Our films have been broadcast on RTE, TV3, TG4 and Setanta Ireland.

The Great Guide to the Future is a globetrotting science series Martin directed and wrote for Tile Films. The series was produced for TV3 and aired on its network in the spring of 2017. Presented by science journalist Jonathan McCrea the series traveled to four continents to discover how mankind will adapt to the many challenges it faces in our constantly evolving world.

In 2016 Martin wrote and directed Seven Women. This docu-drama was produced by Stephen Rooke of Tile Films in association with RTE and was presented by Fiona Shaw, the critically acclaimed star of stage and screen. In a year of 1916 centenary commemorations the programme explored the role of women during Easter Week. The programme received universally positive reviews.

The Herald – ‘Superb film gives voice to the women of the Rising.’

Irish Times – ‘…lively and absorbing film…’

Sunday Times – ‘Seven Women was more elegy than celebration, but it struck a deeper chord than all the flag-waving programmes put together.’

Our own in-house produced Revolution in Colour was commissioned by by TV3 with additional funding secured from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. This two-part landmark series tells the story of Ireland’s struggle for independence through newsreel footage and photographs that were painstakingly colourised and restored by the team behind the BAFTA nominated World War II in HD Colour. British Pathé have secured the world distribution rights. The Sunday Times wrote –

‘the punched up visuals brought fresh perspective, imbuing protagonists with a vibrant humanity they are rarely afforded by conventional documentaries. Rendered in living colour the terrors and triumphs of the era seem like something that happened only yesterday.’

Other production of ours:

In the Name of the Republic, developed and directed in collaboration with Dave Farrell of Tile Films. The series, presented by Professor Eunan O’Halpin explored a long forgotten aspect of the Irish War of Independence, the abduction, execution and secret burial of alleged spies.

TK Whitaker – Seirbhíseach an Stáit was produced for TG4 with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. It explored the life of a man viewed by many as the greatest living Irishman. It was also nominated for an IFTA in the Best Documentary Category in 2011.

Shay Elliott – Cycle of Betrayal examined the remarkable and tragic life of Ireland’s first professional cyclist. Nominated for a 2010 IFTA in the Best Sports Programme Category. It was also nominated for a Torc Award (Celtic Media Festival) in the same category.

Zampano Productions is also active in the promotion of the life and legacy of John McCormack, Ireland’s greatest tenor, and arguably one of the 20th Century’s finest singers. In 2006 the company released the DVD box set ‘Icon of an Age’ containing the documentary ‘The People’s Tenor’, a 100 page book, and a 4 CD collection of restored recordings.  It received a 5 star review in The Irish Times. The company also staged a tribute concert to the tenor at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, where a new annual vocal bursary and a statue to the tenor were announced.