Niall is the Head of Heritage and Community Relations at Nerve Centre and has engaged with the archive over a number of projects.

Nerve Centre’s relationship with the Digital Film Archive spans decades and together we’ve collaborated on a wide range of creative and cultural projects. As an organisation working across film, music, education and digital innovation, we’re often able to bring a fresh perspective to how archive material can be used. That has led to collaborations that not only preserve and celebrate Northern Ireland’s screen heritage but also find new ways to connect it with contemporary audiences.

We rarely begin a new creative project without asking, 'Is there an opportunity to incorporate the Digital Film Archive?' That has led to everything from film festival screenings and school workshops to immersive experiences and experimental installations.

One of the Archive’s greatest strengths is its people. The team has always embraced collaboration with an openness that feels refreshingly rare within the heritage sector. So when we approached them with the idea of integrating archive film into an AI-driven story capture experience for Belfast Stories, they immediately recognised the potential and became enthusiastic partners.

The result was Story Dreamer, an installation that uses AI to guide visitors through a conversational interview before connecting their personal stories with relevant archive film. Rather than simply presenting historical footage, the experience creates meaningful links between people’s memories and Northern Ireland’s shared screen heritage, encouraging deeper exploration of the archive.

We installed Story Dreamer in the centre of Belfast as a pilot that welcomed hundreds of participants. One moment was particularly memorable. After sharing a story, a visitor was presented with archive footage connected to their memories and, as they watched, they unexpectedly recognised their grandfather in the film – a piece of footage they hadn’t seen before. In an instant the archive became something deeply personal rather than simply historical.

Experiences like this demonstrate the true value of the Digital Film Archive. It is more than a repository of historic films. It is a living creative resource that can support education, inspire artistic practice, strengthen community engagement and help people discover unexpected connections with their own lives. The more creatively it is used, the more powerful it becomes.

Watch the film the visitor viewed below -