Award-winning screenwriter Malcolm Campbell has worked on some of the most influential shows on UK television. His impressive back catalogue of films includes the gripping What Richard Did as well as the deeply affecting Herself. Now, his latest feature, 500 Miles, has just hit cinemas. This moving family drama, featuring Bill Nighy and Maisie Williams, follows two young brothers on a poignant journey across Ireland.

In this Film Ireland Podcast, Malcolm discusses adaptation, notes, writing with empathy, working with actors, and the collaborative process of bringing 500 Miles to the screen.

Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.

Malcolm Campbell

Malcolm is an award-winning screenwriter from Mansfield, whose credits include the acclaimed feature films, What Richard Did and Herself. He created and wrote C4's hit TV drama series Ackley Bridge, now in its 5th and final series, and he has written for some of the UK's most popular dramas, including Shameless and Skins. Malcolm's ​screenplay for What Richard Did, directed by Lenny Abrahamson and produced by Element Pictures, won numerous awards including The Evening Standard British Film Award's Best Screenplay, The Writer's Guild's Best Screenplay and the Irish Film and TV Award's Best Film Script. Malcolm co-wrote the film Herself with its star Clare Dunne. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, reviews for the film were outstanding and it was released globally across 2021, winning Best Script at the IFTAs that year.

500 Miles

While their fighting parents (Clare Dunne & Michael Socha) tear their hair out with worry, runaways Finn (Roman Griffin Davis) and his live-wire younger brother Charlie (Dexter Sol Ansell) embark on an epic adventure from Yorkshire, over land and sea, to the Wild West coast of Ireland. With the free-spirited busker Cáit (Maisie Williams) helping the young boys along the way, their destination is Dingle, County Kerry, and their estranged, beloved Grandfather (BAFTA-award winner Bill Nighy), who their parents haven’t spoken to since the fateful events of the previous summer.

Directed by BAFTA-winner Morgan Matthews and written by Malcolm Campbell, this powerful adaptation of Mark Lowery’s acclaimed book Charlie and Me: 421 Miles from Home is produced by New Origin, Port Pictures and Minnow Films. Produced by David M. Thompson, Alexander Gordon, Martina Niland and Keren Misgav Ristvedt, and with music from Jamie Duffy, 500 MILES stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Living) alongside Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit), Dexter Sol Ansell (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), Clare Dunne (Herself, Kin), Michael Socha (This is England) and Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones).

In cinemas 15th May 2026.

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded at the 2026 edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, this episode sees Naemi Victoria catching up with two impactful and thought-provoking films screening at the festival.

First, she speaks with filmmaker Fanny Texier about her powerful short A Woman’s Place Is Everywhere, which won The Silver Bear Jury Prize for Best Short Film. Set in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the film identical twin sisters Emilija and Ona as they face grief, looming eviction and an uncertain future after the sudden death of their mother.

Then, Naemi is joined by director Fil Ieropoulos and writer Foivos Dousos to discuss Uchronia, a bold and visually expansive docu-essay inspired by Arthur Rimbaud’s Une Saison en Enfer. The film follows the ghost of the French poet on a time-travelling journey through alternative histories, revolutionary politics and queer resistance.

Identical twin sisters Emilija and Ona have lived in a rent-controlled warehouse loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for as long as they can remember. After the sudden death of their mother – a Lithuanian artist and dancer who first called the loft home in the 1970s – they find themselves on the brink of eviction. The neighbourhood has transformed; the landlord wants them out. Adding to the turmoil, Ona discovers she is pregnant. 

The documentary filmmaker was born in Paris, France and is now based in Brooklyn. She studied journalism at the University of Montreal and has a master’s degree from the Sorbonne. As a feminist director, she is drawn to intimate and unusual stories, particularly those of women and individuals who are under-represented in traditional media. Her work has been presented by organisations including HBO, Netflix, “The New Yorker”, the BBC and Showtime. She recently participated in the Film at Lincoln Center Artists Academy and the newportFILM lab to develop her debut feature-length documentary.

In this docu-essay inspired by Arthur Rimbaud’s “Une Saison en Enfer”, we meet the French poet’s ghost embarking on a time-travel adventure. His delirious visions become portals opening onto alternative timelines – or “uchronias”. Rimbaud gains the opportunity to meet revolutionary figures such as Emma Goldman, David Wojnarowicz and Marsha P. Johnson. Together, they explore the possibility of social change and reflect on the meaning of revolution in times of disillusionment. Inspired by the rich history of 20th-century experimental queer cinema, the film is a celebration of enfants terribles and dissident freaks across the globe. Ultimately, the film considers the current political milieu and its parallels with Rimbaud’s own time. Could post-internet ennui and widespread defeatism be understood through the eyes of a late 19th-century decadent poet?

Fil studied film, cultural studies and communication in the UK, completing a PhD in film poetry at the University of Kent in 2010. Since 2003, he has been a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, teaching video art, film theory and animation. His first feature, Orfeas2021, premiered at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and was nominated for Greek Film Academy awards. His second feature, Avant-Drag!, premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and has been selected for over 70 international festivals, earning a Special Jury Mention at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.

Foivos completed his PhD on narcissism in new media cultures in 2019. He was a contributing curator for the Athens Biennale and was a founding member of Sound Acts Festival, the Athens Museum of Queer Arts (AMOQA) and the publishing initiative Queer Ink. In his creative practice as part of the artistic duo FYTA, he has performed in Athens, Geneva, Berlin and London. FYTA's work problematizes Greek identity and nationalism and often employs playfulness, humour and irony.

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

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Recorded live on location at RENDR 2026 in Banana Block Belfast, we caught up with acclaimed filmmaker Fede Álvarez, the director, writer and producer behind genre-defining features including Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe and Alien: Romulus.

In this in-depth conversation, he discusses breaking into Hollywood from Uruguay, working with iconic horror franchises and the key moment he reassessed his career. Fede has collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Ridley Scott, and reflects on the success of Alien: Romulus, the evolution of genre filmmaking, and the cinematic worlds he enjoys building.

If you want to watch the video recording of this talk, check out the episode page here.

We are delighted to present this very special speaker series in partnership with RENDR Festival and supported by the National Talent Academy for VFX, recorded in The Spinners Mill Studio.

Fede Álvarez

Director, writer & producer Federico Javier Álvarez Mattos is a Uruguayan filmmaker whose directorial debut was the 2013 remake of Evil Dead, which he also wrote. The film starred Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez and Lou Taylor Pucci, and opened at number one at the box office. Following the success of his first film, Alvarez wrote, directed and produced the hit genre film Don’t Breathe. The film premiered to rave reviews, grossed over $157 million globally.

Alvarez also directed and wrote the action-crime film The Girl in the Spider’s Web, starring Claire Foy and LaKeith Stanfield, based on the characters from the bestselling Stieg Larsson series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He also produced and wrote Don’t Breathe 2 and later produced and wrote the 2022 film Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which premiered at number one on Netflix’s Top 10 list. On the TV side, Alvarez created, directed and wrote the Apple TV+ series Calls, an English adaptation of the French series of the same name.

Most recently, Alvarez’s film Alien: Romulus, which he wrote, directed and executive produced, was released in the summer of 2024, starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu. The film is a standalone instalment in the Alien franchise and follows a group of young people on a distant world who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying lifeform in the universe. The film grossed over $350 million worldwide and received positive critical acclaim. It won Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards, received a Golden Globe nomination for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects.

RENDR Festival

This is a unique event celebrating creative craft and artistry in a fully immersive two-day festival exploring the space between Creativity and Technology. Ignite your imagination with inspiring speakers from the worlds of Film, Gaming, Animation, Immersive, and more! Learn from the best, with 30+ creatives from the likes of Netflix, Pixar, Walt Disney Studios and Epic Games among others.

National Talent Academy for Visual Effects

As the newest of the Academies, the National Talent Academy for VFX provides support and opportunities for anyone interested in a career in VFX. Launched in 2024, the National Talent Academy for VFX is an initiative of Fis Eireann/Screen Ireland, managed by Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet. Their mission is to transform aspiring VFX artists into industry-ready professionals while providing ongoing upskilling opportunities for current talent.

Through comprehensive courses and programmess, we introduce participants to best practices both locally and globally, creating clear pathways and solidifying Ireland’s reputation as a premier destination for VFX. The National Talent Academy for VFX is dedicated to attracting individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, fostering greater awareness of VFX as a viable and exciting career choice. Learn more about the work they do here. 

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

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In this episode of the Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh sits down with Dungannon actor Fra Fee to chat about his impressive catalogue of work that spans stage, film & TV, while delving into those key moments that shaped his career.

From his breakout screen role as Courfeyrac in Les Misérables to performances in local films including Animals & Boys From County Hell, Fra has built a strong presence on screen, balancing indie projects against large-scale productions like Hawkeye on Disney+ & Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon.

Now, Unchosen is available to stream on Netflix, in which he plays the enigmatic & manipulative Sam. Fra discusses his approach to this complex, morally ambiguous role, the contrast in working across different mediums, & how he develops a character from script to performance.

This podcast has been made possible with the support of the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Stakeholders Fund.

Listen now to the podcast on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast & Amazon, subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts or watch the original recording back:

https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-actor-fra-fee-unchosen-rebel-moon-hawkeye

About Fra Fee

Immediately after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Dungannon actor Fra landed a role in the West End production of Dirty Dancing. Since then, he has worked consistently across stage & screen. Recently, Fra Fee starred in the leading role of Emcee in the Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret in the West End. Fra also appeared in Jez Butterworth’s critically acclaimed run, The Ferryman at the Royal Court Theatre, London’s West End & on Broadway. Fra won the 2018 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play, for his role in the show. 

Fra’s other theatre credits include Translations & As You Like It, both at the National Theatre, the World Premiere of The Wind in the Willows, & the title role in Candide at the Menier Chocolate Factory. On screen, Fra is known for his portrayal of Courfeyrac in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Misérables. In 2021, he appeared as Kazi in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He worked with director Zack Snyder, starring as Balisarius in Rebel Moon Part 1 & 2. He also had roles in Animals, Boys From County Hell, Pixie & The Laureate.

Unchosen

All six episodes are available to stream on Netflix now.

Molly Windsor & Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) star alongside Christopher Eccleston, Siobhan Finneran, & Fra in the series from Intergalactic writer/creator Julie Gearey. This psychological thriller takes viewers behind the closed doors of a fictional conservative religious sect.

Unchosen follows Rosie, who lives in a cloistered Christian community with her husband, Adam (Butterfield) & their daughter. The fateful arrival of the mysterious Sam, an escaped prisoner, throws into relief the reality & restraints of Rosie’s world: Perhaps her hidden religious community doesn’t have her best interests at heart. As cracks begin to appear in Rosie & Adam’s marriage, Sam presents himself as Rosie’s savior. But with his dark criminal past, where does the greatest danger lie - with the cult, or with Sam?

Sam is an escaped convict who was arrested as a teen for a deadly crime. He quickly integrates himself into the fellowship & uses his powers of coercion to become a pillar of the community. While balancing an affair with Rosie & flirtation with Adam, Sam lives in fear of being sent back to prison. 

“He is fiercely intelligent, highly manipulative, & able to get what he wants by abusing other characters’ insecurities or their weaknesses,” Fee tells Tudum. “A lot of the time, I don’t think it’s necessarily premeditated. He’s just very reactionary & a real survivor.” Figuring out how to play Sam was a lesson in embracing the grey areas. Because the character’s intentions were often murky & complex, Gearey encouraged Fee to never “fully dot the i’s or cross the t’s” in scenes. “There always had to be room for an alternative intention,” Fee explains. 

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 25 of the DocArena Podcast, Ross Whitaker catches up with directors Peter Mortimer (The Alpinist, The Dawn Wall) and Nick Rosen (The Alpinist, Reel Rock) to talk about their biggest project to date, The Dark Wizard, which is available to stream now on HBO Max.

This HBO Original four-part documentary series, The Dark Wizard, gives an up-close and unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, one of the world’s most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers, and highline walkers.

This podcast has been made possible with the support of the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Stakeholders fund.

Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.

The Dark Wizard traces the jaw-dropping feats that made him a legend, as well as the personal turmoil that defined his life.

From an early age, Dean grappled with inner demons that led him to seek the limits of human possibility. Climbing became his outlet and Yosemite National Park became the canvas for his unique talent and artistic expression. As his accomplishments on El Capitan and Half Dome elevated him to hero status in the adventure sports world, his mental state began to fracture and his fierce competitive drive pushed him to try to outdo both himself and others, including rising star Alex Honnold. Ultimately, it was wingsuiting and his lifelong desire to fly that would prove to be his riskiest and most transcendent endeavour.

Drawing from decades of archival footage, Dean’s personal journals, and intimate interviews with those who knew him best, The Dark Wizard chronicles the triumphs, tragedies, rivalries, romances, and near-death moments that shaped the life of a brilliant yet tormented artist and athlete whose imagination and audacity redefined what the body and mind could do.

Episode 4 will be available to stream on HBO Max on 4th May 2026.

Peter grew up in Boulder, Colorado where he learned to rock climb as a kid and made his first home videos of climbing and skiing exploits with friends. After graduating with a geology degree from Colorado College, Peter made his first "real" climbing film (Scary Faces, starring Zac Barr) then went on to get his MFA in film at USC. He's blended his life-long passion for climbing, travel & adventure with his love of telling stories about the incredible people he's met along the way. Peter lives in Boulder with his wife Joss, daughter Pia, son Xavi, and little dogs Macho and Gnarly. 

Nick received his BA in political science from Colorado College, and his masters at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. Nick began working as a writer, producer & director for Sender in 2005, and since then has created award-wining feature films, TV programs and creative campaigns. Nick lives in Boulder, Colorado with his partner and two kids.

Podcast music composed by michaelflemingmusic.com

Ross Whitaker is a filmmaker and former editor of Film Ireland Magazine and programmer of the IFI Dublin Documentary Film Festival @RossWhitakerTV

Ross is a producer and/or director of the feature documentaries Beat the Lotto (2025), Katie (2018), Between Land and Sea (2016), Unbreakable (2014) and Saviours (2007). His recent work includes the TV documentaries This Is Open Country (2025) for NBC/Sky, Birdsong (2024) for RTÉ (+ BBC, ARTE), Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year (2021) for ITV/RTÉ, Barney Curley Beat the Bookies (2021) for BBC/RTÉ and The Boys in Green (2020) for RTÉ. His short documentaries include the award-winning Bye Bye Now (2009) and Home Turf (2011), as well as the documentary commercial Sleeping Flags (2019), which won prestigious D&AD and Cannes Lions Awards.

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh catches up with writer/director David Gleeson ahead of the release of his semi-autobiographical feature Once Upon a Time in a Cinema. Growing up in a family-run cinema, he was immersed in the magic of the big screen...an influence that continues to shape his work today. He talks about his unusual start in the industry (including working in oil exploration in the Arctic Circle) and how he made the transition to selling scripts in the US.

Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.

You can listen on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or watch the original video recording here:

https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-director-writer-david-gleeson-once-upon-a-time-in-a-cinema

A dramatic night at the movies meets a powerful love letter to the cinema experience in Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, the new feature from acclaimed filmmaker David Gleeson (Tolkien, Don’t Go, The Front Line, Cowboys & Angels). Set over the course of one eventful evening in a cinema in 1980s Ireland, a cinema owner wrestles with the legacy of the past and the challenges of the future in a drama that is funny, wise and rings of authenticity.

Featuring a blend of some of Ireland’s most-respected actors and exciting new talent, Once Upon a Time in a Cinema, is set over one night at the movies - where the plot twists offscreen are as surprising as any of those onscreen. Renowned Irish actor Colin Morgan (Belfast, Merlin) plays Earl Clancy, the manager of a small-town cinema who is firefighting the Friday night from hell while mulling over the sale of his cinema to a shady politician. Like James Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life, his journey leads him to realise his value to the community.

Once Upon a Time in a Cinema is in cinemas 1st May 2026.

Born to a family of Irish cinema-owners who opened their first theater in 1942, David grew up steeped in all things celluloid. Following a colourful and varied path, including a 5-year stint in oil exploration deep inside the Arctic Circle, Gleeson made his feature film debut as a writer/director with 2003's Cowboys & Angels. A youth comedy/drama set in his native Limerick, Cowboys & Angels was released in cinemas by Buena Vista International (Disney). The film won eight international film awards including Best Screenplay at Newport Beach (U.S.) and two Gold Medal Awards at Giffoni (Italy).

The New York Times commented, [the film] 'offers a fresh mix of open-minded intelligence and a heartfelt point of view,' while The Chicago Tribune commented, 'Stack "Cowboys" against most of the fare American studios offer young adults and it's meatier by far'. Gleeson's next film which he also wrote and directed, the crime drama The Front Line, was released in cinemas in 2006 also through Buena Vista Intl. In 2008, Gleeson sold his time travel sci-fi spec screenplay The End of History to Sony Pictures. He followed this up over the next decade with several more spec sales and commissions to studios including Walt Disney Pictures, Fox Searchlight, Focus Features, 20th Century Fox, Mattel Studios and Paramount Pictures. In July 2017, Gleeson wrote and directed Don't Go starring Stephen Dorff and Melissa George.

In May 2019, Fox Searchlight Pictures released Tolkien, a Chernin Entertainment production based on Gleeson's original screenplay about the legendary author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien. Now, the semi-autobiographical Once Upon a Time in a Cinema is about to hit cinemas. Gleeson continues to work in wildly different genres and is currently in preproduction on a musical comedy called Violence, Foul Language and Scenes of a Sexual Nature.

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, Gemma Creagh catches up with actor Anne McCrudden, who plays bereaved widow Catherine in drama feature Sunphlowers. We chat with Anne about her love of storytelling, how she found her character, and the exciting projects that lie ahead.

Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.

Sunphlowers is Directed by Dave Byrne. In a rural village along the east coast of Ireland, recently bereaved widow Catherine uncovers the truth of what her deceased husband has been hiding. Catherine must fight against all odds to keep her family business and home.

Anne McCrudden

Anne began acting in the 1980s and early ’90s, performing in theatre productions by playwrights including John B. Keane, Synge, Martin McDonagh, Brian Friel and Jim Nolan. After stepping away from acting to pursue other work, she later returned to performance, when a chance meeting with filmmaker Dave Byrne led to her screen debut as Phyllis in Somebody (2023). After this followed by her role as Catherine in Sunphlowers (2025). Now represented by Capulet Actors Agency, she is developing film and television projects focused on complex female characters.

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the State of the Arts podcast (@sotapod), filmmaker and writer Des Doyle sits down with senior entertainment executive Scott Farris to discuss his role in shaping global franchise storytelling.

Produced in partnership with Film Ireland and supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, the State of the Arts series explores the creative processes, industry challenges, and new opportunities that both Irish and international creatives face in today’s ever-evolving artistic landscapes.

In this conversation, Scott discusses his experiences in the changing world of TV development, offering insight into how large-scale projects are developed from the ground up. He discusses the realities of working with major IP, the collaborative processes behind franchise storytelling, and how the industry is evolving in response to changing audience expectations, technology, and global demand.

Follow the journey of State of the Arts here: https://www.instagram.com/sotapod/

Read more about the podcast here: https://www.filmireland.net/state-of-the-arts-podcast-senior-entertainment-executive-scott-farris-with-des-doyle/

Scott is a senior entertainment executive with over 15 years of experience shaping global franchise storytelling. One of the earliest creative hires at Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, he helped build the studio from the ground up and played a key role in establishing Amazon as a major force in premium television.

Scott pioneered Amazon's strategy for adapting global gaming franchises, securing and developing landmark properties including God of War, Mass Effect, Warhammer 40K, and The Sims, as well as the breakout hit Fallout, which drew over 100 million viewers worldwide and earned 16 Emmy nominations.

Beyond gaming, his work focuses on large-scale worldbuilding and IP-driven storytelling, with projects including Mike Flanagan’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie, RoboCop with James Wan, and Fourth Wing, based on Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling romantasy phenomenon. Scott is particularly passionate about the intersection of creativity, technology, fandom, and the future of franchise storytelling.

Des is a D.I.T. graduate who spent fifteen years working in the Camera Department in the Irish film industry before moving into directing. He is the writer/director of the critically acclaimed feature documentary Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show, featuring JJ Abrams (Alias, Lost, Fringe), Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife), Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica) and Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory) amongst others.

He has created a number of courses in conjunction with Screen Ireland over the last few years, which provide breakdowns of all the major US and international streaming networks and what their evolving programming needs may be. He also initiated the Pitching Programme for TV Drama and Comedy with Screen Ireland, giving a selected group of writers the opportunity to pitch directly to some of the major Irish production companies based on briefs they provide, and created the LA Writers Room Placements scheme, which allowed Irish writers to travel to LA and spend time in real-world US TV series writers’ rooms.

He has also lectured on Showrunning, US TV Production and the Future of Content at USC Los Angeles, Rowan University Philadelphia, Scriptmakers Berlin, APIT TV Producers Conference Lisbon, Northern Ireland Screen, IADT Dublin, Writers Guild of Ireland and as part of the recent Greenlight Screenwriting Labs in Galway. He is currently developing a new documentary series, which is a US/Irish co-production, as well as providing creative consultancy services to Irish producers, writers and directors with projects targeting the US or global streaming markets.

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with co-writer/directors John-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck to discuss their latest film The Three Urns, in cinemas from April 17th. They chat about their creative partnership, their fascinating (and very different) career paths, and what they learned from making their first feature that they brought onto this one.

Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.

Equal parts picturesque and picaresque, Mr. O’Connor's journey across Ireland is filled with playful misadventures and serendipitous encounters. Along the way, he stumbles upon a cohort of colourful characters: a Lithuanian painter, an itinerant priest, horse traders and whisperers, and a Choctaw native travelling to commemorate the Great Famine. He is also given refuge by a group of mystic women, whom he finds worshipping at the ancient Beltany Stone Circle.

He visits his brother, who still runs the family dairy farm, and uncovers the truth about his wife’s favourite cousin. Yet misfortune dogs his path. From the outset, Mr. O’Connor is followed by a mysterious Woman in Black, who trails him in a diminutive electric car plagued by persistent charging issues.

Will Penn goes on a musical pilgrimage in his review of ‘The Three Urns.’

John-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck

Stephen Warwick is one of Britain’s most successful composers, soundtracking films such as Shakespeare in Love (for which he won an Oscar), Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and Billy Elliott.

John-Paul Davidson is best known for his documentary travelogue series with Michael Palin and Stephen Fry In America

John-Paul Davidson and Stephen Warbeck go back a long way. They have known each other since they attended Bristol University in the mid-1970’s. They lived together in a London squat and although their lives within the creative sphere spiralled off into different directions – Stephen becoming one of Britain’s most successful composers, soundtracking films such as Shakespeare in Love (for which he won an Oscar), Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and Billy Elliott, and John-Paul Davidson becoming a director and film producer, best known for his documentary travelogue series with Michael Palin – they remained friends.  

“We have known each other since Bristol University,” says Warbeck. “We often spend holidays together in France and our children are all friends with each other.” Davidson and Warbeck are friends and creative partners. Davidson adds: “I got Stephen to do some music for films I was making at the BBC and that’s how our working collaboration started again after university.” Both schools of absurd comedy were manifested in The Man in the Hat (2020), Davidson and Warbeck’s first directorial collaboration.” 

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

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How is important art and fandom shaped? In today’s episode, we’re joined by more wonderful LGBTQIA creatives from starGAZE: multidisciplinary artist Venus Patel, writer/filmmaker Jack Warren and director, screenwriter, and concept artist Stephen T. Lally discuss their literal journeys, professional achievements, the films and art that inspired them, and the impact starGAZE has had on their careers so far.

We’re delighted to partner with the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival and the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama to celebrate this year’s starGAZE participants.

starGAZE, the professional development initiative supporting six emerging LGBTQIA filmmakers, returns for its third year in 2026. Applications are now open and will close at 5pm on Monday 20th April. For more information on how to apply, visit www.nationaltalentacademies.ie/film-tv.

Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast & Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.

Here's the link to the podcast with Vera Drew, mentioned in the discussion:

https://www.filmireland.net/podcast-vera-drew-director-co-writer-of-the-peoples-joker/

Venus Patel is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist working in film, theatre & visual arts. Her work examines social conformity & Queer/POC suppression through the lens of absurdity, informed by her experiences as a trans woman of colour. Her debut short film, Eggshells, which she directed, wrote & acted in, premiered at GAZE Film Festival & won the RDS Taylor Art Award & the Image Now Multimedia Award. Her most recent short film, Daisy: Prophet of the Apocalypse, has screened at film festivals across the US, the UK, Ireland, Germany, & France, & won an Audience Award from Translations: Seattle Trans Film Festival. Her film work has been exhibited in the Crawford Art Gallery, the Complex, IMMA, Butler Gallery & Hypha Gallery (Mayfair, London).

Jack Warren is a writer/filmmaker based in Dublin. Their award-winning short films have screened all over the world, including: Papergirl, which has screened at GAZE, Final Girls Berlin, Body is Reality: Trans Horror on Screen at the Irish Film Institute & the Trans Genre, Trans Form Film Festival, where it took home the audience prize; Toxic Astrology Ex-Best Friends, which has screened at the FRINGE! Queer Film & Arts Fest & TITE; and Artemis, which screened at the Woodstock Film Festival. Jack recently took home the Bronze Prize from Soho Horror Film Festival for their horror comedy short Blair’s Craft Projects, where it was honoured by Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project) & Jed Shepherd (Host). Jack’s screenplay Violent Delights was selected to be pitched at the American Cinematheque’s PROOF Festival, as well as selected for workshop by Stowe Story Labs and the NTAs Writers’ Club, facilitated through the GALPAL Collective.

Stephen T. Lally is an award-winning queer director, screenwriter & concept artist known for his visually inventive storytelling & commitment to LGBTQIA narratives that blend humour with heart. A graduate of Technological University Dublin, his breakout short film musical Lost for Words screened at over thirty international festivals, including Cork Film Festival, Brno 16 & Stuttgart Filmwinter. The script was nominated for an Oxygen SMEDIA Award, while the film won multiple accolades, including at the New York International Independent Film Festival. His work is defined by bold, whimsical storytelling & a distinctive visual style. Alongside his narrative projects, Lally has directed commercial content, music videos & animation for global clients such as RuPaul, Rimmel London, Disney, Universal & The Royal Opera. His LGBTQIA fantasy romcom Empress Clawscream marked a significant step into narrative filmmaking, earning awards including Best Sci-Fi Film at the Berlin Short Film Festival.

The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland & is managed by Ardán.

Over the years, the podcast has featured acclaimed guests such as Phyllida Lloyd, Lenny Abrahamson, M. Night Shyamalan, John Boorman, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Aisha Tyler, Colm Meaney, Paul Reiser, Niamh Algar, David Freyne, Ciarán Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Gene Stupnitsky, and Terence Davies, alongside many of the most influential voices working in film and television today.

So make sure to subscribe and listen back!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.