About

Alongside shares the stories of people who’ve faced life’s hardest moments—and the animals who helped them find a way through. In collaboration with Not-for-profit Kintsugi Heroes, we’re capturing raw, personal portraits of survival, connection, and the quiet healing that only our animals can offer.

It’s our mission to give people the space to share the stories they need to tell—so others can listen, connect, and feel a little less alone.

Inspired by the work of Kintsugi Heroes, we believe that by speaking openly about life’s hardest moments, we create connection, understanding, and the quiet reminder that none of us are in this alone.

Building on Kintsugi’s 100+ powerful podcasts, this film project takes the next step—bringing these stories to life on screen to reach a wider, global audience. It’s a new way to share the voices of lived experience, through the universal language of film.

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Meet the Team

A filmmaker and a philanthropist, brought together by a shared vision: to honour real stories of adversity—and the animals who help us through.


  • Film Director


    Christopher Ireland is an internationally awarded filmmaker and photographer known for his sensitive, natural storytelling across film, art, and commercial work. He has created work for Telstra, Samsung, NRMA, Uber, Canon, and the Australian Defence Force, while earning recognition from D&AD, Cannes, and One Show.

    Christopher is now focused on applying this same craft to purpose-driven projects that create lasting social impact.

    Alongside is his third major passion project, following the nationally touring photo documentary BREATHE and All Things Considered, a 14-year portrait series collected by the State Library of NSW—each using honest, human storytelling to foster connection and understanding.

    He served on the board of Kintsugi Heroes from 2022–2024 and is represented in Australia by Tim Berriman at Merv.

    www.christopherireland.net


  • Founder of Kintsugi Heroes

    After a 42-year career in the Australian and New Zealand telecommunications and energy industries, Ian Westmoreland shifted his focus from corporate life to community impact. In 2014, following a life-changing personal event, Ian committed himself to full-time volunteer work, initially supporting youth and mentoring programs.

    Recognising a gap in long-term support for Australian men facing life challenges, Ian founded Mentoring Men in 2018—a national program offering free, one-to-one life mentoring. Building on this, Ian launched Kintsugi Heroes in 2022 to share real stories of resilience, creating uplifting content for people navigating adversity, from grief and mental illness to addiction, abuse, and physical illness.

    Ian's dedication to mental health and community wellbeing was formally recognised in 2024 when he was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to men's health.

Kintsugi Heroes takes its name from the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold—an approach that honours life’s fractures, finding strength and beauty in imperfection. This philosophy informs the work of Kintsugi Heroes, who support the real stories shared through Alongside.

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