Film Ireland Podcast

In this podcast - which was recorded last year - academic and journalist Naemi Victoria chats with filmmaker Daniel Draper about his documentary Iron Ladies, which will screen in the Nerve Centre on 30th January 2026.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Iron Ladies tells the story of the working-class women who became the backbone of the 1984–85 Miners' Strike. From Scotland to Kent, women from coalfield communities share their experiences of the year-long struggle, and how their actions reshaped political activism for working-class women.The film shines a spotlight on voices that have too often been overlooked. Featuring Heather Wood, Lorraine Stansbie, Rose Hunter, Kate Alvey, Betty Cook, Aggie Currie, and many more, Iron Ladies is both a vital historical record and a celebration of solidarity, resilience, and determination.The screening of Iron ladies will take place at 7pm on 30th January and is followed by a post-screening discussion with Daniel and contributor to the film, Rose Hunter. Get your tickets at NerveCentre.org.Daniel DraperDaniel is a Liverpool-based filmmaker. His debut film, Nature of the Beast was released across UK cinemas in 2017. Since, Daniel has produced and directed an additional three feature documentaries and continues to explore place, identity, class and politics through his current and forthcoming work.Meet the Iron LadiesHeather Wood: Born and bred in the pit village of Easington, Heather was chair of Save Easington Area Mines in East Durham, and became involved in National Women Against Pit Closures during the Miners’ Strike. Her activism remains strong - a key organiser of the National Women Against Pit Closures 40th anniversary event. She has written a book (Just a Pit Lass) and featured in two Ken Loach films - Sorry We Missed You and The Old Oak.Lorraine Stansbie: Now Sheffield based, Lorraine Stansbie was a student at Northern College when the Strike started. She became a key figure in Barnsley Women Oppose Pit Closures and was a speaker at the 12,000 woman-strong rally at Barnsley Town Hall in 1984.Rose Hunter: A key member of the The North Staffs Miner's Wives Action Group, a very active group during 1984/95 and beyond - occupying pits during the final closures in the 1990s and supporting causes across the country to highlight injustice and fight for workers’ rights. The group is still active today.Kate Alvey: Part of Chesterfield Women’s Action Group. Was politically active before the Strike and led a women’s group who campaigned for Tony Benn to be elected as MP for Chesterfield in the weeks before the Strike. Chesterfield was the centre of operations for organising support for miners and their families across the Derbyshire area.Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, we catch up with actor, writer and director Simon Killick, who plays sketchy landlord Rick in the comedian-laden, zany sci-fi Time Travel Is Dangerous. Now based in Ireland, Simon chats about his craft, career and his fantastic slate of upcoming creative projects.Listen now on SoundCloud or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.As mentioned during the discussion, here are the links to:Life On Wheels - Original Comedy Pilot www.youtube.com/@lifeonwheels-footballcomedy Simon's Average Joe & The PRO YouTube Golf Channel https://www.youtube.com/@averagejoeANDtheproSimon KillickSimon has recently starred in the new British comedy feature film Time Travel Is Dangerous which was released in Cinemas all over the UK & Ireland in August 2025 after gaining a prestigious 4 star review in the Guardian. It then went on to win Best Comedy Film at the National Film Awards. Simon Played Rick the Landlord along side Sophie Thompson, Jonny Vegas and Jane Horrocks. It is now available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Virgin Media TV.In late 2023 Simon completed his first lead role in a feature called Little Girl. A horror/thriller following Lucas (a truck driver who tragically lost his daughter). Simon is also a credited comedy writer. Reaching the shortlist for the British Comedy Guide Talent Awards for his episode Celebrity Disorder, from web series Fame Disease Created by Nessa Wrafter. He co-owns the multi award winning TV/Film Production Company Klick Productions where they have two feature films in development and pre-production.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, Film Ireland presented Screen Sessions Live, an afternoon of in-depth conversations on craft, career and creativity between talent from the Irish screen industries - made possible with the support of Screen Ireland and hosted by our partners Griffith College.In this special live podcast recording, graphic artist Annie Atkins (The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, Bridge of Spies) is in conversation with production designer, art director, and concept illustrator Jill Beecher (Babylon, Elvis, The Revenant). Both creatives are key voices in the art department on some of Hollywood’s most ambitious and visually distinctive films. In this discussion, Annie and Jill explore the creative realities of working behind the scenes - from collaboration and artistry to problem-solving on set - and discuss how design shapes the stories we see on screen.Visit Film Ireland here to check out the images mentioned during the discussion: https://www.filmireland.net/screen-sessions-live-podcast-on-design-with-annie-atkins-the-grand-budapest-hotel-jill-beecher-babylon/Annie AtkinsAnnie Atkins has created graphic props and set pieces for multiple Oscar-nominated and winning movies such as Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, and The French Dispatch; Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies and West Side Story; and the map for the latest Indiana Jones movie, The Dial of Destiny.Her first book, Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps, was published by Phaidon and drew critical acclaim as a behind-the-scenes look at film design, winning accolades from Jeff Goldblum, among others: “Annie makes the unreal seem hyperreal, and the real more supremely alive and utterly magical...” Her latest book, Letters from the North Pole, is a children's picture book and is available now.Jill BeecherJill was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1984. She is a production designer, art director, and concept illustrator who has worked across Hollywood productions and local Irish projects (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, The Revenant, Alien: Covenant, Babylon, Elvis). Jill is now represented by William Morris Endeavour and is a member of the British and American Art Directors Guilds. She is also a visual artist who has exhibited in Europe, America, and Australia.Subscribe now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, we catch up once again with actor, writer and filmmaker Hugh O’Conor, whose quasi-autobiographical comedy series Showkids - co-written with Amy Stephenson and Shane Langan - is available to watch on RTÉ. We talk with Hugh about his expansive career, from performance and working with the greats at a young age, to training at NYU, and his move into directing features, animation, and now this witty and heartfelt show.Showkids is set around a very special after-school drama class for talented kids, run by the brilliant but super-intimidating Miss Bethany Jessop (Amy De Bhrún). The show is seen through the eyes of 12-year-old Sam Curtain (Flynn Gray), whose constant daydreaming has begun to cause mayhem in his life. When his parents, Sally & Con (Philippa Dunne & Killian Sundermann), stumble across Miss Jessop’s, they wonder if drama might be the perfect way to harness Sam’s overly active imagination?An initially reluctant Sam soon realises he’s discovered his tribe – other kids with equally vivid imaginations, inspired by Miss Jessop to use drama to help solve the problems they’re going through in their own lives. As well as experiencing his first, terrifying taste of showbiz, Sam has finally found somewhere he is free to let his cares and dreams run wild – but this time, with a purpose!Showkids is available to watch now on the RTÉ Player. Read more about this episode here:www.filmireland.net/podcast-hugh-oconor-actor-writer-filmmaker-on-showkids Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Film Ireland Presents, we chat with Margo Harkin, an accomplished and masterful filmmaker who has been directing and producing fiction and documentary work for over forty years. Her films span many aspects of life on the island of Ireland, from chronicling Northern Ireland’s political history, to examining the systemic oppression of women, to exploring the healing power of creativity, and much more beyond. The Irish Film Institute has curated a wonderful retrospective of her seminal works, available to watch back on their player now. Radical Witness Retrospective at Irish Film Institute After graduating in Fine Art from the Ulster College of Art and Design in 1974, Harkin worked as an art teacher and community worker in socially deprived areas of Derry. She joined Field Day Theatre Company in 1980 as an Assistant Stage Manager on Brian Friel’s Translations, before going on to work as a stage designer for the company. In 1984, Harkin co-founded Derry Film & Video Workshop with Anne Crilly and Trisha Ziff delivering critical perspectives that ran counter to the censored narratives then broadcast by British and Irish television. The signal works of this period were Mother Ireland (1988), Anne Crilly’s controversial documentary about feminism and Irish republicanism, and Harkin’s own Hush-A-Bye Baby (1990), a feature drama about teenage pregnancy following the 1983 abortion referendum in Ireland. Harkin established Besom Productions in 1992 making educational films for Channel 4 but her reputation as an astute, local documentarian of injustices was soon forged through a series of highly regarded television documentaries. Her cinema films, the surf documentary Waveriders (2003), by Joel Conroy (which she produced), and Stolen (2023), about the plight of unmarried mothers in Ireland in the 20th century, provided thoroughly researched, compelling accounts of their subjects. Margo Harkin is a member of Aosdána. Her work has won countless awards and is widely taught to third-level film and media students. Spanning over four decades, Harkin’s work has consistently challenged societal narratives, giving voice to the silenced and bearing witness to the social and political upheavals that have shaped the contemporary Irish landscape. The retrospective will span across the IFI’s cinema screens, as well as online via IFI@Home, IFI International and the IFI Archive Player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, we celebrate two great new Irish films.First, Mo O’Connell chats with actor Carolyn Bracken about their feature Horseshoe, which is released in cinemas on 5th December. Mo, an accomplished actor herself, and a producer on the award-winning family dramedy, chats with about their Carolyn about their exciting new indie film.Then, contributor Hayley Jorja sits down with IFTA-nominated filmmaker Nathan Fagan to discuss his short animated documentary Inside, The Valley Sings, which has qualified for the 98th Academy Awards® and won Best Animated Short Film at the Dublin International Film Festival. The film follows three prisoners trapped in prolonged solitary confinement, who seek comfort and escape in the boundless landscapes of their imaginations. (Starting at 19:38)Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.Horseshoe is in cinemas 5th December 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, supported by Coimisiún na Meán, we shine a light on two powerful new documentaries.First, we catch up with director Daire Collins to discuss Beo Faoin Bhfód (Buried Alive), the story of two Irish daredevils who vied for the world record for the longest time spent buried alive, which recently aired on TG4 and is now available to stream on the TG4 Player.Beo Faoin Bhfód (Buried Alive) was supported by Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound & Vision Scheme, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.Then, actor and musician Olivia Phoenix sits down with award-winning photographer and filmmaker Ian Thuillier to talk about his moving Oscar-qualifying documentary Conflicted, in which two mothers - one Israeli, one Palestinian - confront the unimaginable loss of their children. Through grief they find the courage to meet, forgive, and work together for peace. Starting at timestamp 30:20. Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland Podcast, we’re shining a spotlight on the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival (DICFF), which returns for its sixth edition from 27th - 30th November, to Tailors’ Hall, The Liberties.First up, festival director Mo O’Connell talks through this year’s jam-packed programme.Then we have a live recording from the first heat of the DICFF stand-up competition, held earlier this year in collaboration with Culture 8 and the Dublin Liberties Distillery. (Starting at 16.57)Finally, Film Ireland contributor Rachel Melita is in conversation with actor, writer, and filmmaker Laoisa Sexton. Laoisa’s short I Can't Go On screens as part of Shorts Block F on Friday, 29th November. (Starting at 19.37)As Mo mentions in the podcast, here is the GoFundMe link to support Haneen Koraz, as she empowers the children of Gaza through art. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-haneen-koraz-empower-voices-through-artAnd here's a link to support Aisling & her three boys, Ted, Sonny & Max. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-aisling-and-her-three-boys-ted-sonny-and-maxThis episode has been made possible with the support of Coimisiún na Meán and the Screen Ireland Stakeholder’s Scheme.Read more about this podcast here www.filmireland.net/podcast-festival-director-mo-oconnell-filmmaker-laoisa-sexton-at-dicff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the State of the Arts Podcast, host filmmaker and writer Des Doyle chats with Steven S. DeKnight, acclaimed screenwriter, director, producer, and creator/showrunner behind some of the most influential genre series of the past two decades.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, DeKnight reflects on his journey breaking into the entertainment industry as a writer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He discusses his work writing, directing, and producing on iconic series such as Angel, Smallville, and Dollhouse, before creating the hit show Spartacus for Starz and showrunning season one of Marvel’s Daredevil. He also talks about making his feature directorial debut with Pacific Rim: Uprising and his return to the Spartacus universe with the upcoming Spartacus: House of Ashur. Chapters:2:11 – Nerves for “House of Ashur” impending release09:29 – Inside the Writers’ Room12:25 – Season Orders & Long-Game Planning13:32 – How the Strikes Shook Production15:07 – Showrunner Writing Process Explained16:46 – Running a Show: LA vs New Zealand18:58 – Why DeKnight Hasn’t Yet Directed Spartacus22:35 – 22-Episode TV vs Today’s 10-Episode Sweet Spot25:19 – Sticking With “House of Ashur” + Other Projects28:37 – DeKnight’s Comic Book Worlds36:03 – Working With Comic Artists37:08 – AI in Entertainment: Hot Takes & Concerns40:30 – Showrunning in 2025: Budgets & Tech Shift45:07 – Are Spec Scripts Still Worth It?48:01 – Top Writing Advice: Passion, Persistence, Failure51:33 – What Failure Really Looks Like in Hollywood01:00:52 – Rapid-Fire Favourites: TV, Music & MoreFollow the journey of State of the Arts here: https://www.instagram.com/sotapod/Read more about this episode here: www.filmireland.net/state-of-the-arts-podcast-showrunner-steven-s-deknight-spartacus-house-of-ashur-with-host-des-doyle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s Film Ireland podcast, we are delighted to partner with two wonderful film festivals. Last month at the Dinard British & Irish Film Festival, we caught up with acclaimed actor Bríd Brennan to talk about her extraordinary career on stage and screen, as well as her powerful performance as Cait in her latest film, Aontas.We’ll also be reporting live next week from the Foyle Film Festival, running in Derry from the 19th to the 30th of November (where Aontas will also be screening). Later in the episode (Timecode: 15:30), we hear from Vicki Rock and Kris Kelly, the husband-and-wife team behind the award-winning boutique creative studio Enter Yes. Their bold coming-of-age short Bulls in Water - directed and written by Kris and produced by Vicki - is about to have its premiere at Foyle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland Podcast, we're delighted to partner with the Cork International Film Festival, which runs until the 16th of November. In this very special episode, we highlight some of the standout films in this year’s line-up. First, IMRO Award-winning journalist and reviewer Yuliia Riabova speaks with Aurélie Godet, Cork International Film Festival’s Director of Programming, about this year’s themes, approach, and the strong line up Irish and international films on offer.Then filmmaker and actor Oscar O’Sullivan chats with Brendan Canty about his Irish-language documentary Gealtra.Finally, festival correspondent Shane McDevitt sits down with director David Kittredge to discuss his film Boorman and the Devil, which documents John Boorman’s experience making The Exorcist II in Ireland. This chat was recorded after the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year.This podcast has been made possible with the support of Coimisiún na Meán.Check out the full festival line up at corkfilmfest.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, we are delighted to once again partner with the Dinard British and Irish Film Festival, which held its 36th edition last month in the picturesque seaside town of Dinard, Brittany.First, we chat with Dominique Green, Artistic Director of Dinard, who shares insights into the festival’s vision, programming, and what makes it such a unique event on the film calendar.At the festival, Associate Editor Gemma Creagh caught up with writer/director Damian McCann  to talk about his gripping feature Aontas, where three unlikely women rob a rural Irish Credit Union. Listen back to their conversation for a deep dive into the film’s themes and creative process.Finally, we sit down with writer/director Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor to discuss her powerful debut feature Dreamers, exploring ambition, belonging, and the pursuit of hope.Read more about this episode here: www.filmireland.net/podcast-a-look-back-at-dinard-british-irish-film-festival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the State of the Arts Podcast, host filmmaker and writer Des Doyle chats with Catherine Doyle, internationally bestselling and award-winning author of The Dagger and the Flame, The Rebel And The Rose and The Storm Keeper trilogy.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, Doyle shares insights into her creative journey - from inspirations, to the practical aspects of building emotionally rich, imaginative worlds for young readers, to writing Romantasy books with the City Of Fantome trilogy and co-authoring the bestselling Twin Crowns trilogy. She discusses her journey, becoming successful, and gives helpful insight into how she managed to pen 13 books in a decade.Follow the journey of State of the Arts here: https://www.instagram.com/sotapod/Read more about this episode here: https://www.filmireland.net/state-of-the-arts-podcast-bestselling-author-catherine-doyle-with-host-des-doyle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, we’re celebrating filmmaking, storytelling, and cinema across the island of Ireland - with a special focus on the Belfast Film Festival, which runs from October 30th to November 8th.We begin with Rose Baker, Head Programmer of the festival, who shares insights into this year’s exciting lineup.Then, we’re joined by writer-director Stroma Cairns, whose moving debut feature The Son and the Sea screens at the festival. Stroma will be in Belfast for a post-screening Q&A.The Belfast Film Festival runs 30 October – 8 November.For the full programme, visit belfastfilmfestival.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland podcast, Conor Bryce talks to Writer Rodney Lee & Director Bonnie Dempsey about their live-action family thriller TV series 'The Unreal'. Originally commissioned by RTE, series 2 begins airing October 26th.In the first series, the Kelly family discovered they were actually fictional characters who had escaped from a 1980s TV sitcom into the real world. Now, one year later, the Kellys are just trying to live a normal life. But when they visit a spooky, run-down hotel to attend an 80s Video Collectors Fair, they get more than they bargained for. Kevin catches glimpses of a ghostly boy and the family decide to go ghost-hunting. But when Kevin eventually comes face-to-face with the apparition, he makes a startling discovery; the ghost looks exactly like him! In Irish folklore, a ghostly doppelganger is known as a ‘Fetch’ and if you see one, legend has it you may soon meet a deadly fate… This is just the beginning of a supernatural comedy adventure as the Kellys uncover strange secrets, confront their fears, and fight to survive in a world where the line between real and unreal becomes increasingly blurred.Written by Rodney Lee, directed by Bonnie Dempsey, and produced by Nuala Carr and David O’Sullivan of Dyehouse FilmsStarring - Senan Jennings ( Kevin ) Joseph McKucken ( Tom ) Kathryn McKiernan ( Mary ) Kate Brady ( Katie ) with Patrick McDonnell, Daniel Nwambu ( Leo ) Lorena Montes and Don King Roganvilla Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this debut episode of the State of the Arts Podcast, host filmmaker and writer Des Doyle chats with Ciarán Donnelly, BAFTA and multiple IFTA award-winning Director/Producer, and co-creator of Kin. Produced in partnership with Film Ireland and supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, the series explores the creative processes, industry challenges, and new opportunities that both Irish & international creatives face in ever-evolving artistic landscapes. In this discussion, Donnelly shares his experience and insight, having directed and produced some of the world’s most successful television series, including global hits such as Amazon’s The Wheel of Time, Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla, and MGM/History’s Vikings.Read more about the podcast here: www.filmireland.net/state-of-the-arts-podcast-ciaran-donnelly-dir-wheel-of-time-vikings-co-creator-kin-with-host-des-doyle/Follow the journey of State of the Arts here: https://www.instagram.com/sotapod/Chapters:2.37 Influences5.00 College11.25 Early Career in the UK14.37 Getting Cold Feet20.45 Getting a BAFTA21.40 Working in the US22.40 Directing The Tudors26.04 Directing Camelot26.45 The Importance of Directing a Pilot29.05 Gaining Experience and Co-Directing Krypton32.22 Working With Artists Like Eva Green & John Malkovich36.06 Directing Wheel of Time41.13 Being Producer/Director42.30 Being a Writer43.25 Kin46.25 Artificial Intelligence53.32 The Streaming Age59.03 Current & Future Projects1.04.05 T4 Productions1.05.23 Creator's Choices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, we are delighted to partner with the Dinard British and Irish Film Festival, which held its 36th edition last weekend in the picturesque seaside town of Dinard, Brittany.The episode features filmmaker John Kelly, whose animated short Retirement Plan - winner of both the Jury and Audience Awards at SXSW - continues its successful festival run with a screening at Dinard. Our contributor Tanvi Gawali speaks with John about the film’s journey and creative process.We also hear from Myrid Carten, discussing her powerful documentary A Want in Her, which screened at the festival and is now showing in Irish cinemas.The Dinard British and Irish Film Festival is an annual celebration of cinema that takes place in the coastal town of Dinard, Brittany. Now in its 36th year, the festival showcases the best of contemporary British and Irish filmmaking, highlighting emerging talent alongside established voices. Known for its warm hospitality and discerning audiences, Dinard provides a unique platform for filmmakers to connect with international industry figures and audiences in France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was a lot to celebrate this Culture Night, as Newcastle West Film Club in Limerick marked 16 years of screening an impressive programme of films. Meanwhile, Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision Scheme has just turned 20 - and what better way to honour both occasions than with a screening of the scheme’s recent success, documentary Birdsong?In Desmond Complex on 19th September, Coimisiún na Meán hosted a brilliant evening of music, conversation, and cinema, culminating in a live Q&A with the film’s producer, Ross Whitaker, hosted by Film Ireland Associate Editor Gemma Creagh.Listen back to these highlights of the evening:Chatting with Coimisiún na Meán’s Brian Furey — [00.35]A history of the club with founding member Mary Carroll — [08.18]Live Q&A with Ross Whitaker — [23.55]A word from the members — [38.53]About Sound and VisionOver €300 million awarded to almost 5,000 projects. Coimisiún na Meán is celebrating 20 years of the broadcasting funding scheme, Sound & Vision. The Scheme, which was first launched in 2005, has played a crucial role in shaping the Irish media landscape by supporting the creation of diverse, culturally relevant, and innovative content for Irish TV and radio audiences. Over the last two decades, nearly 5,000 projects have been offered funding of just over €300 million to make programming in Ireland, for Irish audiences. These include: 659 drama projects, 94 animation projects, just over 3,200 documentaries, 268 educational projects and 445 entertainment projects, as well as targeted funding rounds to support the commercial and community media sectors. Sound & Vision remains a vital source of funding for producing Irish language content with over 800 hundred of the projects funded classified as Irish/bilingual. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we are partnering with Words Across Europe to welcome Johnathan Young, Executive Producer at May One and former VP of Original Programming and Production at HBO Central Europe.Words Across Europe is an innovative, paid programme that provides participants with a deep understanding of the broader industry landscape, along with the confidence to navigate series writing for television. Most exciting of all, the programme takes place entirely in virtual reality.Johnathan is one of the industry experts and guest speakers involved in the programme To learn more about Words Across Europe and how to apply, visit www.wordsacrosseurope.eu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh talks to Dave Byrne, Director of Sunphlowers.This podcast has been made possible with the support of Screen Ireland.Set against an agricultural backdrop, Catherine finds her husband dead in one of their glasshouses. In putting his affairs in order, the extent of secrecy and destruction her late husband Michael has left in his wake, forces Catherine to take a long hard look at the direction of the remainder of her life. In the days that follow, Catherine must deal with very real life issues such as rural isolation, organised criminals targeting vulnerable people and financial ruin. Catherine initially struggles to deal with the overwhelming responsibilities that lay ahead, whilst also providing emotional support to her three adult children. Pride and determination brings out a strength of character beyond Catherine’s own expectations, as she deals with each problem head on, resulting in a new found sense of freedom and the power to forgive and move on with her life.Cast: Anne McCrudden, Patrick Bergin, Jerry Fish, Paul McQuaid, AbigaIl O'Regan.Sunphlowers is in cinemas from 26th September 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.