: @IFTN Industry Newsletter - Weekly Round-up Date: Fri, May 1, 2026

[Studio NI]

IFTN Industry News IFTN Industry Newsletter - weekly round-up Aoife McArdle set for second feature as Foxfinder heads into production Irish filmmaker Aoife McArdle is set to direct her second feature, Foxfinder, a psychological thriller starring Tessa Thompson, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Owen Cooper, with production due to begin this summer in Bavaria, Germany.  Anthony Boyle reflects on craft and career at IFTA Acting Conversation On Tuesday night (April 28th), Anthony Boyle, the IFTA & Olivier winning and Tony-nominated actor, took to the stage at the IFI Dublin for a special Acting Conversation hosted by the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA).  Interview: Five Minutes With Once Upon A Time In A Cinema Director David Gleeson IFTA-nominated director David Gleeson took five minutes with IFTN to discuss the making of his upcoming feature Once Upon A Time In A Cinema which is set for a nationwide cinema release this Friday May 1st 2026.  Kneecap share short film Irish Goodbye featuring Liam Cunningham & Deirdre O’Kane Kneecap have released a new 12-minute short film, Irish Goodbye, ahead of their forthcoming album FENIAN, which lands this Friday (May 1st) via Heavenly Recordings.  Kerry College’s CDFTV Partners with West Cork Film Studios to Develop Scripted Content for the South West Region Kerry College’s full-time Content Development for Film and Television course has announced a new creative partnership with West Cork Film Studios to help develop original scripted content for the south west region.  Interview: Five Minutes With Hokum Sound Designer Steve Fanagan IFTA-winning sound designer Steve Fanagan took five minutes with IFTN after recently wrapping on Damian McCarthy’s ‘Hokum’ which releases in cinemas May 1st to discuss his recent work on Ronan Day-Lewis’ Anemone, offering insights into his creative process, advice for emerging sound designers and more.  Zoe Saldaña boards Cartoon Saloon’s Julián ahead of Annecy Premiere Zoe Saldaña, who won an Oscar with Emilia Pérez, her sisters Cisely and Mariel Saldaña and their production company Cinestar Pictures have joined forces with five-time Academy Award nominated Kilkenny based studio Cartoon Saloon on the animated feature Julián. John Hewson joins Hide and Don’t Speak as Northern Ireland shoot gets underway Production has begun in Northern Ireland on supernatural horror Hide and Don’t Speak, with an expanded cast joining the feature as it gears up for its launch in Cannes with Wildcard’s Patrick O’Neill set to co-produce.  Julianne Forde (Tailored Films) selected for Producers on the Move line-up for Cannes 2026 Ireland’s Julianne Forde (Tailored Films) is among the 20 producers selected for the 27th edition of Producers on the Move, the European Film Promotion (EFP) talent initiative taking place during the Cannes Film Festival (12–23 May 2026).  Interview: Five Minutes With Walk The Blue Fields Costume Designer Consolata Boyle IFTA-winning and Academy Award nominated costume designer Consolata Boyle took five minutes with IFTN to discuss her work on recent projects, advice for aspiring costume designers, costume designers she admires, and how her creative process has evolved.  Lenny Abrahamson set to adapt David Nicholls’ You Are Here Acclaimed Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson is set to reunite with the BBC for a new television project, adapting David Nicholls’ 2024 novel You Are Here, produced by longstanding collaborators, Element Pictures (Normal People, Room)  BAFTA Television Craft Awards: Irish talent awarded Irish creatives were among the standout winners at the BAFTA Television Craft Awards, with editor Úna Ní Dhonghaíle and DOP Ryan Kernaghan both taking home major honours.  Ireland’s Bow Street Academy expands to Los Angeles with new campus Ireland’s Bow Street Academy is set to establish its first international base, launching a new campus in West Hollywood as it brings its screen-focused training approach to the US industry.  Brendan Gleeson’s stars opposite Nicolas Cage in Spider-Noir official trailer The official trailer for Prime Video’s Spider-Man-based drama series features Nicolas Cage facing off against Brendan Gleeson’s super villain.  No Ordinary Heist filmmaker Colin McIvor signs with Anonymous Content The Northern Irish filmmaker Colin McIvor, known for his latest thriller No Ordinary Heist, has secured representation with Anonymous Content.  Irish Docs selected for Sheffield DocFest 2026 A slate of Irish documentary projects, including Cara Holmes’ Lesbian Lines, Neasa Ní Chianáin’s Forever is Now and Oisín Mistéil’s Try!, has been selected for the 33rd edition of Sheffield DocFest. Taking place from 10–15 June, 2026.  Latest Jobs Wonder Pics: Láithreoir Wonder Pics: Cúntóir Léirithe Ros na Rún: Shraith 31 - chuile rannóg TG4: Iriseoirí Ilmheán Nuachta agus Cúrsaí Reatha TG4: Eagarthóir Coimisiúnaithe Ábhair TG4: Broadcast and Multimedia Support Engineers Fíbín Media: Senior Video Editor Stiúideo Cuan: Léiritheoir Cruthaitheach TG4: Innealtóirí Craolta agus Tacaíochta Ilmheáin Other News Interview: Five Minutes With The Incomer Sound Designer Aza Hand IFTA-winning sound designer Aza Hand took five minutes with IFTN after wrapping on Louis Paxton’s The Incomer and Paul Rowley’s doc Gays against Guns to discuss his work on Lisa McGee’s How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, advice for emerging sound designers, and more.  Director Michael Harte helms Netflix doc series Kylie Netflix has unveiled a first look at Kylie, a new three-part documentary series directed by Donegal filmmaker Michael Harte. The Beckham editor reunites with Ventureland for Kylie, in the director's chair.  Interview: Five Minutes With Bad Bridgets Cinematographer Ryan Kernaghan The IFTA nominated DOP Ryan Kernaghan took five minutes with IFTN to discuss his work on recent projects, advice for aspiring cinematographers, his favourite shots, and insight into his creative process.  Alison Oliver and Éanna Hardwicke lead Luna Carmoon’s To Make Ends Meat Irish actors Alison Oliver and Éanna Hardwicke alongside Naomi Ackie and Armande Boulanger are leading the cast of To Make Ends Meat, the second feature from Hoard filmmaker Luna Carmoon, which wrapped a six-week shoot nearby London last month.  Emmy-winning duo launch Enbarr: a new visual effects company in Dublin Multi-Emmy and VES Award-winning stalwarts Ed Bruce and Nicholas Murphy launch Enbarr, an international VFX studio based in the heart of Dublin. Enbarr is set to become a world-class destination for high-end storytelling and cinematic visuals.  Jacob McCarthy joins Jack Lowden & Colin Firth in Apple TV’s Berlin Noir Drama Irish actor Jacob McCarthy, best known for his work in SAS: Rogue Heroes and Mary & George, has been cast as Max Hart for Apple TV‘s untitled TV series based on Metropolis from Philip Kerr’s Berlin Noir novels.  Chris O’Dowd joins Bill Burr in coming-of-age comedy Bender Chris O’Dowd has signed on to star alongside Bill Burr in Bender, a coming-of-age comedy set to film in Ireland this summer. Adam Bernstein is set to direct (Pluribus).  Irish projects selected for the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival IFTN brings you the rundown of all the Irish-made projects that feature in Tribeca Festival in New York. Taking place from June 3 to 14. Its slate will feature 117 feature films as well as 86 shorts.  Interview: Five Minutes With Wuthering Heights Sound Mixer Nina Rice IFTA-winning sound mixer Nina Rice took five minutes with IFTN after wrapping on Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew to discuss her recent work on Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, offering insights into her creative process, advice for emerging sound mixers, and more.  First look and casting details emerge for The Hardacres series 2 Ahead of its return to 5 this spring, the rags to riches family saga The Hardacres unveils casting details for its second series and reveals first-look images for the upcoming series.  BBC Northern Ireland & CBC greenlight Committed led by Diona Doherty BBC Northern Ireland and Canada’s CBC have greenlit Committed, a ten-part comedy co-production starring Diona Doherty and Dustin Milligan. Filming is underway in County Down.  Aisling Connolly Byrne announced as Boyne Valley International Film Festival Boyne Valley International Film Festival have officially announced Writer/Director Aisling Connolly Byrne as Filmmaker in Focus for 2026. BVIFF takes place from Aug 7th - 9th, 2026.  Interview: Five Minutes With Silverback Editor Colin Campbell IFTA-nominated editor Colin Campbell took five minutes with IFTN to discuss his upcoming work on Steve Kenny’s Silverback, advice for aspiring editors, Irish editors he admires, and how his creative process has evolved.  Angel Studios’ Drummer Boy set to shoot in Ireland this month Angel Studios has unveiled Drummer Boy, a Revolutionary War-set action-musical that is due to begin filming in Ireland later this month.  Second trailer for John Carney's Power Ballad with Paul Rudd & Nick Jonas releases Lionsgate has released the second official trailer for rock musical Power Ballad, coming to cinemas nationwide in June this summer. Power Ballad is the latest musical comedy creation from Irish filmmaker John Carney (Once, Begin Again, Sing Street, Flora and Son).  Interview: Five Minutes With Four Mothers Costume Designer Joan O’Clery IFTA-nominated costume designer Joan O’Clery took five minutes with IFTN to discuss her work on recent projects, advice for aspiring costume designers, Irish costume designers she admires, and how her creative process has evolved.  Copyright © IFTN 2026, All rights reserved.   Not signed up? 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