THE STORY OF RIOT PRODUCTIONS
Rebel Voices. Radical Stories. Unapologetic Cinema.
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Founded in 2016 by Siobhan Fahey, Riot Productions Productions hit the ground running with a mission: amplify bold, untold stories—and do it with style. From the start Riot Productions championed underrepresented voices and queer narratives that demand to be seen and heard.
Riot Productions co-produced My Loneliness Is Killing Me, 2018 (dir. Tim Courtney), the first queer-centered short to win a BAFTA Scotland. A breakthrough moment for LGBTQ+ cinema.
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Christopher McGill
Creative Director
Then came Rebel Dykes (2021), a Riot Productions documentary about lesbian punks in 1980s London. Directed by Harri Shanahan and Sian Williams and produced by Siobhan, this cult film smashed onto the international festival scene, scooping awards and a BAFTA Scotland nomination. It screened across the UK and was broadcast on Channel 4 for Pride Month—remaining a streaming standout for two years.
In 2020, queer working-class filmmaker Christopher McGill joined Riot Productions Productions. Known for his work in participatory film, activism, and social impact, Chris brought a sharp lens to stories from the margins—everything from asylum seekers to underground queer nightlife. He’s used film as a tool for justice, working with the NHS and grassroots organisations to make real change.
Together Siobhan and Chris co-produced seven powerful shorts, each one pulsing with Riot Productions’s rebellious heart. In 2019, they created Crypsis—a striking short with bold visuals and a powerful storyline. It traveled the globe, screening at top-tier festivals, and has become a staple at refugee and asylum seeker–focused events. A perfect example of Riot’s rebellious heart in action.
Is It Me (2021) earned a Grierson nomination for its fearless look at mental health and queer identity. Both films have been screened on the BFI player.
​In 2023, they embarked on the feature documentary Don’t Be Alarmed - a portrait of a determined group of young Scottish activists, currently in post-production.
​In 2025, Siobhan passed the baton, and Chris continues Riot Productions’s original mission: bringing radical, untold stories to the screen.