Women in Film and TV Podcast

This June, WFT hosted a dedicated webinar with the Broadcast Authority of Ireland designed to demystify the application process. During this online panel chat, WFT Chair Dr. Susan Liddy and Vice-Chair Jaro Waldeck spoke with the decision makers from the BAI Sound and Vision scheme about this funding process. BAI Managers, Deborah Molloy Bergin, Philip Cooper and Sara McNamara provided us valuable insight into what makes an application successful.

Deborah Molloy Bergin

Deborah is a manager at the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, working on Diversity, Plurality and policy development for the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive and Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. During her career with the BAI she has also worked on Communications, Freedom of Information, Compliance Monitoring and the Broadcasting Funding Scheme. Deborah holds a BA in Media Production and a MA in Social Media Studies.

Sara McNamara

Sara is one of the managers of the BAI’s Sound & Vision Scheme and a member of the BAI’s Irish Language team and of Media Literacy Ireland’s Irish language sub-committee. Previously, Sara has worked as a Development Officer for Foras na Gaeilge and as an Administrator with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. She holds an MA sa Cumarsáid (Media & Communications) from NUIG and was a volunteer with Raidió na Life for many years.

Philip Cooper

Philip Cooper is a manager with the BAI with specific responsibility for the operation of the Sound & Vision Funding Scheme. Philip has worked on the Scheme since starting with the BAI in 2007; he has extensive knowledge and experience with all aspects of the Scheme.

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How can we support parents and carers in the industry? The 2020 edition of the Cork International Film Festival’s film industry training days were available to filmmakers worldwide to attend and covered topics ranging from the technical to the ethical.

In this panel discussion, WFT chair, Dr Susan Liddy (Raising Films Ireland) was in conversation with producer Ailish Bracken (Chair, Raising Films Ireland), writer/director/producer Roisin Kearney (Run, Paddy, The Ferry) and writer/producer Niall Murphy (Scannain & Raising Films Ireland). They discussed the ways in which the Irish screen industries can better support parents and carers, and the problems filmmakers face while trying to maintain their careers.

This event has been made possible with the support of the BAI.

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When it comes to shooting films, they say never work with children or animals - but what about filming an entire feature around the life of one impressive horse? On Friday 28th May, WFT Board Member Fiona Kinsella was in conversation with fellow producer Tracy O’Riordan about her film Dream Horse. Based on a true story, this warm, wonderful feature, which features Toni Colette and Damien Lewis, is released in Irish cinemas on the 7th June.

Tracy O’Riordan Bio

Tracy set up Moonspun Films in 2008. Most recently she produced filmmaker Clio Barnard’s fourth feature Ali & Ava, a love story starring Claire Rushbrook and Adeel Akhtar. In 2018 O’Riordan produced Monsoon, the second feature from Hong Khaou (Lilting), which was shot entirely on location in Vietnam and starred Henry Golding of Crazy Rich Asians.

O’Riordan worked as a drama development executive and story editor before moving into physical production in 2002, when most notably she worked on the multi-award-winning feature The Queen, directed by Stephen Frears. Following this O’Riordan worked as a production executive overseeing a slate of micro-budget feature films as part of Liverpool: European Capital of Culture 2008, which included the acclaimed Of Time and the City, directed by Terence Davies.

In 2010 O’Riordan produced The Arbor, directed by Clio Barnard, which won several national and international awards and was nominated for a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. In 2012 she produced The Selfish Giant, Barnard’s second feature, which was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for a BAFTA (Outstanding British Film). In 2016 O’Riordan produced Barnard’s third feature Dark River, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (Platform Prize: Honorable Mention) and the London Film Festival in 2017.

About Dream Horse

The film tells the inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely racehorse bred by small-town bartender Jan Vokes. With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbours to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream and compete with the racing elites. Their investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks and becomes a beacon of hope in their struggling community.

This event has been made possible with the support of Screen Skills Ireland.

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What does it take to be an award-winning animator? On Tuesday 30th March WFT Board Member Jaro Waldeck continues the WFT Crew Talks Series, and was in conversation with Oscar-Nominated Animator Daria Kashcheeva. Daria spoke about her inspiration, her creative techniques as well as what it was like attending the Oscars.

This event was supported by Screen Skills Ireland,

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This podcast was recorded in 2017 in Brooks Hotel, at our Writing and Directing Masterclass which took place 29th May. With a room full of WFT members and guests, accomplished filmmaker Aisling Walsh shared her tips, advice, and experience in a dedicated Q&A.

About Aisling Walsh

Over the last two decades, Walsh has cemented a reputation as one of Ireland’s pre-eminent filmmakers in both feature film and television formats. Her celebrated work as a writer and director includes some of the most recognised Irish films in recent years, including Elizabeth Is Missing (2019), Maudie (2016) and Song for a Raggy Boy (2003), as well as Daisy Chain (2007) and Joyriders (1988). Her long and illustrious history of working with the BBC has produced some lauded TV, including An Inspector Calls (2015), A Poet in New York (2014) Room at the Top (2013) Wallander (2012) Fingersmith (2005) Sinners (2002). Walsh has won three BAFTA television awards.

Walsh’s celebration of the isolated and marginalized have seen her move with effortless ease between both the film and television mediums, long before current trends. From graduating in Fine Art at the now Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology to becoming the first Irish graduate of the National Film School at Beaconsfield in the UK, Walsh has carved a rich and exciting career known for her political and thought-provoking social commentary, and is considered one of Ireland’s most celebrated filmmakers.

Walsh’s career has seen her collaborate with some of the most distinguished and accomplished actors working today, including Aidan Quinn, Kenneth Branagh, Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson, Tom Hiddleston, Alfred Molina, Tom Hollander, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Iain Glen and Helen McCrory. Cinematographers such as Martin Fuhrer, Guy Godfree, Lukas Strebel, and editors Alex Mackie and Stephen O’Connell.

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When it comes to telling jokes visually, there’s nothing that beats the medium of film. Here at WFT, we were delighted to host a panel for the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival on 4th December last year. This discussion featured some impressive women, both local and international, who are creating content to make people laugh at a time when we need it the most. Panelists included filmmakers Kate Kaminski, Megan K. Fox, Margaret Kane-Rowe, Natasha Waugh and Festival Director Maureen O'Connell and was moderated by WFT Administrative Executive, Gemma Creagh.

In part two of the podcast, the filmmakers talk about the craft of comedy.

This online panel has been made possible thanks to the support of the Broadcast Authority of Ireland.

https://wft.ie/

When it comes to telling jokes visually, there’s nothing that beats the medium of film. Here at WFT, we were delighted to host a panel for the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival on 4th December last year. This discussion featured some impressive women, both local and international, who are creating content to make people laugh at a time when we need it the most. Panelists included filmmakers Kate Kaminski, Megan K. Fox, Margaret Kane-Rowe, Natasha Waugh and Festival Director Maureen O'Connell and was moderated by WFT Administrative Executive, Gemma Creagh.

In part one of the podcast, the filmmakers reveal their experiences of sharing their films on an online festival platform.

This online panel has been made possible thanks to the support of the Broadcast Authority of Ireland.

Our latest podcast is the audio from our Legal Clinic event at the Cork Film Festival 2019, where LK Shields media law expert, Jeanne Kelly explains Copyright Law in detail. Just to note this event took place over a year ago; for the most up to date info on Copyright contact LK Shields directly at https://www.lkshields.ie/people/profile/jeanne-kelly

About this Event

When it comes to copyright law, things can get confusing. What are your rights? WFT Ireland, in conjunction with the Cork Film Festival, hosted a special legal event for filmmakers on Thursday, 14th November 2019. The day saw a presentation from Jeanne Kelly from Irish entertainment law firm LK Shields. In this podcast of the live event, Jeanne goes through the ins-and-outs of Copyright Law.

This event was possible thanks to the generous support of the BAI, the Cork Film Festival, and LK Shields.

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On Thursday, December 3rd WFT Chair Dr. Susan Liddy was in conversation with the CEO of the Swedish Film Institute, the legendary Anna Serner.

Since her appointment in 2011, Serner has delivered 5050 in Sweden and has become one of the most influential figures in the international industry. Earlier this year she announced, “I’m not afraid to give bigger budgets to only women for one year.”

Serner is an internationally recognized leader; an inspired and outspoken advocate for gender equality across the world with a brief to “to take ALL of the talent into consideration”. Her call for 5050×2020, announced in Cannes in 2016, spearheaded a wide-reaching campaign to accelerate change across the world.

This event was organised with the support of the BAI.

Read the reports mentioned in the discussion here.

https://www.filminstitutet.se/en/about-us/swedish-film-institute/gender-equality/

On the 9th November, WFT hosted the live ‘In Her Own Voice’ | Women talk film panel at the Cork International Film Festival's Industry Days event. Presented in partnership with CIFF with support from the BAI, this session celebrated the recent successes and accomplishments of three Irish female filmmakers, and the positive initiatives and structural changes that have occurred in the industry in the recent movement to recognise, encourage and promote women in film began. This panel was led by our chair Dr. Susan Liddy, and features Cathy Brady (Writer & Director, Wildfire), Ailbhe Keogan (Screenwriter, Run & Jump) and Katie McNeice (Director, In Orbit).

https://wft.ie/