Film Ireland Podcast

We are delighted to partner with the Writers’ Guild of Ireland to bring you 2 very special podcasts of panels and discussions from the 2024 World Conference of Screenwriters, an international gathering of screenwriters and Writers Guilds’ from all around the world, which took place in Galway, 2 – 3 October 2024. Day 2 This second podcast features Day 2’s proceedings, beginning with: Globalising Screen Industries: Balancing Inward Production and Domestic Screenwriting Talent This panel delves into the dynamics of globalised production and the implications for screenwriters worldwide. As the influx of inward production persists, often sidelining domestic writing talent, the panel examines the risks inherent in developing an industry heavily reliant on external service productions and share strategies to encourage more domestic projects. Speakers Alice Shearman Rachel Kilfeather Gabor Krigler Bruce M. Smith Lesley Gannon In Conversation with the WGA East and WGA West This conversation takes a deep dive into the organisation of 2023''s WGA negotiations and strike. [from 1hr 04mins] Speakers Josep Gatell David Goodman Meredith Stiehm Chris Keyser Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Roddy Who? A Commitment to Credits This panel explores how credits for screenwriters and producers diverge in different territories. The discussion analyze why showrunners sometimes belong in one category and sometimes in the other, and yet it’s still not a recognized credit, how much the “created by” credit matters, who’s getting it, and the value of a global standard for credits. [from 2hr 05mins] Speakers Denis Goulette Barbara Petronio Emma Reeves Betsy Thomas Marcus Seibert Artificial Intelligence A conversation on what’s being done to protect screenwriters, and what they need to do next. [from 2hr 59mins] Speakers Jennifer Davidson Dr Abigail Rekas Ellen Stutzman Victoria Shen David Kavanagh KEYNOTE SPEECH: The Future is Unwritten Speakers [from 3hr 45mins] Laura Slattery Terry George Liaten back to Day 1 https://filmireland.net/2025/04/18/wcos-podcast-2024-world-conference-of-screenwriters-day-1/ https://script.ie/ https://filmireland.net/

In this Film Ireland podcast, we focus on GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival and chat to filmmakers Julia Dahmen (Somewhere Between You & Me) and Sarah Beeby (Gardening), whose shorts are screening at the festival. Ahead of that, we introduce Alba Fernandez to talk about the QUEER TALENT DATABASE, which will be launched at the festival on 4th August. https://gaze.ie/ https://filmireland.net

In this episode of the Film Ireland podcast, filmmaker and contributor Paul Farren sits down for a conversation with legendary cinematographer Roy H. Wagner ASC. With a career spanning decades, Wagner has brought his keen eye to storytelling, capturing an array of worlds on camera, from Beauty and the Beast to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Paul and Roy explore the craft of cinematography and the act of interpreting a narrative through light, shadow and lens. They discuss Wagner’s approach to visual language, the evolution of the craft, and what it means to sustain a career in the industry. About Roy H. Wagner Roy is a two-time Emmy Award-winning cinematographer with over 50 years of experience shooting TV series and feature films. Major DP credits include House, CSI, Quantum Leap, Burn Notice, and Ray Donovan. In addition to two Primetime Emmy wins, he also won the ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for the mini-series Drug Wars. Born in a very small community in the Midwest, Roy had no other contact with his dream of becoming a cinematographer than through the local theatre and the Los Angeles phone directory. He would recall the names of cinematographers as they appeared on their films and call them blindly to talk with them about their work. Many of them were so surprised by this young man’s ambition and interest that they took him under their wing, mentoring him. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he spent every moment with them on their sets and in their homes, learning as much about them and their work as he could. Because of this, he was able to meet and befriend many of the greatest cinematographers in Hollywood. His key mentor was Harry Stradling Sr. Through him, he developed friendships with Joseph Ruttenberg, George Folsey, James Wong Howe, Leon Shamroy, Frank Phillips, Leonard South, and many, many others. In the late 1970s, he began a life-long process of interviewing cinematographers on videotape or film. A deep reverence for all that is old Hollywood remains a great part of his life, and the memory of the behind-the-scenes stories told to him as a young man is an important basis for his life and work.

In this episode of the Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh sits down with FrightFest co-director Greg Day. She also catches up with filmmakers Ali Cook and Paul Boyd, whose films both premiered at this fantastic and terrifying strand of horror at the BAFTA-qualifying Glasgow Film Festival. Dubbed “the Woodstock of Gore” by Guillermo del Toro, Pigeon Shrine FrightFest is the UK’s leading horror and fantasy film festival.  A seasoned film and television publicist, Greg Day has worked with icons such as Dario Argento and George A. Romero, represented Columbia Pictures, and served as Head of Entertainment Publicity at Channel 4. After Greg, we hear from comedian and magician-turned-filmmaker Ali Cook, who discusses The Pearl Comb, his fantastical mermaid-themed short. Then, Scottish filmmaker Paul Boyd joins us to talk about Scared to Death, his darkly comic haunted house feature, which had its international premiere at the festival The 26th FrightFest edition takes place in the heart of London's Leicester Square and runs 21st - 25th August 2025. https://www.frightfest.co.uk/ THE PEARL COMB Director: Ali Cook. Cast: Beatie Edney, Ali Cook, Simon Armstrong, Clara Paget, Roxana Cook, Thomas Stocker. UK 2024. 21 min. A doctor – hell bent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine – discovers the source of a woman’s unearthly power when investigating her miraculous claim to be the first person to cure tuberculosis. SCARED TO DEATH Director Paul Boyd. Cast: Lin Shaye, Bill Moseley, Rae Dawn Chong, Olivier Paris. USA 2024. 1h38m N/C 18+ Thanks to Brick Lane Entertainment Jasper is a young opportunistic filmmaker yearning to climb the Hollywood ladder. Working as a lowly production assistant, he seizes his chance to be a ‘real’ director when he suggests to his cantankerous boss that the crew and actors from their upcoming horror film attend an actual séance in an old, haunted house for research. They choose an abandoned children’s shelter closed for 70 years since the mysterious murders of five children in 1942, apparently discovered scared to death. Once the séance begins, the motley crew find themselves trapped and haunted by the children . . . and something possibly worse.

We are delighted to be partnering with the Galway Film Fleadh to bring you a series of podcasts spotlighting filmmakers whose work is screening at this year’s festival. In this podcast, Gemma Creagh talks to Malcolm Willis,  co-director of The Essence of Eva with Alex Fegan, which premieres at this year’s festival. The Galway Film Fleadh runs 8-13 July 2025. Featuring previously unheard songs, and exclusive archival footage, Eva paints a vivid portrait of legendary singer Eva Cassidy, from the perspective of her family, friends, and fellow musicians. A woman whose soulful voice transcended genres, captivating audiences with its purity and emotional resonance. Her interpretations of classic songs, such as “Over the Rainbow” and “Fields of Gold”, are explored in depth, showcasing her ability to breathe new life into familiar tunes with her stirring voice. A heart-tugging story about a talent gone too soon. The Essence of Eva screens at The Galway Film Fleadh on 12th July 2025. https://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/ https://filmireland.net/