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In the last episode of 2020, we hear ten filmmakers deliver the ‘elevator pitch’ for their project, to our three judges: Sarah Dillon (Manager, WRAP Fund) Eoin O’Faolain (Head of Film, Sharp House) and Mary Kate O’ Flanagan (writer & story consultant). Which pitch was your favourite? And which one won the €3000 cash prize? If you haven’t already seen the pitches live from this year’s festival, you also have the option of watching back our 2020 Pitching Competition on our Youtube channel. We’ll be back in 2021 with more great guests, talks and Fleadh goodness for film fans. Intro composed by Justin McCarthy.

Some of the Irish & UK companies and commissioners catering to a specifically younger audience, talk about the digital content that resonates with their demographic, and developing new talent in front of, and behind, the camera. Panellists include: Louise Thornton (BBC Scotland), Rhodri ap Dyfrig (S4C), Maeve McLoughlin (BBC Three /BBC NI/Northern Ireland Screen), Éamonn McManus (TG Lurgan & Moose), and moderated by Laura Ní Cheallaigh (TG4). Plus! Details on the new commissioning round for digital first short-form content and the development of new talent support by TG4, the BAI, Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Údarás na Gaeltachta and in association with Gréasán na Meán. Supported by TG4. Intro composed by Justin McCarthy.  

Sarah Dillon is back, and this time she’s joined by four development executives who talk about the practical and creative strategies pursued by their companies in developing their slates, working with talent, and selecting the stories they want to tell. Participants: Ben Coren (Film4), Dionne Farrell (BBC Films), Emma Norton (Element Pictures), Tristan Goligher (The Bureau) and Sarah Dillon (Development Manager, WRAP Fund). Plus! Advice on pursuing development as a career. And news about submissions for the 2021 Galway Film Fleadh. Galway Film Fleadh podcast intro music composed by Justin McCarthy.  

Our chairperson Kate O’Toole sits down (virtually) with Keith Carradine for a chat about his career, spanning over 70 feature films from Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) to having just wrapped on Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog (2021). Kate and Keith discuss acting, family, his ‘list of legends’, and Keith even tries to add a cúpla focal to his lexicon. Galway Film Fleadh podcast intro music composed by Justin McCarthy.

Following the massive success of the TV series Normal People, Sarah Glennane (CEO, Screen Composers Guild of Ireland) talks to the all-Irish music department behind the creation of the original score and placement of songs which formed the soundtrack to the hit show. Music is an essential part of the storytelling process, guiding the audience through many of the emotional cues, and conveying information about characters, location, and action. This panel will explore the role of music in Normal People, the different creative and craft roles involved in bringing music to the story, and how having an Irish based music department shaped the music, and added to the production. Panel participants: Stephen Rennicks, Composer, HOD Music Juliet Martin, Music Supervisor Ciaran Byrne, Music Mixer Cathleen Flynn, Music Editor Sarah Lynch, Arranger / Performer

Sarah Dillon (WRAP Fund) introduces a panel of professionals, who talk about the disruption caused to the traditional exploitation paths for many films, how they are navigating these changes, and what challenges and opportunities the future holds. What innovative approaches are helping films reach audiences, and how will distribution and exhibition adapt to a post-pandemic landscape? Participants: Cara Cusumano (Tribeca Film Festival), Eamonn Bowles (Magnolia Pictures), Patrick O’Neill (Wildcard Distribution), Stephen Kelliher (Bankside Films) and moderated by Katie Holly (Blinder Films).

Just in time for Halloween, it’s a new episode of the Galway Film Podcast with celebrated genre director Joe Dante (Gremlins, The ‘Burbs, The Howling)! In this first episode of our new season, Joe talks with director Aislinn Clarke (The Devil’s Doorway) about his early career under Corman & Spielberg, childhood influences on his films and keeping your personality in the picture.

In the last of our regular season for 2019, this week’s podcast is a discussion on short film, recorded live at the 2019 Galway Film Fleadh Short Film Panel. Film Fleadh shorts programmer Eibh Collins, director Ríoghnach Ní Ghríoghair, director/actor Michael Smiley, and cinematographer Burshci Wojnar talk about using shorts as proof of concept, having room to make mistakes and shorts festival strategy. Join us for more talks with filmmakers in 2020. And see you in Galway in July!

Winner of the Best Cinematography Award at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, Finky is a surreal Irish language drama, directed by Dathaí Keane. In this episode, Dathaí chats with Will about how he transitioned from editor to director, collaborative screenwriting and being inspired by Irish literature in his work. Finky makes its International Premiere at the Talinn Black Nights Film Festival on November 27th.

Cinematographer Robbie Ryan chats about the cinematographer Robby Müller after a screening of Living the Light: Robby Müller at the 31st Galway Film Fleadh. At the post-screening discussion, filmmaker Paul Duane chats with collaborator and cinematographer Robbie Ryan about Müller, shooting road movies, working with directors like Andrea Arnold and Ken Loach, and Netflix vs. theatrical. Films discussed this episode: Living the Light: Robby Müller (2018) Okja (2017) American Honey (2016, Ryan) The Angel’s Share (2012, Ryan) Wasp (Short, 2003, Ryan) Barfly (1987, Müller) Honeysuckle Rose (1980, Müller) The American Friend (1977, Müller)

Earlier this year, eight Irish film festivals signed the 5050×2020 Gender Parity and Inclusion Pledge, launched at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. How realistic is this goal? That’s the topic for this panel discussion with (pictured L-R) Dr. Susan Liddy (Chair, Women in Film and Television Ireland), Stephanie Comey ( Senior Manager, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland), Dr. Annie Doona (Chair, Screen Ireland), filmmaker Liz Gill, and Will Fitzgerald (Programme Director, Galway Film Fleadh). Organised jointly by the Equality Action Committee (EAC) of the Writers Guild and Screen Directors Guild and Women in Film and Television Ireland. Recorded live at the 2019 Galway Film Fleadh.

Director Michael McCormack’s first feature documentary, a biopic of the late musician Fergus O’Farrell called Breaking Out, won the Best Irish Documentary Award at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh. In this episode, Michael talks about his background in television, knowing when to ‘let the gold in’ and how Breaking Out isn’t a music documentary. Other films discussed this episode: The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005) Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

Derry women Brónagh Gallagher (actor), Louise Gallagher (producer) and Tess McGowan (screenwriter) talk about the making of their new film, A Bump Along the Way. We talk about ‘Derry Fairies,’ shedding insecurities, pregnancy as an in-built deadline and the success of Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus. Pictured (L-R): Tess McGowan, Brónagh Gallagher, Louise Gallagher, director Shelly Love and Lola Petticrew at the Galway Film Fleadh premiere of A Bump Along the Way. _ A Bump Along the Way won the Best First Feature Award at the 2019 Galway Film Fleadh and Lola Petticrew won Galway’s Bingham Ray New Talent Award for her performance as Allegra. A Bump Along the Way is in cinemas from this Friday. _ Other films discussed this episode: The Dig The Survivalist _

Through personal anecdote, screenwriter and actor Mark O’Halloran (Adam and Paul, Garage, Viva) discusses ‘the substance of things unseen’ and the idiom of ‘write what you know.’ Recorded live at the Fleadh Forum, an annual state-of-the-industry conference taking place as part of the Galway Film Fleadh. Mark’s new film as screenwriter, Rialto, premieres at the BFI London Film Festival on Saturday.

Director Karl Golden (The Honeymooners) talks about getting a career wake-up call, his experience of the Irish, UK and German film industries, and how you can never be a virgin again! Karl’s latest film Bruno had its World Premiere at the 2019 Galway Film Fleadh. Film discussed this episode: The Honeymooners (2003) Pelican Blood (2010) Bruno (2019)

Actor Lauryn Canny (Amber, Darlin’) talks about the physicality of portraying her character Darlin’ in the eponymous new horror film, the differences between being a working actor in LA and in Dublin, and the talented young generation of actors coming up in Ireland. Darlin’ screened at Fright Fest in London last week. Its Irish premiere was at the Galway Film Fleadh this summer. Films talked about this episode: Darlin The Woman Offspring

Listen to film critics Donald Clarke (Irish Times), Finn Halligan (Screen International) and Boyd van Hoeij (Hollywood Reporter) on a panel moderated by Niall Murphy (Scannáin) as they discuss ‘film twitter’ and the effects of online hype and marketing. Do critics still matter? And what constitutes a spoiler these days, anyway?

Welcome to a second season of Galway Film Fleadh podcasts! In this episode, Film Fleadh Director of Programming Will Fitzgerald chats with director Sophie Hyde. Sophie won the Directing Award at Sundance for her first film 52 Tuesdays, which also won the Crystal Bear Award at Berlin. Sophie’s new film Animals, starring Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat as two hard-partying young women in Dublin, goes on release in Irish cinemas this Friday. Will and Sophie compare the Australian and Irish film industries, and Sophie chats about working as part of a filmmaking collective, and why an Australian director chose to set an adaptation of a UK novel in Ireland’s capital city. Sophie Hyde (front, right) with cast & crew at Irish premiere of Animals at the 31st Galway Film Fleadh Films / TV discussed this episode: The Hunting Animals 52 Tuesdays Fucking Adelaide (it appears this really isn’t available outside Australia!) Sam Klemke’s Time Machine

Producer Brian J. Falconer moved from shorts to features with his 2018 debut, The Dig, directed by the Tohill Brothers and winner of the Best Irish Film at the 2018 Galway Film Fleadh. His follow up feature, Normal People, is the debut screenplay by acclaimed Irish playwright Owen McCafferty, directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (co-directors of Good Vibrations) and starring Academy Award nominees Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson. He is currently reuniting with director Michael Lennox, five years since their first project, the BAFTA winning and Oscar® nominated short Boogaloo and Graham, to develop the film adaptation of Lisa Harding’s award-winning debut novel Harvesting.   Brian J. Falconer (left) with President Michael D. Higgins, Ryan and Andrew Tohill and Moe Dunford after The Dig won Best Irish Film at the 2018 Galway Film Fleadh   Watch Boogaloo and Graham (2014):  Boogaloo and Graham from ShortsTV on Vimeo.

Andrew has worked in post-production for several years, including editing their own critically acclaimed short, Eye-Line. Ryan has worked in the Art Department of several TV productions including Game of Thrones, The Frankenstein Chronicles, Line of Duty, Philomena and The Fall. In 2017, they shot their first feature film, The Dig, developed through Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus scheme. In 2018, The Dig won the Best Irish Film Award at the Galway Film Fleadh, had a sales agent come onboard, and made it’s North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Will talks to the brothers about their experience.