Film Ireland Podcast

Presents: Margo Harkin Radical Witness

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.

Presents: Horseshoe Actor Carolyn Bracken & Producer Mo O'Connell / Doc Filmmaker Nathan Fagan

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.

Presents: Daire Collins and Ian Thuillier Talking Documentary

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.

Presents: DICFF Festival Director Mo O'Connell & Filmmaker Laoisa Sexton

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-art And 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-max This 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

State of the Arts: Showrunner Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus: House of Ashur) with host Des Doyle

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 release 09:29 – Inside the Writers’ Room 12:25 – Season Orders & Long-Game Planning 13:32 – How the Strikes Shook Production 15:07 – Showrunner Writing Process Explained 16:46 – Running a Show: LA vs New Zealand 18:58 – Why DeKnight Hasn’t Yet Directed Spartacus 22:35 – 22-Episode TV vs Today’s 10-Episode Sweet Spot 25:19 – Sticking With “House of Ashur” + Other Projects 28:37 – DeKnight’s Comic Book Worlds 36:03 – Working With Comic Artists 37:08 – AI in Entertainment: Hot Takes & Concerns 40:30 – Showrunning in 2025: Budgets & Tech Shift 45:07 – Are Spec Scripts Still Worth It? 48:01 – Top Writing Advice: Passion, Persistence, Failure 51:33 – What Failure Really Looks Like in Hollywood 01:00:52 – Rapid-Fire Favourites: TV, Music & More Follow 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