The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles 2025
A Celebration of Irish Film
Runs March: 14-16th 2025
Laemmle Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles returns for an exciting three-day celebration of Irish cinema at the Laemmle Monica Film Center, showcasing a dynamic selection of feature films, documentaries, and short films from both established and emerging Irish talent.
This year's program highlights the creativity and diversity of Irish filmmaking, featuring eight feature films, including critically acclaimed works and bold new projects from rising filmmakers. The lineup shines a spotlight on a range of voices within the industry, including three female directors, award-winning documentaries, gripping dramas, auteur-driven films, and two Irish-language features.
Alongside the feature film program, the festival presents four curated short film screenings, featuring 24 short films that reflect the innovation and storytelling excellence of Irish filmmakers. These selections include eight female directors and ten female writers, three Irish-language shorts, animations, two experimental films, and a variety of short documentaries. The festival also proudly showcases several directorial and feature debuts, reinforcing its commitment to supporting emerging talent.
A Full Festival Pass, Day Passes, and Individual Screening Tickets Available Here
Contact Us: [email protected]
Scroll Down for The Full Festival Schedule & Click a Film for Full Details
The festival opens with a special screening of the newly released "Four Mothers", with Director Darren Thornton in attendance. Later that evening, the Oscar-shortlisted film "Room Taken" screens as part of the "New Voices" program, followed by a Q&A with Director TJ O’Grady. Closing out the night is "King Frankie", with Writer/Director Dermot Malone and Producer Matt D’Arcy joining for an in-depth discussion about their film. Other standout selections from the festival lineup include "Kathleen is Here," "Fidil Ghorm," "Amongst the Wolves," and "David Keenan – Words on Canvas."
Throughout the weekend, the festival will feature engaging Q&A sessions with attending filmmakers. Audiences will have the chance to hear from Smothered’s Patrick O'Mahony and composer James Ó Ceallaigh following "The Auteurs", as well as Director/Co-Writer Marc Cleary and Actor Austin Spacy of Fuel after "The Futures" screening.
Documentary lovers can look forward to "EAT / SLEEP / CHEER / REPEAT," which will include a discussion with Director Tanya Doyle and Producer Daniel Hegarty. The festival’s closing program of short films, "The Contemporaries," will feature a Q&A with Writer of Yellow Belt; Alan O’Gorman, alongside Director Joey Falsetta of Eamon and its cast members Liam Fountain, Josh Harp, Rachel Rath, and Mollie Gunn.
The festival concludes with Aoife Kelleher’s award-winning documentary
"Mrs. Robinson," a compelling exploration of the life and legacy of Ireland’s first female president, Mary Robinson. This final screening will be followed by a post-festival celebration, offering audiences a chance to reflect on the weekend’s films and connect with fellow festival goers.
The festival will host a series of engaging daily panel discussions with industry experts, including The Future of Indie, which will explore the evolving landscape of independent filmmaking with Kirsten Sheridan, Steven Davenport, Kip Konwiser, and Diarmaid McGrath; Script to Screen – The Actor’s Role, which will examine the casting and performance process with Mat Raney, Karen Ryan, Daniel Adams and Christopher Thornton; and Behind the Camera Lens, which will highlight the creative minds shaping cinema, featuring Alan Smyth, Zegan Doyle, Kelley Silverman and Kemma Filby.
For younger audiences, the festival is proud to present "A Greyhound of a Girl," featuring the voices of Brendan Gleeson and Sharon Horgan. This heartwarming animated feature ensures that the festival offers something for everyone.
Beyond the Screenings: The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles serves as an important gathering place for filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences. In addition to screenings, Q&As, and panels, each evening ticket holders are invited to after-evening social events, offering a relaxed space for networking, discussion, and celebrating Irish cinema.
Festival Director Matthew Nevin shares his excitement about this year’s program, stating: "From powerful dramas to exciting new films and captivating short films, the Irish Film Festival Los Angeles celebrates the creativity, passion, and storytelling excellence of Ireland's filmmakers. As Irish cinema continues to gain international recognition, we are proud to showcase these voices, bringing new stories and visionary artists to audiences in Los Angeles. Join us for a fun few days celebrating the best of Irish film!"
IFFLA is currently Directed by Matthew Nevin, Managed by Jenn McGuirk and Coordinated by Jenny Minniti Shippey. Kindly Supported By: The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Screen Ireland, ELMA, TG4, MART Gallery & Studios, LA County Arts & Culture, The Irish Film Institute’s IFI International programme in connection with Culture Ireland and Arts Council Ireland.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
click a screening to scroll for more info and book Tickets
friday march 14th
saturday march 15th
sunday march 16th
THE IRISH FILM FESTIVAL LOS ANGELES PROGRAM 2025
FEATURE FILMS
March 14th: FOUR MOTHERS | KING FRANKIE
March 15th: KATHLEEN IS HERE | EAT/SLEEP/CHEER/REPEAT | FIDIL GHORM
March 16th: A GREYHOUND OF A GIRL | AMONGST THE WOLVES | DAVID KEENAN: WORDS ON CANVAS | MRS ROBINSON
A Q&A session will follow a selection of screenings with Cast/Crew from the Films, Click a film below for more info & to Book Tickets
Four Mothers
Director Darren Thornton will participate in a short Q&A after this screening.
| Screening Time | March 14th @ 1pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Edward, a novelist saddled with caring for his elderly mother, finally finds himself on the brink of literary success. With pressure to go on a US book tour mounting, the last thing Edward needs is his friends jetting off to Spain for an impromptu Pride holiday, leaving their mothers on his doorstep! Over a chaotic weekend, he has to juggle his burgeoning career with the care of four eccentric, combative, and wildly different ladies. |
| Runtime: | 89 Minutes |
| Production Company | Port Pictures, Portobello Films and Television |
| Cast: | James Mcardle; Fionnula Flanagnan; Dearbhla Molloy; Paddy Glynn; Stella Mccusker; Niamh Cusack |
| Crew: | Director: Darren Thornton Writer: Darren Thornton, Colin Thornton Producer: Eric Abraham, Jack Sidey, Martina Niland Tom Comerford ISC (DOP); Gary Dollner ACE (Editor); Gretta Ohle (Editor); Stephen Rennicks & Hugh Drumm (Composer); Celine Haddad (Executive producer); Niamh Fagan (Executive producer); Philip Prettejohn (Executive producer) |
King Frankie
Writer/Director Dermot Malone & Producer Matt D’Arcy will participate in a Q&A after this screening
| Screening Time | March 14th @ 6.30pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A Dublin Taxi driver is confronted with his shameful past on the day of his father’s removal. As the day unfolds, he seeks to resolve his previous actions, but in order to do so, he must first forgive himself. |
| Runtime: | 95 Minutes |
| Production Company | Banjoman Films |
| Cast: | Peter Coonan, Olivia Caffrey, Owen Roe, Rob Malone, Ruairi O’Connor, Conor MacNeil, Alan Mahon, Lynn Rafferty, Rejjie Snow |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer: Dermot Malone Producer: Matt D’Arcy Luke Jacobs (DOP), Rob Hegarty (Editor), Gabha Studios (Post Production) |
Fidil Ghorm | Blue Fiddle
SCREEN 2 { Irish language Film with English Subtitles }
| Screening Time | March 15th @ 11am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Molly is looking for Magic Only Music Can Awaken |
| Runtime: | 84 Minutes |
| Production Company | Abu Media Film Productions |
| Cast: | Edith Lawlor, Barry McGovern, Siobhan O’Kelly, Ruadhan O Flatharta |
| Crew: |
Director: Anne Mc Cabe Writer: Patricia Forde Producers: Bríd Seoighe / Pierce Boyce DoP: Ronan Fox | Editor: Eoin Mc Donagh |
Bríd Seoighe & Pierce Boyce are the driving force behind multi award winning Irish Production company Abú Media
Kathleen Is Here
| Screening Time | March 15th @ 3pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A damaged teen ages out of foster care. Alone and desperate for a mother figure, she sets out on a destructive path to find one. |
| Runtime: | 95 Minutes |
| Production Company | Treasure Entertainment |
| Cast: | Hazel Doupe, Clare Dunne, Peter Coonan, Aaron Monaghan, Liadán Dunlea, James McGowan |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer: Eva Birthistle Producer: Claire McCaughley |
Eva Birthistle – Eva is best known as a multi-award-winning actress. Her 25-year career has seen her work with directors including Ken Loach (Ae Fond Kiss), Neil Jordan (Breakfast On Pluto) & John Crowley (Brooklyn). She currently plays Ursula in Sharon Horgan’s AppleTV+ series BAD SISTERS. Having recently turned her hand to writing and directing, her short film KATHLEEN WAS HERE (2020) earned Eva the Indie Corks Best Emerging Irish Female Director Award & IMDB New Filmmaker Award. KATHLEEN IS HERE (2024) Is Eva’s directorial feature debut which recently had its World Premiere at the Raindance Film Festival London and its Irish Premiere at Galway Film Fleadh, where Eva won the Bingham Ray New Talent Award.
Claire McCaughley is a Producer working at Treasure Entertainment in Dublin. She produced actor Eva Birthistle’s debut feature KATHLEEN IS HERE, which premiered at Raindance Film Festival (2024) and Hugh O’Conor’s feature debut Metal Heart (2018). Other producer credits include the TV drama series TRIAL OF THE CENTURY for TV3, GREEN IS THE COLOUR (2012) a 4 part documentary series on the history of Irish soccer, YOUR BAD SELF (2009) 6 part comedy sketch series, awards winning short films CROSSWORD (2010) , SPECIAL ED (2010) and AN COSC (2009). As Head of Production she works across Treasure’s busy feature and TV slate including recent titles such as John Carney’s FLORA & SON which premiered at Sundance 2023 and sold to Apple TV, three seasons of the BBCS/RTE award winning drama series SMOTHER, Paddy Breathnach’s VIVA (2015), John Butler’s HANDSOME DEVIL (2016) and THE STAG (2013), GOOD VIBRATIONS (2012). She is a graduate of The National Film School and completed the EAVE European Producers programme in 2016.
Eat / Sleep / Cheer / Repeat
Director Tanya Doyle / Producer Daniel Hegarty will participate in a Q&A after this screening!
| Screening Time | March 15th @ 5pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Blood, sweat, tears & sparkle. Welcome to the spectacular world of competitive cheerleading in Ireland |
| Runtime: | 87 Minutes |
| Production Company | Marmalade Films |
| Cast: | Jessica Treacher, Jayleesa Cunningham, Dean Murray, Bláthnaid Kelly, Hilton Holian, Taylor Flynn, Rickie Kavanagh |
| Crew: |
Director: Tanya Doyole Writer: Tanya Doyle, Daniel Hegarty Producer: Daniel Hegarty, Sinéad Ní Bhroin |
Tanya Doyle – Heralded by the Irish Times as “a chronicler of the ordinary” Tanya Doyle is a multi-award-winning Irish director. Hailing from working- class West Dublin, Tanya’s work is characterised by strong personal narratives driven by a powerful visual sensibility and offers a unique and under-represented perspective on cinematic storytelling. After honing her skills and visual style in the Production and Camera departments of prestigious productions, including the Oscar-winning ONCE, Tanya established her credentials as an award-winning documentary filmmaker with THE HOUSE, her directorial debut for television. Following the success of The House, Tanya directed the “insightful, original and innovative” six-part documentary series BIA DUCHAIS, exploring the history of Irish food. Her multi-award-winning creative short documentary WATERLILIES -a meditation on identity and wisdom- had its US Premiere at AFI Docs and was a hit with audiences young and old. It has been broadcast in Ireland and on TVO, Canada.
Daniel Hegarty is Managing Producer of Marmalade Films, the award-winning independent production company with an international outlook; focusing on high-quality creative documentaries for Irish and international audiences. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Daniel has built a broad portfolio of experience in production and post-production from commercials to TV series to feature-length documentaries working in Ireland and internationally. Daniel is a member of the Factual & Entertainment Committee of Screen Producers Ireland, and an alumnus of the EAVE Producer’s Workshop, 2021. As Managing Producer at Marmalade Films Daniel is responsible for driving Marmalade’s core focus: creative, character driven storytelling.
Amongst The Wolves
| Screening Time | March 16th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | On the streets of Dublin, Danny–a homeless man grappling with the ghosts of his past–finds himself caught in a cycle of despair and survival. Haunted by memories of his time serving in the Royal Irish Army in Afghanistan, Danny’s life takes a turn when he encounters Will, a young teenager on the run from a dangerous drug gang. Despite his own inner turmoil, Danny takes Will under his wing, forming a fragile yet profound bond with him. With Power and his ruthless gang closing in, Danny must confront his own inner demons and battle the demons of the past in order to protect Will. Danny’s journey of redemption culminates in a confrontation with Power, forcing him to confront the trauma that has haunted him for so long. Danny discovers that even amidst the darkest of circumstances, there is still hope to be found |
| Runtime: | 100 Minutes |
| Production Company | Bread & Circus Productions |
| Cast: | Aidan Gillan, Luke McQuillan, |
| Crew: |
Director: Mark O’ Connor Writer: Luke McQuillan & Mark O’ Connor Producer: Jeff O’ Toole |
A Greyhound Of A Girl
SCREEN 2 – This is a discounted screening {$5 a ticket} to support our Children’s Programming
| Screening Time | March 16th @ 11am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Four generations of women travelling on a midnight car journey. |
| Runtime: | 85 Minutes |
| Production Company | Paul Thiltges Distributions, Aliante, JAM Media |
| Cast: | Brendan Gleeson, Rosaleen Linehan, Sharon Horgan |
| Crew: |
Director: Enzo D’Alo Writer: Enzo D’Alo, Roddy Doyle, Dave Ingham Producer: Adrien Chef, Paul Thiltges |
David Keenan – Words on Canvas
{ Irish language Film with English Subtitles }
| Screening Time | March 16th @ 12pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | 500 days in the life of a true troubadour |
| Runtime: | 66 Minutes |
| Production Company | Tua Films |
| Cast: | David Keenan |
| Crew: |
Director / Writer: Paddy Hayes Producers: Aisling Ní Fhlaithearta / Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha |
Mrs Robinson
| Screening Time | March 16th @ 5pm- Tickets Here |
| Summary | MRS ROBINSON tells the inspirational life story of change-maker Mary Robinson: Ireland’s first female President, a pioneering UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the successor of Nelson Mandela as Chair of The Elders. |
| Runtime: | 94 Minutes |
| Production Company | Loosehorse Film |
| Cast: | Mrs Mary Robinson |
| Crew: |
Director: Aoife Kelleher Producers: Trisha Canning Cormac Hargaden Director Of Photography: Matthew Kirrane Sound Colm O’meara Music Composers Hugh Rodgers & Ray Harman Executive Producers: Pat Mitchell, Geralyn Dreyfous, Regina K. Scully, Lyn Lear, Melony & Adam Lewis, Bill & Ruth Ann Harnisch, Niamh Fagan, Post Production Screen Scene Editors: Juangus Dinsmore & Paul Mullen
|
March 14th: Panel Discussion: The Future of Indie @ 3pm
The Future of Indie: As the ground shifts beneath the film industry worldwide, what does this uncertain future hold for indie films and their creators?
Featuring: Kirsten Sheridan (Oscar-nominated writer/director), Steven Davenport (Screen Ireland / Industry Expert), Kip Konwiser (Award-winning producer), Diarmaid McGrath (Film & TV producer)
Kirsten Sheridan Kirsten Sheridan is an Oscar and Golden Globe nominated writer, a studio feature director, and an independent producer. She co-founded The Factory, Ireland’s premier filmmaking collective, and currently works in film and television in Los Angeles. Born into a family of filmmakers, Kirsten spent her childhood immersed in the theater world, spending all her free time backstage and in the lighting box at the Irish Arts Center in New York. At 12 years old, her first film experience was on set playing Daniel Day Lewis’s little sister in the Oscar-winning film My Left Foot. She went on to graduate with a Distinction from Ireland’s National Film School. As a teenager Kirsten won The Film Institute of Ireland/Guinness Outstanding Young Irish Talent Award and The Miramax Best Irish Screenplay Award. At 26 years old, she made her directorial debut with the independent feature Disco Pigs. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and was nominated for the Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award. Sheridan was nominated for Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards, and the Irish Film and Television Awards. She won Best Director at the Giffoni Film Festival. Kirsten’s first studio feature film as a writer garnered her an Academy Award nomination along with her father, director Jim Sheridan, and her sister, writer Naomi Sheridan. The semi-autobiographical film, In America was nominated for 3 Oscars, 7 Critics Choice Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, 1 Writers Guild of America Award, 2 National Board of Review Awards, 2 New York Film Critic Awards, 6 Independent Spirit Awards, 3 British Independent Film Awards, a SAG Award, and a Humanitas Prize. Actors Samantha Morton and Djimon Housou were both Oscar nominated. It launched the career of newcomer Sarah Bolger. The film won the AFI Movie of the Year Award, AFI Fest Audience Award, and a PGA Award. For her writing, Kirsten won a Critics Choice Award, a National Board of Review Award, a New York Film Critics Award, and a Christopher Award. At 29 years old, Kirsten directed her first studio feature, the Warner Brothers modern fairytale August Rush, the cherished story of an orphaned musical prodigy who uses his gift to find his birth parents. The film starred veteran actor and comedian Robin Williams, renowned actors Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Freddie Highmore, and the freshly Oscar nominated Terrence Howard. It launched the career of Alex O’Laughlin. August Rush placed in the top ten at the American Box Office, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Original Soundtrack and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. In 2010 Kirsten co-founded The Factory with fellow film directors John Carney and Lance Daly. The Factory was Ireland’s first filmmakers collective. A place for filmmakers created by filmmakers that birthed a new wave of Irish talent. There, Sheridan directed Dollhouse, an experimental film, featuring a cast of complete unknowns, with the dialogue and action being discovered by the actors and improvised live during shooting. It was Jack Reynor and Seana Kerslake’s first film, both of whom immediately went on to gain multiple leading roles internationally. Dollhouse premiered in Berlin and SXSW, won the Best Acting Award at the Odesa Film Festival, won the Innovation Award at the New York Irish Film Festival and Best International Feature at the Lund Film Festival. Over the last 20 years Sheridan has written feature film scripts, television episodes, adaptations, revisions and rewrites. She has worked with HBO, Amazon Studios, Fox Searchlight, Warner Brothers, Universal Content Productions, Peacock, FX, Harpo, Working Title, Color Force, Gold Circle, Sky and more. Kirsten has adapted books from such authors as Roddy Doyle, Sue Monk Kidd and Cecilia Aherne. She has written biopics on such people as Amy Winehouse, Joe Strummer, and Olga Korbut. Sheridan currently lives in Los Angeles, working in film and television, raising her three kids, and mentoring up and coming talent. Through her latest venture, The Programme LA, she is hoping to create a home for a new wave of talent, and also for her three kids, whom she encouraged to become accountants and lawyers, but has since been forced to accept the fact that they will live a life in the arts. Kip Konwiser For nearly four decades, Kip Konwiser has made innovative entertainment of the highest quality and demonstrated prescience for entertainment and cultural trends. His dozens of credits across feature films, TV series, documentaries, interactive multimedia, live events, and music & dance have been financially profitable & garnered distinctive awards worldwide. Konwiser has collaborated and partnered with luminaries such as Kenny Ortega, Quincy Jones, Peter Guber, Jon Avnet, Whoopi Goldberg, Penny Marshall, David Falk, Laurence Mark, Magic Johnson, the Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Chuck D, Dr. Dre & Snoop, Oliver Stone, Reggie Hudlin, Laurence Fishburne, Tiffany Haddish among many others. With a broad skill set as both a senior management business executive and creative artist, Konwiser has helped to raise the profile of many of the world’s top brands in entertainment, sports and music, including Legendary Pictures, Blizzard Entertainment, NIKE, Mandalay Sports Entertainment, Burton Snowboards, Gatorade, TapouT, And 1, General Electric, Virgin Enterprises, and the estates of Roy Rogers, Duke Ellington & John Coltrane to name just a few. Kip has earned an impressive array of industry awards and honors along the way, including the Prime-Time Emmy Award for Best Picture on two separate occasions, the NAACP Image Award, the Humanitas Prize & the Producer’s Guild of America’s Producer of the Year Award. He has earned Best Picture, Audience Award or Grand Jury Prizes at many of the nation’s top festivals including AFI Fest, the New York Festival, Pan African Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, Napa Valley Film Festival, Worldfest Houston, Chinese American Film Festival, Golden Rooster Awards, CINE Gold Eagle, and many others. Whether designing the underlying foundation of new business ventures, constructing debt and equity financing, teaching & mentoring students around the world or producing and directing award winning film & TV content, Kip Konwiser continues to prove himself as renaissance man of the entertainment world. Diarmaid McGrath Diarmaid McGrath is the Chief of Staff at Thunder Road Films, the producers of Sicario, Wind River, and the John Wick franchise, based in Los Angeles. Originally from County Wexford, Ireland, McGrath specializes in independent features and international co-productions. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has worked on a diverse slate of films, ranging from festival darlings to commercial genre movies. Before joining Thunder Road Films in 2022, McGrath worked in independent cinema in Germany and later spent several years at Studio Babelsberg in Berlin. Steven Davenport Currently the Head of US Production and Partnerships at Screen Ireland with the responsibility of establishing a Screen Ireland presence in Los Angeles, since 2021. Prior to relocating, preformed as Inward Production Manager at Screen Ireland for previous 5 years, overseeing a significant increase in related expenditure in Irish Screen Industry. Steven joined the board of AFCI in 2020 and has been the current treasurer of the global members association for film commissioners since 2023. Prior to joining Screen Ireland worked as a nationally and internationally recognised line producer, production manager and location manager in the Irish Screen Industry with over 25 years industry experience.
Kirsten Sheridan
Kip Konwiser
Diarmaid McGrath
Steven Davenport
March 14th: 4.30pm | New Voices | {80 mins}
Short Films Screening: Clodagh | Calf | Turnaround | Ogham | Room Taken
Room Taken & Clodagh were both Shortlisted for Best Academy Award for Short Film 2025
A Q&A session will follow the screening with a selection of Cast/Crew including TJ O'Grady Director of Room Taken
Clodagh
Shortlisted for Best Academy Award for Short Film 2025
| Screening Time | Clodagh is screening as part of New Voices – March 14th @ 4.30pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A lonely priest’s housekeeper encounters a young Irish girl of exceptional promise |
| Runtime: | 17 Minutes |
| Production Company | Afternoon Pictures |
| Cast: | Bríd Ní Neachtain, Katelyn Rose Downey, Jim Kitson and Aidan O’ Hare |
| Crew: |
Director: Portia A. Buckley Writers: Michael Lindley & Portia A. Buckley Producer: Michael Lindley DoP: Jomo Fray | Editor: Harry Cepka |
Calf
| Screening Time | Calf is screening as part of New Voices – March 14th @ 4.30pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A sinister farm accident leaves Cáit with a terrible decision to make. |
| Runtime: | 15 Minutes |
| Production Company | Carbonated Comet Productions |
| Cast: | Isabelle Connolly, Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, Stephen Hogan |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer: Jamie O’Rourke Producer: Ronan Cassidy DoP: Colm Hogan| Editor: Simon Smith |
Jamie O’Rourke – Based in Dublin, Ireland. Studied Psychology before training and working as a film editor for 7 years. His first short as writer and director, Scrap, was nominated for an IFTA in 2022 and screened in competition at the 2023 Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival. His second film, Calf, was commissioned and funded by Screen Ireland & Virgin Media and has screened around the world. It is Oscar long-listed for 2025 after winning at Huesca IFF, won an IFTA in April 24, and has screened at Palm Springs in the Midnight Shorts category, Fantastic Fest TX and at Oscar qualifying festivals in Melbourne, Busan SK, Brussels, Tampere, OFF Odense, InterFilm Berlin, Calgary International and BAFTA festivals Aesthetica, London Short FF, Bolton, Indie Cork.
TURNAROUND
| Screening Time | Turnaround is screening as part of New Voices – March 14th @ 4.30pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Following a sudden, tragic bereavement, a West Cork cleaner must decide if she will uphold a tightly hidden secret whilst navigating the fast-paced pressures of a tourist property turnaround. |
| Runtime: | 17 Minutes |
| Production Company | Arcade Film |
| Cast: | Claire Rushbrook, Ebimie Anthony |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer: Aisling Byrne Producer: Killian Coyle |
Ogham
| Screening Time | Ogham is screening as part of New Voices – March 14th @ 4.30pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A bereaved father ekes out a lonely caveman-like existence until injury forces him to return to civilization through a dangerous and starving countryside. |
| Runtime: | 14.30 Minutes |
| Production Company | Hal Pictures |
| Cast: | Paul McQuad- Eoin, Kate Gilmore-Niamh |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer: Alan Hopkins Producer: Husni Hafid DoP: Piers McGrail, Editor: John Desay, Music: Gemma Doherty, Make Up Designer: Hannah Sullivan |
Alan Hopkins is a Dublin-based screenwriter, director, and founder of HAL Pictures. His work focuses on telling stories from the margins of society, often exploring the lives of individuals whose experiences remain outside the mainstream. For Alan, filmmaking serves as a powerful tool to shed light on both historical and contemporary issues, with the goal of provoking thought and challenging perspectives. Alan recently completed Ogham (2024), a short film produced with support from Screen Ireland’s Focus Shorts scheme. As writer and director, Ogham represents the continuation of his commitment to nuanced storytelling and visual expression. The film premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2024 and has since been programmed for festivals across three continents, with its festival run continuing into late 2024 and beyond. His previous directorial project, Jungle (2022), is a poignant reflection of his storytelling ethos. Set in Calais and centered around the European refugee crisis, the film premiered at the IndieCork International Film Festival and continues to be showcased internationally. Alan finds it humbling to witness how audiences from different cultural backgrounds respond to the film’s themes. Alan’s formal training began at Ballyfermot College of Further Education, where he studied Cinematography, before progressing to The National Film School at Dun Laoghaire IADT, where he earned a BA (Hons) in Film & Television Production. His debut short film, Williton’s Way, which he both wrote and directed, marked a significant turning point in his career, enjoying a successful festival run both in Ireland and abroad. During his college years, Alan created The Thespians, a comedy web series where he wrote every episode and promotional sketch. Though it achieved moderate success, the series gave him valuable experience in writing lighter, comedic material, and it continues to gain traction on YouTube. In addition to his work as a writer-director, Alan has extensive experience as a director of photography, contributing to acclaimed Irish shorts such as 69 & Dead and The Beauty of Ballybrack, both of which were showcased at the Galway Film Fleadh and featured on RTÉ’s Short Screen slot. His work as a cinematographer has greatly influenced his directorial approach, where each frame becomes an opportunity to evoke emotion and immerse audiences in the narrative. Recently, Alan returned to The National Film School to pursue a Master’s Degree in Screenwriting. This has deepened his understanding of the craft and refined his ability to structure complex, resonant stories. His graduate work has only reinforced his commitment to telling stories that resonate on both personal and societal levels, ensuring that every project he undertakes holds meaning in the broader context. Alan’s career is deeply shaped by his working-class Dublin background. His years spent working in various service and management roles outside the film industry give him a grounded perspective that informs his writing and directing, bringing a sense of empathy and real-world understanding to his storytelling. At the heart of Alan’s filmmaking journey is a commitment to giving voice to the voiceless, pushing creative boundaries, and engaging with issues that matter. Whether through writing, directing, or cinematography, his films remain honest, impactful, and thought-provoking.
Husni Hafid is a producer born in Libya and raised in Co Sligo, Ireland. Husni is constantly looking to produce stories about the struggles of the human condition, using his life experience to bring passion and integrity to the stories he develops. He has a proven track record of bringing films to completion across projects of varying scale. Husni graduated with a B.A (Hons) in Film and Television production from The Irish National film School IADT Dun Laoghaire. Husni’s debut production “Williton’s Way” served as his thesis film, which had a successful festival run culminating in a nomination for best screenplay in the CayFilm International Film Festival. Husni’s first funded short “Ogham” was funded by Screen Ireland as part of it’s Flagship shorts scheme “Focus Shorts”. Husni has also worked as a producer in theatre. He produced “Heartbreak House” by George Bernard Shaw, which had a successful run in the “10 Days in Dublin Theatre Festival”. Post his latest project Jungle, Husni is currently writing and developing scripts with Hal Pictures and external management that are based in Libya with the aim of introducing Libyan film to a wider audience.
Room Taken
Shortlisted for Best Academy Award for Short Film 2025
| Screening Time | Room Taken is screening as part of New Voices – March 14th @ 4.30pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A homeless immigrant secretly takes up residence in the home of an elderly blind woman, leading to them forming a unique bond. |
| Runtime: | 18 Minutes |
| Production Company | Vico Films |
| Cast: | Gabriel Adewusi, Bríd Brennan |
| Crew: |
Director: TJ O’Grady-Peyton Writer: Michael Whelan Producer: Colmán Mac Cionnaith |
March 15th: 10am | The Auteurs | {90 mins}
Short Films Screening: Dublin Short | The Last of the Hand Weavers | The Enchanted Land | Dembaya | Gael Force | Two Mothers | Smothered
A Q&A session will follow the screening featuring Writer/Director Patrick O'Mahony & Composer James Ó'Ceallaigh of Smothered
Dublin Short
| Screening Time | Dublin Short is screening as part of The Auteurs – March 15th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | The Little Museum’s famous guided tour captures the history, hospitality and humour of Dublin in a much-loved romp through time and space. The Irish capital comes to life in this high-speed film, designed for anyone who has ever complained that history lessons are far too boring. |
| Runtime: | 27 Minutes |
| Production Company | The Little Museum of Dublin & The Coop |
| Cast: | Emma Moohan, Pauline Shanahan, Emma Norse, Fionn O’Dwyer |
| Crew: |
Director: Luke Gordon Writer: Trevor White Producer: Nayha Kalia, Trevor White, Claire Jenkins |
The Last of the Hand Weavers
| Screening Time | The Last of the Hand Weavers is screening as part of The Auteurs – March 15th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | As the last of his generation of Donegal Tweed hand weavers, Eddie Doherty tells his story |
| Runtime: | 11 Minutes |
| Production Company | 3Glasses Films |
| Cast: | Eddie Doherty |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer & Producer: Simon Barr James Dennison – Sound & Lighting |
An talamh faoi gheasa / The Enchanted Land
This is the US Film Festival Premiere for this film.
| Screening Time | An talamh faoi gheasa / The Enchanted Land is screening as part of The Auteurs – March 15th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | The Enchanted Land is a poetic exploration of transformation and identity, where an ancient Indian myth intertwines with Irish culture to tell the story of a king cursed to live as both man and woman, navigating love, displacement, and self-discovery across cultures and time. |
| Runtime: | 10 Minutes |
| Production Company | Cassette Vision |
| Cast: | Subhashini Goda, Pradeep Mahadeshwar |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer : Pradeep Mahadeshwar Producer: Adam Rael Crew: Daniel Bolaños Meade, Luke Faulkner, Dave Hughes, Aisling Doyle |
Dembaya
| Screening Time | Dembaya is screening as part of The Auteurs – March 15th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Forced to flee their African village due to war, a young girl and her family seek refuge in Ireland. As they rebuild their lives, they discover that home is not just a place, but a feeling they create together. |
| Runtime: | 2 Minutes |
| Production Company | JAM Media |
| Cast: | Mariam Diallo |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer : Borja Guillot Producer: Shauna Cullen Niall Mooney – Compositing Supervisor, Tiago Gil Batista – Editor, Nicolas Severin – Composer |
Gael Force
| Screening Time | Gael Force is screening as part of The Auteurs – March 15th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | In 1999, Irish national broadcaster RTÉ announced that its weather forecasters, would be replaced by attractive young television presenters. But the people of Ireland had something to say about that. |
| Runtime: | 8 Minutes |
| Production Company | Little Rose Films |
| Cast: | Evelyn Cusack, Lise Hand |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer : Tara Hegarty Producer: Roisin Geraghty |
Tara Hegarty is a Screenwriter, Director, and Producer with an MA Screenwriting from IADT and a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Producing from TU Dublin. As a writer, she has written for radio, theatre, and television, including the BBC Radio 4 drama, The Crossing and its feature film adaptation, The Lie of the Land which won Best Irish First Feature at the Galway Film Fleadh 2023. As Writer/Director, Tara’s short films include Muirgheilt , produced by Alleycats TV and funded by Northern Ireland Screen, selected for the Foyle Film Festival and Gaze Film Festival. Tara produced documentary filmmaker, Diana Cheung’s first short drama, The Girl with the Lion, which premiered at the Foyle Film Festival in 2023.
Two Mothers
| Screening Time | Two Mothers is screening as part of The Auteurs – March 15th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | An unusual bond compels an Irish mother to travel to war torn Ukraine in order to bring her former surrogate and her family to safety. |
| Runtime: | 12 Minutes |
| Production Company | Invisible Thread |
| Cast: | Cathy Wheatley and Ivanna Holub |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer : Anna Rodgers Producer: Zlata Filipovic DOP: Matthew Kirrane and Eleanor Bowman; Editor: Hugh Rodgers |
Anna Rodgers is a multi award winning director and producer from Dublin, Ireland. Her work often focusses on marginalisation, queer identity, sexuality and human rights. Her films have been selected for major festivals worldwide, distributed to cinema and broadcast internationally. Her latest film, ‘Two Mothers’, was recipient of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund which looked for stories on the theme of connection across UK and Ireland. Her most recent feature documentary ‘How To Tell A Secret’ funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, featured stories of people who are living with HIV in Ireland today. It screened at over 35 festivals worldwide including Frameline in San Francisco, BFI Flare and Sydney Queer Fest. It won Best Documentary at London Irish Film Festival and the LGBT+ Festival Poland. Her feature documentary When Women Won, released in 2020, captured the campaign for abortion rights in Ireland, winning Best Feature at Sydney Women’s Festival and Special Jury Prize at Boston Irish Film Festival. She won Best Director for Somebody to Love at the IFTAs in 2014, a documentary about relationships and disability. Her work has garnered her multiple IFTAs, three Radharc awards, and numerous Best Documentary awards. She has been nominated twice for the Iris Prize where her film Hold on Tight, about same sex public displays of affection, was highly commended, and was nominated for the Charles Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award for her debut feature documentary Today is Better than Two Tomorrows.
Originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zlata Filipović is Irish-based EMMY and IFTA award winning producer (‘The Farthest’). She is the recipient of Netfix Documentary Talent Fund 2023 for her flm ‘Two Mothers’. Most recently she produced IFTA nominated feature documentary ‘How To Tell A Secret’ which had a nationwide cinema release in Ireland, screened at over 30 festivals globally and was acquired by Netfix, RTÉ and Deutsche Welle.
Smothered
| Screening Time | Smothered is screening as part of The Auteurs – March 15th @ 10am – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Smothered delves into the thoughts of a man in a relentless descent into psychosis. As he grapples with life-altering news, his reality fractures and he must fight back to stay sane. |
| Runtime: | 17 Minutes |
| Production Company | A Running Commentary |
| Cast: | Timmy Creed |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer : Patrick O’Mahony Producer: Eoghan Hand, Ciara Guerin, Ben Parkin, Alex Bedford DOP – Ignas Laugalis, Composer – James Ó Ceallaigh |
Patrick O’Mahony, born in Clontarf, Dublin in 1986, had his world reshaped when his family moved to Ballyduff, Co Waterford. Amateur drama was central to this small village and sparked his interest in theatre, storytelling, and acting. He later ventured into filmmaking and post-production, where he worked with networks such as HBO, Discovery, and BBC as an editor on various documentaries. In recent years Patrick has focused his energy towards writing and Directing, having directed two acclaimed short films: “A Course in Miracles” and “Smothered.” His work reflects his unwavering interest in storytelling, theatre, and the arts. Currently, Patrick is gearing up for his next project—a feature film in pre-production—where he aims to delve even deeper into the complexities of life and storytelling.
March 15th: 12pm | The Futures | {83 mins}
Short Films Screening: I Found A Place | Quicksand | Written in the Stars | The Head on Him | To Break A Circle | Fuel
A Q&A session will follow the screening with a selection of Cast/Crew from the Films including Director / Co Writer Marc Cleary and Actor - Austin Spacy of Fuel.
I Found A Place
| Screening Time | I Found A Place is screening as part of The Futures – March 15th @ 12pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Fake it ’til you make it, that’s what Seán keeps telling himself. But how far will he go to cover his shame? |
| Runtime: | 8 Minutes |
| Production Company | Charmer Pictures |
| Cast: | Brian Gleeson, Bríd Ní Neachtain, Enda Oates |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer : Zoë Gibney Producer: Jo Halpin Carol Tormey – Director Of Photography, Arron Faye – Sound Design & Composer, John Murphy – Editor |
Quicksand
| Screening Time | Quicksand is screening as part of The Futures – March 15th @ 12pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Committed couple Sally and Nola are starting their family with Nola finally pregnant through IVF, but when Sal, a secretive sex addict, finds out that she is already pregnant, her world begins to spiral. |
| Runtime: | 22 Minutes |
| Production Company | Carbonated Comet Productions |
| Cast: | Pollyanna McIntosh, Siobhán Callaghan, Liam Cunningham, Kayode Akinyemi |
| Crew: |
Director: Pollyanna McIntosh Writer: Siobhán Callaghan Producer: Ronan Cassidy & Greg Burrowes Eleanor Bowman DoP, John Walters Editor, David Hughes Sound Designer |
Pollyanna McIntosh debuted as a feature writer/director with the social thriller Darlin’ which premiered at SXSW in 2019 and was nominated for Best International Feature at Galway Film Fleadh as well as winning at Sitges Film Festival, playing at Edinburgh International Film Festival and many other festivals internationally before its wide release. She went on to write and direct the horror comedy Getting Away From It All which features in the horror anthology Deathcember released by Epic Pictures in 2020 after garnering several festival awards. Upon moving to Ireland Pollyanna read actor Siobhan Callaghan’s script Quicksand about a woman in love but dealing with her hidden sex addiction and felt compelled to direct the edgy drama which will release in 2023. Since completing the film she has been attached to direct two upcoming feature films. As a writer Pollyanna also co-wrote the US crime drama script Reciprocal Beat with Tomer Almagor and is co-writing the comedy horror Jumper with UK-based writer James Campbell.
Written in the Stars
{An Irish Language Film with English Subtitles}
| Screening Time | Written in the Stars is screening as part of The Futures – March 15th @ 12pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Sean, a nine-year-old neurodivergent boy, faces a multitude of challenges when he decides to audition for the community play in this inspiring tale about defying the odds and overcoming one’s limitations. |
| Runtime: | 15 Minutes |
| Production Company | Sin E Films |
| Cast: | Ruarc Ó Confhaola, Lochlann Ó Mearáin, Grace Ridge |
| Crew: |
Director: Vincent Gallagher Writer: Seán Keely Producer: Sinead Ní Loideain |
The Head On Him
| Screening Time | The Head On Him is screening as part of The Futures – March 15th @ 12pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A Coming-of-age Dramedy about a young, biracial boy who moves to Ireland in the ’90s. He shaves off his Afro in order to fit in and it works…but then his Afro grows back, bigger and bigger, until it traps him in his room and he has to find a way out. |
| Runtime: | 15 Minutes |
| Production Company | Reckless Fascination |
| Cast: | Ethan Lieghio, Clare Monnelly |
| Crew: |
Director & Writer: Seán Gallen Producer: Ciara Gillan & Kevin Napier Cinematography: Rua Meegan; Production Designer: Tracey O’Hanlon |
Seán Gallen is an Irish/Martinican BIPOC writer, director, essayist and playwright — whose work has been featured in The Irish Times, at the Cannes Film festival as well as Smock Alley Theatre.
ReckFas.com An award-winning storyteller, Ciara has over 15 years experience in production. She has produced short films for RTE, Screen Ireland and Film Offaly, and content for The History Channel, Mattel, Netflix, S4C and Accenture. Kevin Napier has developed numerous show concepts and TV pilots for companies such as ABC, NBC, FOX TV, Amazon, and Showtime, and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Productions. He was also a writer for the FX TV show Married.
To Break A Circle
| Screening Time | To Break A Circle is screening as part of The Futures – March 15th @ 12pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A young man accepts an ill-fated job offer to construct a motorway straight through an ancient stone circle. |
| Runtime: | 11 Minutes |
| Production Company | ALT Animation |
| Cast: | Barry Simpson, Vincent Higgins, Aoife O’Connor, Finnian Garbutt |
| Crew: |
Director: Kalia Firester Writer: Dara McWade Producer: Tim Bryans Animation Director – Cora McKenna, Music by Eimear Noone and Craig Stuart Garfinkle |
Kalia Firester is a filmmaker and animator currently based in her hometown of New York City after several years of studying and working in the United Kingdom and Ireland. She received her BA in Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard College in 2020 and her MA in Animation at the Belfast School of Art in 2021 where she studied as a George J. Mitchell Scholar. Prior to directing “To Break A Circle” she was an animator for various film and TV projects ranging from documentary features to preschool shows. She is interested in crafting films about the changing relationships humans share with their environment.
Fuel
| Screening Time | Fuel is screening as part of The Futures – March 15th @ 12pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | An introspective, avant-garde short delving into Wayne’s journey- a recovering bulimic navigating the minefield of triggers while returning home for Thanksgiving |
| Runtime: | 12 Minutes |
| Production Company | Mist Media |
| Cast: | Austin Spacy (Hacks), Paloma Garcia Lee (West Side Story), Lisa Roumain (Avatar), Yusuf Nasir (The Prom) and introducing Colton Christy |
| Crew: |
Director: Marc Cleary Writers: Marc Cleary & Austin Spacy Producer: Nicole Rivera / Kimberly Cabral / Tim Jack Cooper Ulrich- DP (Billy Boy), Taylor Lipari Hassett- Composer (Deadpool & Wolverine, Into the Spiderverse), Yibo Kou-Production Designer (The Cure), Marc Cleary & Austin Spacy (Editors) |
March 15th: Panel Discussion - Script to Screen: The Actor's Role @ 2pm
Script to screen: The Actor’s Role; From casting the perfect player to bringing out their best performance, how do the pros behind the scenes use actors to bring their stories to life?
Featuring: Mat Raney (Writer & Producer), Karen Ryan (Casting Director) Daniel Adams (Director), Christopher Thornton (Actor & Screenwriter)
Mat Raney
Mat Raney
Mat Raney is a writer and producer living in Los Angeles, CA. He is the author of five novels, has written for film and TV, and is the creator, writer, and director of the STYX audio drama series.
Christopher Thornton
Christopher Thornton
Christopher Thornton is an actor, writer, and teacher. He is best known for his role as Shammy on CBS’ Magnum PI, running five seasons. Other television credits: The Lincoln Lawyer (NETFLIX), Presumed Innocent (Apple TV), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), History of the Word: Part II (HULU), Broke (CBS), Will & Grace (NBC), Santa Clarita Diet (NETFLIX), Speechless (ABC), Vice Principals (HBO), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Rules of Engagement (CBS), Lie to Me (FOX), My Name is Earl (NBC), Alias (ABC), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO). Theatre credits: Going to a Place Where You Already Are (South Coast Rep), The Men (Primary Stages, NYC), The Poor Itch (Public Theatre, NYC), Pyretown (Urban Stages, NYC), The Body of Bourne (Mark Taper Forum), Hamlet (Lillian Theatre), Waiting for Godot (Lillian Theatre, Dramalogue Award Best Actor), Misalliance (World Theatre). For 17 years he has been on the faculty of the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Hollywood where he teaches Scene Study, Script Analysis, and Audition skills. He wrote, produced, and starred in the independent film Sympathy for Delicious, directed by Mark Ruffalo, which won the Special Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Karen Ryan
Karen Ryan
Karen Ryan is a Casting Director based in Los Angeles. Her career started in front of the camera but she found her true calling behind the scenes in the fast paced world of commercials and is well into her 2nd decade in the industry. To date she has cast hundreds of regional and national spots and many high profile music videos, and several award winning web series and short films, and in 2024 added TV to her body of work- current credits include “t’s Florida Man” on HBO and “The Menendez Brothers true crime documentary on Netflix. Karen is a proud board member of the Commercial Casting Director’s Association. She has taught many workshops and classes over the years and has always enjoyed being a mentor and advisor to actors at various levels of their careers. Discovering raw, untapped talent and watching their careers go from strength to strength has continued to be a major highlight.. She is a two time Heller Award Nominee for Commercial Casting Director of the Year, by the Talent Managers Association. Karen was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland and now resides in Los Angeles with her husband and rescue dog, Sozi.
Daniel Adams
Daniel Adams
Daniel Adams is an award-winning American feature film director. He started his film career in 1989 when he co-wrote and directed, “A Fool and His Money” starring Sandra Bullock (released through Trimark/Lionsgate). While making that popular independent film, he was mentored by Norman Mailer, considered one of the greatest novelists of the 20th century. He is also credited with discovering Bullock, casting her in her first leading role.
Adams then went on to write and direct his second feature, the critically acclaimed “Primary Motive,” which starred Judd Nelson, Justine Bateman, Richard Jordan, John Savage and Sally Kirkland, for Twentieth Century Fox. His third feature, which he also wrote and directed, was a comedy entitled “The Mouse,” starring Rip Torn and John Savage, and released through Strand Releasing. His next film, “The Golden Boys,” starring David Carradine, Bruce Dern, Rip Torn, Mariel Hemingway and Charles Durning, was released through Lionsgate Films in 2009. Next, he directed the feature film, “The Lightkeepers,” from a script he wrote, starring Richard Dreyfus, Blythe Danner, and Mamie Gummer. “The Lightkeepers” was released through New Films Cinema in the spring of 2010. He then directed, “An L.A. Minute” which he also co-wrote with legendary satirist/journalist Larry “Ratso” Sloman, starring Gabriel Byrne, Kiersey Clemons and Bob Balaban. “An L.A. Minute” was released in theaters in August 2018 through Strand Releasing. He then co-wrote and directed, “The Walk” starring Justin Chatwin, Terrence Howard, Malcolm McDowell, Katie Douglas, Lovie Simone and Anastasiya Mitrunen. “The Walk” was released in theaters through Vertical Entertainment in June 2022. Earlier that year, “Panama” was released, a film based on a script he wrote, starring Mel Gibson and Cole Hauser.
His latest film, “The Panic” starring Cary Elwes, Colm Meaney, Justin Chatwin, Malcolm McDowell, Cristiana Dell’Anna and Anastasiya Mitrunen, is scheduled for theatrical release in at the end of 2025 through Blue Fox Entertainment. And later 2025 he is directing, “Jonestown” based on the infamous events in 1978 surrounding the mass suicide of 1000 cult members orchestrated by the Rev. Jim Jones. And in early 2026 he’ll be directing “Out of the Fog” a period action/adventure film based on his original script.
Adams is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. His film, “The Lightkeepers” was chosen as the closing night film for the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the opening night film for the Boulder International Film Festival, won the “Golden Angel” award (best picture) at the Los Angeles Chinese-American Film Festival, was named #2 Best Grown-Up Love Story Of The Year by AARP Magazine, and won the “Best Musical Score for a Comedy” award by the International Film Music Critics Association. His film “The Walk” has won over 50 film festival awards including best picture at the Boston Film Festival and was opening night film at Dances with Films in Los Angeles.
Also a historian, he is writing a biography of American patriot James Otis, Jr. and is preparing a television mini-series on the same subject entitled, “The Mad Patriot.”
March 16th: Behind The Camera Lens @ 1.30pm
Behind the Camera Lens: The stars get the glory, but here’s a chat with a few of the wizards behind the curtain who help bring the magic of the movies to life.
Featuring: Alan Smyth (Actor), Kemma Filby (Producer / Writer / Actor), Kelley Silverman (Production Designer), Zegan Doyle (Film programmer)
Alan Smyth
Alan Smyth
Alan is an actor, director and writer. He has appeared in every major theatre in Ireland, before moving to Los Angeles in 2006. He has appeared in many TV shows, a number of Independent films, and, over 100 hundred audiobooks, podcasts and advertising campaigns. He is currently preparing to go back on the road with the one-man play ‘A Night in November’, which has already played in a number of states across the US.
Zegan Doyle
Zegan Doyle
Zegan Doyle is a film programmer and has contributed to programming at SXSW, Outfest LA, Baby Teeth Film Festival, Fine Arts Film Festival in Bridport, and the Rubin Museum of Art. Doyle is a Film Independent Project Involve Programming Fellow and a Storytelling Institute Fellow with Canal+, the City of Cannes, and the Cannes Film Festival. Doyle earned their MFA in Screenwriting from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Kemma Filby
Kemma Filby
Kemma Filby is an Irish producer, writer, and actress. She is the CEO and co-founder of independent production company, Seasick Studios. She was listed on Forbes 30 under 30 for Hollywood & Entertainment in 2024. Kemma executive produced the SXSW Grand Jury-winning feature film Bob Trevino Likes It starring Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo, which is set to release in cinemas on March 21. She produced dark heist-comedy Above The Line starring Cedric The Entertainer set to release in late 2025. She created the independent TV series, Parallel, streaming on Amazon Prime. Kemma oversees Seasick Studios’ slate of five upcoming feature films.
Kelley Silverman
Kelley Silverman
Kelley Silverman has come to production design through a winding and unorthodox route, having had previous careers in art history & archaeology, medicine, and writer for a political nonprofit. She got her first taste of the industry as an Art Department assistant while living in London pursuing her Master’s Degree in Art & Politics. When production picked back up after the pandemic, Kelley dove head first and has since held many roles working on a number of features and short films as well as commercials as a production designer, art director, prop master, set dresser, prop stylist, with a speciality in greens and floral design.
March 16th: 3pm | The Contemporaries | {80 mins}
Short Films Screening: Wrecker | Call Me Nancy | Farmers!? | Eamon | Cat & Mouse | Yellow Belt
A Q&A session will follow the screening with a selection of Cast/Crew from the Films including Liam Fountain, Josh Harp, Rachel Rath, Brandon Price (Producer) Joey Falsetta (Director), Mollie Gunn (EP) all from Eamon and Writer Alan O'Gorman from Yellow Belt
Wrecker
| Screening Time | Wrecker is screening as part of The Contemporaries – March 16th @ 3pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | In the midst of the Irish famine, a father and daughter battle for survival. As the young girl strives to uncover the reality behind their means of sustenance during these trying times, she must come to terms with her father’s decisions and stand up for her convictions. |
| Runtime: | 14 Minutes |
| Production Company | Mixed Bag Media |
| Cast: | Sam Keeley, Cameron Barron |
| Crew: |
Director: Martina McGlynn Writers: Aoife Bradshaw Producer: Garret Daly Aidan Gault (DOP) Jack Dempsey McMahon (Music) |
Call Me Nancy
This is Call Me Nancy’s World Premiere!
| Screening Time | Call Me Nancy is screening as part of The Contemporaries – March 16th @ 3pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A widowed woman grasps a second chance at love despite the local nosey gossips. |
| Runtime: | 15 Minutes |
| Production Company | Séamus Hughes Films / A Rising Tide Productions |
| Cast: | Ally Ní Chiaráin, Donncha Crowley, Emma Eliza Regan |
| Crew: |
Director / Writer / Producer: Séamus Hughes Brian Durcan Cinematographer/Camera, Greg Burrowes , Sound. |
Séamus Hughes is an actor/director from the West of Ireland. He has worked in Theatre Film and TV for over 25 years and also writes for the stage and screen. www.seamushughesactor.com
FARMERS!?
| Screening Time | FARMERS!? is screening as part of The Contemporaries – March 16th @ 3pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | After an Irish farmer’s breakdown and death, his friends struggle to express grief. His ghost’s appearance at an estate auction finally releases their repressed emotions in unexpected ways. |
| Runtime: | 15 Minutes |
| Production Company | HAUS Pictures |
| Cast: | Seán Duggan |
| Crew: |
Director: Freddie Leyden Writers: Freddie Leyden / Clare Hoey Producers: Harri Kamalanathan, Jens Nielsen , Sophie Ede |
Originally from the west of Ireland, Freddie Leyden has spent the last 10 years honing his craft in London. His unique and exciting style of film directing is steeped in artistic and historical visual references. His films, which both reference art and are artworks in themselves, have made him internationally sought after. His film Santo made with the dancer and choreographer Botis Seva has won numerous awards including gold for direction at the 2023 Kinsale Sharks, and the coveted Vimeo Staff Picks: Best of the year. He was also recognised in the ‘Film Craft: Directing category’ at the 2023 Cannes Lions and shortlisted for the British Arrows New Director award 2023. In 2024 Freddie began a collaboration with the Mercury Music Prize nominated artist Bat For Lashes directing the accompanying film to her new album. The Dream of Delphi: A New Transmission. https://freddieleyden.com/
Eamon
| Screening Time | Eamon is screening as part of The Contemporaries – March 16th @ 3pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | A wayward drifter stumbles into the right place at the right time. |
| Runtime: | 10 Minutes |
| Production Company | Shangrila Studios & Unvaulted Films |
| Cast: | Liam Fountain, Rachel Rath, Jacob Lister, Jack Carlisle, Josh Harp |
| Crew: |
Director / Writer: Joey Falsetta Producers: Mollie Gunn, Liam Fountain, Joey Falsetta, Brandon Price |
Cat & Mouse
| Screening Time | Cat & Mouse is screening as part of The Contemporaries – March 16th @ 3pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | Disguised as a mouse, an inept thief makes an unlikely connection with a disgruntled waitress during a bungled diner robbery. |
| Runtime: | 10 Minutes |
| Production Company | SwanDive Productions |
| Cast: | Aoife Hinds, Peter Coonan, Gus McDonagh |
| Crew: |
Director: Michael-David McKernan Writer: Clare Monnelly Producer: Mícheál Fleming Cinematographer: Miguel Angel Vinas |
Yellow Belt
| Screening Time | Yellow Belt is screening as part of The Contemporaries – March 16th @ 3pm – Tickets Here |
| Summary | As his parent’s marriage falls apart a young boy develops an unrealistic crush on an older girl in his Taekwondo class. |
| Runtime: | 18 Minutes |
| Production Company | Rye Films |
| Cast: | White Belt – Cobhan O’Brien Dad – Dónall Ó Héalai Mom – Liz Fitzgibbon Master Lucey – Kieran Roche Wayne – Darren Stewart Yellow Belt – Niamh Spillane |
| Crew: |
Director: Allyn Quigley Writers: Alan O’Gorman & Alan Quigley Producer: Ais Malone Cinematography by Evan Barry Production Design by Ebun Oladeru Costume Design by Saileóg O Halloran Sound Design by Steve Fanagan Edited by Eoin McGuirk Music by Daithí Hair and Makeup by Jennifer Bowman |
Allyn Quigley is an Irish filmmaker based between Cork and Dublin. Since graduating from The National Film School in 2009, Allyn has directed a number of commercials, music videos and award winning short films that have screened at festivals around the world. In addition to this, Allyn has worked as editor on a number of high profile Irish independent films. The most recent being ‘Lakelands’, winner of Best Irish Film at the Galway Film Fleadh. In 2018 Allyn returned to The National Film School for an MA in Screenwriting, supported by a scholarship from the Warner Bros Creative Talent Programme. In 2019 Allyn directed ‘Moth’ which went on to win Best Irish Short Film at the Kinsale Shark Awards and earned him a nomination for the Virgin Media Discovery Award at the 2020 Dublin International Film Festival. Allyn’s most recent short film ‘Yellow Belt’ was funded as part of Screen Ireland’s Focus Shorts programme and premiered at the Cork International Film Festival where it received the award for Best Director. www.allynquigley.com Instagram @quigliest
Alan O’Gorman is an Irish writer based in Los Angeles. His debut short film, FOR YOU, starred Barry Keoghan. It won Best Short Film at the 2017 Kinsale Shark Awards, was nominated for Best Short at the 2018 IFTAs and was a Vimeo Staff Pick in 2019. His next short, CHRISTY, was a Screen Ireland Focus Short for 2019 and an Official Selection for the Palm Springs ShortFest 2020. CHRISTY has been adapted into a feature film with Screen Ireland and BBC Film. It premiere will take place at Berlinale 2025. He also writes fiction and has been published in various literary journals. In 2018, he was the winner of the John O’Connor Short Story Prize. Instagram: @alan_ogorman
Ais Malone is an emerging creative producer based in Cork and Dublin. Her filmography includes music videos and award-winning short films. Her notable recent shorts are ‘Findlater’ and ‘Yellow Belt.’ Funded by Screen Ireland, ‘Yellow Belt’ premiered at the Cork International Film Festival, where it earned the Best Director Award. In 2023 Ais was nominated in the Producer category at the 2023 Emerging Directors Award. In 2025 Ais will produce three funded short films through Kildare Co Co, Screen Ireland Focus Short and DLR Co Co. She has also been selected for X-Pollinator Incubator Programme that supports female, trans and non binary filmmakers. Ais has a background in social justice and a masters in Gender Studies. She works with Raising Films Ireland, managing Flexible Working Schemes aimed at supporting individuals to sustain their careers and to re-enter the screen industry after taking a caring break. Raising Films Ireland focuses on supporting and advocating for parents and carers in the screen industry. Ais recently embarked on a PhD with TU Dublin exploring Best Practice for making the Irish creative screen industries more inclusive and diverse. Instagram @maloneeeo
About CIACLA's Irish Film Festival Los Angeles
CIACLA’s Irish Film Festival in Los Angeles celebrates and showcases the rich history and culture of Ireland through film. It brings together the local Irish community and film lovers to experience the diversity and talent of Irish filmmakers. The showcase provides a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and engage with audiences, promoting cultural exchange and education. The showcase screens films with a curated selection of English & Irish {Gaeilge} language films from Irish Filmmakers living across the globe, while also celebrating the best in contemporary Irish film produced on the island of Ireland. The films selected for the showcase represent a diverse range of themes, styles, and perspectives, offering something for everyone. The Irish film industry has a rich history of producing critically acclaimed, captivating and thought-provoking films. From internationally awarded feature length and short films, dramas to heartfelt contemporary stories, Irish film has the ability to entertain, inspire, and educate audiences.
CIACLA’s Irish film festival in Los Angeles is a wonderful opportunity to bring the best of Irish cinema to the West Coast of the USA, providing a platform for Irish filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with new audiences. CIACLA’s Irish Film Showcase in Los Angeles provides a positive impact on the Irish film industry by showcasing Irish films to a new and diverse audience, helping to raise the profile of Irish cinema, promoting it to a global audience. This increased exposure helps to open up new opportunities for Irish filmmakers, both in terms of funding and distribution.
The Irish film festival in Los Angeles is an opportunity to bring the Irish community, friends, peers and colleagues together, fostering a sense of community and pride in Irish Culture. The showcase provides a space for filmmakers to network and connect with their peers, forging new relationships and collaborations, including Q&A sessions with filmmakers. This provides audiences with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the films and the filmmakers behind them. It also provides a platform for Irish-American filmmakers to connect with their roots and film enthusiasts to engage with exciting new content, while also strengthening the cultural link between Ireland and the United States.
IFFLA is currently Directed by Matthew Nevin, Managed by Jenn McGuirk and Coordinated by Jenny Minniti Shippey. We would like to acknowledge the original founders, supporters and directors of the Irish Film Festival Los Angeles including but not limited to Lisa McLaughlin Strasman, Marcus Fox, Pascal Ladreyt, Jan Kean, Deborah Kolar and many more —whose vision and dedication established the foundation for an Irish film festival in LA.
PICTURES OF #IFFLA24
Photo Credit Conor Duffy / Matthew Nevin
