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Dear ,
Enjoy this packed newsletter full of opportunities for directors. We have lots of upcoming events designed to connect you with writers, casting directors, funders, and fellow creatives across the industry.
Here’s what’s coming up:
April 2 - Meet the Screen Writers
Speed Networking with the Writers Guild of Ireland
A fast paced evening to meet screenwriters looking to collaborate on upcoming film and TV projects.
April 8 - Inside the Industry: Screen Ireland and Directors Communications Session 1
Hear directly from Screen Ireland’s team across departments and ask your questions in person.
April 30 - Novel to Screen: Writers Union and Directors
Speed Networking with the Irish Writers Union
Build new creative partnerships and explore potential collaborations with novel writers.
June 19 - Behind the Casting Table
SDGI and Casting Directors Event
Gain valuable insights and build relationships with leading casting directors.
July 11- Animate the Vision
Animation Directors Networking at the Galway Film Fleadh
Join us in Galway for this special event focused on animation directors during the Fleadh.
We hope to see you there!
Stay posted for more details on how to take part.
Warmest,
Birch
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Landmark Agreement for Directors & Creatives in Ireland Now in Effect
We are proud to announce that the Principles of Fair and Equitable remuneration is now officially in effect, ensuring that directors, writers, actors, and composers in the Irish screen industry receive transparency and fair and ongoing compensation for their work.
This achievement is the result of tireless advocacy by SDGI alongside the Writers' Guild of Ireland, Irish Equity, Screen Composers Guild. It represents a historic shift in how directors and creative professionals are valued, aligning Ireland with best European practices and setting a new standard for fairness in the industry.
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Screen Ireland x SDGI Communications Session
Screen Ireland is hosting the first of a series of communications sessions with SDGI.
This is a great opportunity to hear from Screen Ireland across all departments and to ask any questions you may have!
Where: Screen 2, Irish Film Institute – 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar
When: Tuesday, 8th April – 11.30am to 12.30am
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SDGI’s Three Irish Short Films Wrap Production
We were delighted to announce the successful completion of three innovative short films, which wrapped in March following an intensive two-month production period throughout January and February.
The projects, led by Irish directors Conor McMahon, Róisín Loughrey, and Paul Webster, demonstrate the exceptional talent and cutting-edge technology shaping the future of Irish filmmaking.
The completed films are:
• Paul Webster – Marguerite, shot on location in Dublin
• Róisín Loughrey – Lullula, filmed on location in Sligo
• Conor McMahon – GULP, in H stage in Ardmore studios and on location.
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Darren Thornton
Darren Thornton's Four Mothers tells the story of Edward (James McArdle), a novelist saddled with caring for his elderly mother (Fionnula Flanagan) who finally finds himself on the brink of literary success. Busy with the demands of his upcoming book tour, the last thing Edward needs is his friends leaving their mothers on his doorstep as they head off on an impromptu Pride holiday! Over a chaotic weekend, Edward has to juggle his burgeoning career with the care of four eccentric, combative, and wildly different ladies.
Four Mothers is in cinemas 4th April 2025.
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Stephen Bradley
Stephen Bradley's mockumentary Fran the Man, based on the original TV show Fran, sees Darragh Humphreys reprise his role of Fran Costello working undercover to save the beautiful game from match-fixing.
Humphreys is joined by an ensemble of Irish comedic talent including Ardal O’Hanlon, Amy Huberman, Risteárd Cooper, Toni O’Rourke and Deirdre O’Kane.
Fran the Man is in cinemas 11th April 2025.
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Alex Fegan
Alex Fegan's Sins of Ireland is a portrait of Ireland through the lens of the confession box. Fifteen Irish priests, who have long heard the sins of others, offer their own confessional on the rise and fall of a sacrament that now epitomises the turbulent changes in faith and spirituality in contemporary Ireland.
Sins of Ireland is in cinemas 18th April 2025.
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Patricia Kelly
Patricia Kelly's debut feature, Verdigris, introduces us to a middle-aged, middle-class census enumerator who forms an unexpected bond with an abandoned inner-city teenage girl.
Verdigris is in cinemas 18th April 2025.
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Aislinn Clarke
Aislinn Clarke's new folk horror Fréwaka delivers a chilling exploration of folklore, isolation, and generational trauma. Haunted by personal tragedy, Shoo begins caring for an old woman in a remote village and they form a strangely deep connection. Shoo becomes consumed by the old woman's paranoia, rituals and superstitions, finding herself and her life unravelled by the end.
Fréwaka is in cinemas 25th April 2025.
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John Hayes
Liverpool-set crime series This City is Ours began on BBC One on 23rd March.
John Hayes is behind the lens for episodes 4-6.
All Michael knows is crime, until he falls in love. Now he has something to lose - but how far will he go to keep it?
The series continues on BBC One on Sunday evenings with all episodes available to watch on the iPlayer now.
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Holt
Series creator Trevor Courtney, Julie Rush and Harry Burton direct episodes of Holt, the brand-new RTÉ Kids series.
Three mismatched teens from planet Eire, shipwrecked in a dangerous world, must help save the universe from the Blight if they're ever to return home.
Holt blasts onto screens on 7th April on RTÉ2 & RTE Player!
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LA Shorts International Film Festival
LA Shorts International Film Festival ranks among the most prestigious and largest international short film festivals in the world. The Festival is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences OSCAR®, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (ACCT) presenters of the Canadian Screen Awards and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Spain (Goya Awards).
The deadline to submit your short film is 4th April 2025.
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Channel 4 First Cut Pitch
Want to get your new documentary in front of Channel 4?
Five new directors will have the chance to pitch their 60' film at the First Cut Pitch at Channel 4 First Cut Pitch, Sheffield DocFest this June and one winner will walk away with a commission.
Apply by 5th April 2025.
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Scriptwriting with Ros na Rún
Ros na Rún, in collaboration with Gréasán na Meán Skillnet, Coimisiún na Meán, and the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama, is running a scriptwriting course, to add to its panel of scriptwriters.
Participants will be tutored by Bláthnaid Altaf, a former senior story writer with Ros na Rún. Bláthnaid has also worked on Fair City, Holby City, and as a mentor with Virgin Media Discovery.
Deadline to apply is 7th April 2025.
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Words Across Europe
Words Across Europe is an innovative paid programme that provides participants with a deep understanding of the broader industry landscape and the confidence to navigate successful series writing for television.
9 chosen participants will be invited to work in virtual writers’ rooms through the latest VR technology to conceptualise original series for presentation to major industry players.
Words Across Europe is co-funded by the European Union and Dublin-based production company, Wide Eye Films.
Deadline to apply is 7th April 2025.
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Aligning With Flow Creativity Retreat
Screen Ireland and Aligning With Flow are seeking writers, directors, actors, composers, musicians, and creative producers with current projects in development, interested in taking part in a 3-day creativity retreat.
Apply by 11th April 2025.
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starGAZE
starGAZE is a professional development initiative supporting six emerging LGBTQIA filmmakers.
starGAZE will provide a platform for LGBTQIA talent through an internationally recognised film festival with access to Irish and international creatives, with the ambition to increase the number of Irish LGBTQIA stories on screen and showcase the next generation of Irish queer and trans voices. starGAZE will accept applications from LGBTQIA people of all backgrounds, particularly encouraging applicants from the global majority, trans and non-binary people, people from working-class communities, the Travelling community, people with disabilities and all equity-seeking individuals facing additional challenges within the film industry.
The deadline for applications is 14th April 2025.
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360-degree Narrative Design & Transmedia Strategy Workshop
The European Writers Club, National Talent Academy for Film & TV, and Screen Ireland will host a two-day workshop exploring if ‘Your Story Is Much More Than Just One Format’. Eight projects will be selected to participate in an exclusive 360-degree narrative design and transmedia strategy workshop.
This immersive two-day experience is designed for writers, producers, and filmmakers looking to elevate their series, films, documentaries, or multi-format creations. Participants will learn how to refine and amplify their stories across multiple platforms, unlocking new creative dimensions and enhancing audience engagement.
Selected participants will undergo a creative conception and core team alignment process developed by Kurt McClung, designed for transmedia IP development across video games, TV, and film. His methodology has proven both efficient and dynamic for scriptwriters, directors, creative producers, and marketing leads—helping teams communicate the unique essence of their work to stakeholders at all stages, even before script development begins.
The workshop will take place in Dublin 8-9 May.
The deadline for applications is 14th April 2025.
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Coimisún Na Meán Sound & Vision Round 56 | VMTV Call for Submissions
Virgin Media Television is currently accepting Entertainment, Factual and Drama proposals for Sound & Vision Round 56. They are looking for Factual Entertainment series and formats
Deadline for submissions is 16th April 2025.
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Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund
Northern Ireland Screen seek digital projects to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the USA calling for projects that will recount the often- overlooked story of the role of the Scots-Irish in American Independence. It will also celebrate three centuries of close cultural connections between Ulster and the USA.
A budget of no more than £70k is estimated to complete, deliver and market this project.
The deadline for applications is 18th April 2025.
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Docs Ireland Marketplace
Docs Ireland Marketplace is an opportunity for filmmakers to meet one-to-one with leading international documentary industry decision makers, including international funders, broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors. It is the only marketplace dedicated to documentary on the island of Ireland, providing an opportunity for filmmakers to pitch their project through carefully curated meetings organised by the Docs Ireland team.
The deadline for application is 18th April 2025.
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Edinburgh International Film Festival
Submissions to the 77th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival are open. Spanning 7 days, the relaunched EIFF will honour 70+ years of festival history, showcasing the very best talent in filmmaking in a re-energised format that is rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression.
The deadline for submissions is 19th April 2025.
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Louth International Film Festival
The Sixth Edition of the Louth International Film Festival, in Association with An Táin Arts Centre and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) seeks investigative, thought-provoking, and innovative documentary, film drama, and animation—both feature-length and short-form.
The deadline for submissions is 21st April 2025.
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The Listening Pitch
Aesthetica Film Festival teams up with Audible, offering two grants of up to £10,000 to fund new documentaries. They are looking for original stories that explore the limitless ways we interpret the world around us. From personal experiences to universal truths, narratives that uncover the unseen, unheard and unspoken - showing just how much of life depends on our ability to truly listen. Two grants of up to £10,000 are available.
Deadline is 21st April 2025.
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European Film Distribution
This Creative Europe Desk Ireland European Film Distribution support encourages and support the wider transnational distribution of recent European films by providing funds to European distributors, based upon their performance on the market, for further reinvestment in the acquisition, promotion and distribution (including online) of recent non-national European films.
The deadline for applications is 24th April 2025.
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Skills + Talent Development
The objective of this Creative Europe Desk Ireland Skills and Talent Development support is to enhance the capacity of audiovisual professionals to adapt to new creative processes, market developments and digital technologies that affect the whole value chain.
The deadline for applications is 24th April 2025.
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Bloomsday Film Festival
The Bloomsday Film Festival encourages artistic innovation within the medium, artists who do things their own way, and films that seek to push the craft forward, as Joyce did so greatly within his own craft of literature. The festival welcomes submissions from all backgrounds offering a diverse, global programme.
The deadline for applications is 28th April 2025.
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Agility Award
The Arts Council Agility Award supports individual professional artists and arts practitioners who have not been previously funded as an individual by the Arts Council. It focuses on enabling artists to develop their practice, develop their work and develop their skills.
Maximum award of €5,000.
The deadline to apply is 24th April 2025.
The Arts Council is hosting online clinics for artists interested in applying for the Agility Award 2025 on the following dates:
- Thursday 10 April, 1.00pm
- Thursday 17 April, 10.00am
- Tuesday 22 April, 3.00pm
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Leitrim Artist Mentorship Programme
The Artist Mentorship programme is designed to support the development of Leitrim-based emerging and established professional artists from any arts discipline who would benefit from the guidance of a leading professional to help the applicant take the next steps in their career development.
The closing date for applications is 1st May 2025.
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Talent Camp Odense (Denmark)
Talent Camp is a week of masterclasses, workshops, and networking between young filmmakers from all over the world from 25-30 August during Odense International Film Festival in Denmark
They accept approximately 20 filmmakers between the age of 21-30 years each year, who are exposed to one of the most intensive weeks in their filmmaking career, a rich experience, and new friends for life.
Deadline to apply is 5th May 2025.
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Arts and Disability Connect Scheme
The Arts Council Arts and Disability Connect Scheme supports artists with disabilities and disabled artists to develop their practice and connect with other professional artists and arts organisations in Ireland.
There are four different strands within the scheme:
- Mentoring (€3,000)
- Training (€1,000)
- New Work (€15,000)
- Research and Development (€5,000)
The deadline is 7th May 2025.
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SPREAG
SPREAG is a new funding scheme to support the development of short Irish language animated films offering a total fund of €240,000.
The fund is open to Irish language writers and directors working in collaboration with experienced producers. It aims to encourage the development of high-quality Irish language animation projects. Projects can be developed aimed at children’s audiences (Cúla4) or young adult audiences (BLOC).
The deadline for applications is 30th May 2025.
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Director Shadowing Placements
Director Edelle Kenny shadowed directors Kadir Balci and Mia Mullarkey on Hidden Assets over a seven-week period as part of The NTA for Film & TV's Director Shadowing Placements across the production of Season Three.
Emerging filmmakers curious about shadowing opportunities can now submit to the Shadows Database via the NTA website.
Applications are open on a rolling basis until October 2025.
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Content Development For Film & Television at Kerry College Open For Early Registration & Interview
Would you like to write/develop your Film and Television projects with working industry professionals? Feature Films, TV Drama and Documentary?
Kerry College is currently seeking applicants for year three of its national full-time Content Development Programme.
- No fees.
- Training allowance paid.
- 40 weeks.
- 14 places.
This is an IFTA (Irish Film & Television Academy) affiliated course.
Learn from working industry professionals and graduate instructors from AFI (American Film Institute) & NYFA (New York Film Academy).
Interviews are taking place soon, so if interested, please apply now.
Course starts September 2025.
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Transitioning from Documentary to Drama Directing
This intensive Skillnet 4-day course, run in partnership with Screen Ireland, led by award-winning director Conor Morrissey, is aimed at directors with a documentary background who want to transition into the world of television drama.
Acknowledging that documentary directors already have an incredibly useful skillset the course will explore how these skills can be effectively utilized in the service of scripted drama.
Working closely with each of the participants the course will explore how their original voices as documentary directors can be channeled into effective drama storytelling. Drawing on Conor Morrissey’s extensive experience of working in both forms the course will explore a practical methodology of drama direction that effectively captures the immediacy of documentary filmmaking.
The deadline has been extended to Friday, 4th April at noon.
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Catalyst International Film Festival
Catalyst International Film Festival returns to focus exclusively on films that address under-representation on screen and behind the camera; gender equality, diversity and inclusion are core to our programming. Catalyst aim to create a more inclusive industry and films screened will promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion whether in content, key creative roles or crew.
Catalyst International Film Festival takes place 3-5 April 2025 in Limerick City.
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Inside the Industry: Breaking into Animation & VFX
Screen Wexford host an in-depth discussion on the key aspects of breaking into the world of animation and VFX. Running from 10am to 4pm both days, the free workshop will feature a panel of industry professionals who will share their career journeys and insights into crucial industry topics.
Breaking into Animation & VFX takes place in The National Opera House 5-6 April 2025.
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Online Scriptwriting Workshop with Laurie Hutzler
Coimisiún na Meán, Creative Europe Desk MEDIA Office Galway are hosting an online Screenwriting Workshop with script consultant Laurie Hutzler on Tuesday 8th April.
Laurie has worked as a story and character consultant to the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, talkbackTHAMES, Mersey Television/Lime Pictures and Aardman Animation Studio (UK), for Pixar University, Disney and Dreamworks (US), Endemol Netherlands (NL), GloboMedia (Spain) and TNT (Russia) among others. Laurie has created the Emotional Toolbox®, a unique method that offers a set of specific techniques, exercises and tools to create and strengthen emotion-based creative content
The deadline to register is 6th April 2025.
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The Animator's Workshop with Adam’s Animation Academy
Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet welcomes back Adam Oliver to lead this course designed for animators looking to reconnect with their creativity and make real progress on their own animation projects.
The Animator’s Workshop is a hands-on, project-focused course led by experienced animator Adam Oliver from Adam’s Animation Academy. This workshop provides structure, guidance, and community support to help you push past creative blocks and turn your ideas into tangible work. Through a combination of project planning, practical exercises, and feedback, you’ll develop confidence in your creative voice and establish a clear path forward for your project.
Live weekly sessions online from 8th April until 13th May (6 weeks), 7-8pm.
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TITE (Trans Image/Trans Experience)
The inaugural TITE (Trans Image/Trans Experience) presents 8 feature films, 40 shorts, a workshop, filmmaker Q&As, and more. From award-winning Sundance darlings to low budget DIY extravaganzas, soft-spoken dramas to hyperpop explosions, dozens of Irish premieres and a special archive screening from 1989; whatever you picture when you think about ‘trans film’, think again.
TITE is taking place 25-27 April 2025 at the Light House Cinema.
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Facing In/Facing Out: A Development Workshop for Screenwriters
Galway Film Fair in partnership with Stowe Story Labs are offering a Development Workshop for emerging screenwriters and filmmakers taking place on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th July in Galway as part of the Galway Film Fair.
Facing In/Facing Out: A Development Workshop for Screenwriters offers a unique opportunity for 35 selected emerging screenwriters and filmmakers to learn new skills and generate ideas to help develop a narrative feature film. Day 1 will focus on the stories being developed. Day 2 will focus on strategies for writers when taking their projects out for development.
The closing date for applications is 30th April 2025.
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S481 Screen Talks: In Conversation with Joel Church-Cooper
Screen Ireland as part of S481 Skills Development Screen Talks in association with production company Cable Rock Pictures, presents an industry talk with writer and showrunner Joel Church-Cooper, whose TV comedy series Going Dutch was filmed in Ireland and is now on airing on Fox and streaming on Hulu, Disney+ and Apple TV+.
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Registration for the Irish Pavilion at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and Marché du Film
If you are working in the Irish film industry and attending this year's festival or have a Screen Ireland-supported project screening/selling in the market, please send your details by filling out the form linked to below to ensure you are included in the Irish delegation, and to receive information about Screen Ireland's presence during the festival.
Registration closes on 16th April 2025.
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European Commission Call for Evidence on 2018 Geo-blocking Regulation
As part of its ongoing evaluation of the Geo-blocking Regulation, the European Commission has launched a call for evidence to gather stakeholders’ insights on its effectiveness, relevance, and impact. Audiovisual services are currently rightfully excluded from the scope of the Geo-blocking Regulation (Recital 8 of Regulation (EU) 2018/302).
This initiative is part of a broader consultation process aimed at assessing whether the current framework sufficiently addresses cross-border barriers in the digital single market. This call for evidence will therefore be followed by a public consultation in the second quarter of 2025.
FERA actively participated in this process. FERA continues to advocate, alongside the wider audiovisual sector, for the continued exclusion of audiovisual services from Regulation (EU) 2018/302 banning unjustified geo-blocking. At stake are European filmmakers’ artistic freedom and Europe’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
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EU AI Act’s GPAI Code of Practice
FERA are among a coalition of authors, artists, performers and other right holders active across the EU’s cultural and creative sectors to release a joint statement regarding the third draft of the EU AI Act’s GPAI Code of Practice, which "undermines objectives of the AI Act, contravenes EU law and ignores the intention of the EU legislator – we cannot support it."
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Key Trends Shaping the European Film and TV Industries
This 10th anniversary edition the European Audiovisual Observatory's annual Key Trends report was launched at the Series Mania Forum in Lille. This new 64-page report walks you through the latest tendencies in European cinema, broadcasting and streaming.
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Make Freelancing Pay
Ireland has the “most transformative” tax and benefit system for increasing disposable income for screen sector freelancers, according to a report led by the British Screen Forum and Film and TV Charity.
Make Freelancing Pay: Can we use taxes and benefits to boost competitiveness, and improve workforce noted that the pilot basic income for the arts scheme has had a positive impact on freelancers' disposable incomes.
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Female professionals in European TV/SVOD fiction production - 2015-2023 Figures
A new edition of the report “Female professionals in European TV/SVOD fiction production - 2015-2023 Figures” has just been published by the European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. This report provides an analysis of gender inequality for six categories of staff behind the camera: directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, composers and editors.
This new report finds that:
Between 2019 and 2023, the share of female professionals in the production of European TV and SVOD fiction was 27%.
Three cumulative factors apply to most of the roles assessed in this report:
- A low share of women in the active population of professionals.
- Fewer assignments for female professionals.
- Work more often shared with other professionals (e.g. female screenwriters co-writing more often than their male counterparts).
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Interview with Adolescence Director Philip Barantini
Directors UK spoke to Philip Barantini about the rigorous preparation, the sensitivity, and the creative leadership that he brought to the show as director and how that resulted in a drama that has broken records and started conversations everywhere from the front room to the classroom.
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Ronan O'Leary
Ronan O'Leary's film A Sunken Place had an industry screening at the IFI on 13th March followed by a Q&A with Ronan and writer-producer Gerard Daly hosted by Áine Moriarty (IFTA CEO).
See More
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Brian Durnin
Spilt Milk won the Audience Award at the 2025 at the Glasgow Film Festival.
See More
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Zoe Brennan Whitmore & Aisha Bolaji
Zoe Brennan Whitmore and Aisha Bolaji will work as Shadow Directors on The Dry Season 3 with Paddy Breathnach through all stages of production.
See More
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Phantom 4K Camera
The groundbreaking Phantom VEO 4k slow motion camera is available for hire in Ireland from Crossing the Line Productions in Westport, Co. Mayo and Bray, Co. Wicklow.
See More
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Royal Television Society Awards 2025
Gradaim RTS Ireland 2025, hosted by Virgin Media Television, has announced the winners for the Royal Television Society awards, which took place on 27th March at the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin.
See More
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Our mailing address is:
Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, Curved Street South, Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 PC43, Ireland.
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