Women in Film and TV Podcast

Is the future of film on the Island of Ireland decentralised? On Thursday 1st December, WFT Ireland in partnership with Wexford Screen Writers Academy and with the support of BAI presented Producing Beyond the Pale. This lively industry discussion, covering all aspects of filmmaking outside of Dublin took place in the National Opera House, Wexford. This event has been made possible with the suppor...

This Winter, WFT Ireland announced that our chair Dr Susan Liddy has been elected as the President of Women in Film and Television International. In this conversation, which was recorded live in Brooks Hotel, Susan and outgoing President Helene Granqvist discussed the problems with the industry, as well as the work Helene has been doing for women in the screen industries, on a global scale, over t...

On the 7th of May, WFT and WGI collaborated on a very special joint event, Women Writing for the Screen: Strategizing for our Future which took place at the Museum of Literature Ireland. WFT Chair Dr Susan Liddy moderated a lively panel discussion on the opportunities available for writers over the age of forty with Liz Gill, Angeline Ball, Julia Berg, Ruth Spencer and Jean Pasley. This talk has b...

In this WFT Writers' Room podcast, WFT Administration Executive Gemma Creagh examines the ins and outs of adaptation with the very talented Suzanne Allain. Suzanne has written the screenplay for Mr. Malcolm’s List, which was released in cinemas this month. Shot in Dublin/Wicklow last Spring, this film stars Freida Pinto and Zawe Ashton and is based on Suzanne’s original novel. WFT spoke with her a...

On the 7th of May, WFT and WGI collaborated on a very special joint event, Women Writing for the Screen: Strategizing for our Future which took place at the Museum of Literature Ireland. WGI Chair and WFT Member Jennifer Davidson moderated a lively panel discussion on the opportunities available for writers in the world of soap with John Fox, Emma Keaveney, Rachel Kilfeather & Ciaran Hayden. This...

How can Neurodiversity enrich our industry? What does an inclusive set really look like? In the latest WFT Podcast, WFT Vice-Chair and DOP Jaro Waldeck was chatting with Anna Czarska and Caoilinn Handley about autism as well as the importance of making authentic films with autistic filmmaking talent in front and behind the camera. This event has been made possible with the support of the BAI. Caoi...

With the support of Screen Skills Ireland and in partnership with the Cork International Film Festival, last November, WFT Ireland presented a very special panel ‘In Her Own Voice: Spotlight on Crew’ as part of the First Take Industry Day. Moderated by our chair Dr Susan Liddy, this lively discussion featured director/camera woman Edel O Brien, Grip Hollie Tsan and DOP and WFT Vice-Chair Jaro Wald...

For our third event in our Crew Talks series, WFT is continuing the conversation when it comes to spotlighting the women working in the field of Sound. Irish Foley Artist Caoimhe Doyle and Oscar-winning Supervising Sound Editor Nina Hartstone talk about their experiences working in the industry – and how sound can elevate a story. This event has been made possible with the support of Screen Skills...

You’ll always remember the films you love by those iconic images on the screen. It’s the Director of Photography who captures these visuals, curating the aesthetic vision of a project. In our latest podcast, we celebrate the art form. WFT Vice-Chair, DOP Jaro Waldeck is in conversation with celebrated DOP Kate McCullough about the role, expertise and artistic input of a cinematographer on a projec...

In the latest WFT podcast our Chair, Dr Susan Liddy talks to four screenwriters/directors about their long careers in the industry. This Creating Sustainable Careers: Challenges and Opportunities panel will ask wider questions about how women can build and, importantly, sustain a career in an industry that has often been unwelcoming and ageist, especially to women. Ruth Meehan, Maeve Murphy, Geral...

In October 2017, WFT held a special masterclass allowing our members to gain a greater insight into the craft of editing from multi-award-winning editor Úna Ní Dhonghaíle – Belfast (2021), Ripper Street (2013) and The Missing (2014), The Crown (2022) and Philipa Lowthorpe’s BBC drama series Three Girls (2017). In this very special podcast from the WFT archives, we learn all about what makes an edi...

Producing POV: A Live Panel Discussion From spreadsheets to testing, from crew calls to creative choices – what exactly does it take to produce a feature film in the age of COVID? Last year, WFT spoke with two POV producers as well as Screen Ireland Development Executive Fran Keaveney about this woman-centered funding scheme. Hosting the chat was WFT Board Member and Producer Fiona Kinsella, who t...

On the 7th of May 2022, WFT and WGI collaborated on a very special joint event, Women Writing for the Screen: Strategizing for our Future which took place at the Museum of Literature Ireland. WFT Chair Dr Susan Liddy moderated a lively panel discussion on the topic of Breaking Into the Industry with Writer/Director Kate Dolan, Filmmaker/Editor Claire Byrne, as well as writers Lynn Ruane and Sinéad...

Would you like to learn about the avenues available working through the Irish Language? In this WFT Podcast, we explore opportunities for crew and highlight the careers of three women working in the industry. This panel features Sound Recordist and Mixer Mary Harkin; Editor Fionnuala Ní Chíobháin and Camera/Producer Christine O’Connor and is moderated by our Vice-Chair DOP Jaro Waldeck. This event...

If you’re scoring a film, it can be tricky to find the right music, and even harder to secure the rights. In the latest podcast, WFT Spoke with one of our Members, Dina Coughlan from Planet of Sound, getting her advice when it comes to locking down your project’s perfect music. About Dina Coughlan Dina Coughlan is a music supervisor based in Ireland who has worked on a diverse range of projects ac...

Last year, UK research suggests that the majority of the screen workforce come from ‘privileged’ backgrounds. At the Galway Film Fleadh 2021, Women in Film and Television Ireland and the Writers Guild of Ireland hosted a panel examining the intersection of gender and class in the Irish screen industries. This panel was moderated by WFT Chair Dr Susan Liddy, and featured filmmakers Carmel Winters &...

Panel Podcast: Celebrating WFT Members at VMDIFF Every year the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival brings a wealth of inspiring films, local and international, to Irish screens. The stories being told and the unique voices in this programme are as bold and impressive as ever. Last month WFT hosted a special panel to spotlight the vibrant work of some of our members, Writer/Performers...

RTÉ and WFT hosted a special online talk featuring the work of two women filmmakers, whose award-winning documentaries have been taking the festival world by storm. We discussed Iseult Howlett's The Grass Ceiling and Cara Holmes's Welcome to a Bright White Limbo with these talented filmmakers, who spoke about their work with producer and WFT Board Member Fiona Kinsella. About the Films: WFT Showca...

With the industry returning to peak levels of production despite the stresses and strains of COVID and the publication of Screen Ireland’s future strategy Women in Film and Television Ireland took stock in this panel discussion at the Still Voices Short Film Festival Panel last November. This socially distant event took place at the Dead Centre Brewery in Athlone and featured Writer/Director Roisi...

When it comes to Commercial TV Production, we aren’t seeing enough women directors working regularly within the industry. WFT held a focussed panel last November to explore how we can get more women directors on pitches and actually directing commercials. Giving an overview of the industry as it stands, we spoke directly to the agencies asking what they look for in directors. This live discussion...

In 2016, actor Seána Kerslake participated in WFT Ireland’s ’A Stronger Voice For Women' event at the Galway Film Fleadh. In this recording from our archives, she chats about her background in performance, her process and past roles. WFT Ireland spoke with Seána just after she filmed the lead role of Aisling in the RTÉ drama series Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope directed by Cathy Brady and written by Stef...

In the latest WFT Podcast, we explore the opportunities available for members through the Irish language. This panel features TG4 Commissioning & Acquisitions Editor, Laura Ní Cheallaigh; Director Rachael Moriarty; Filmmaker Martina Durac, and Emmy Award-winning Producer Siobhán Ní Ghadhra. The discussion was moderated by our chair, Dr Susan Liddy. This event has been made possible with the suppor...

In the latest WFT Podcast, listen to Board Member, DOP Jaro Waldeck in conversation with fellow Board Member Liz Gill about her work and career to date. Liz Gill is an award-winning screenwriter, director and producer, perhaps best known for her 2003 hit feature, Goldfish Memory. Liz Gill has directed a wealth of shows, from Eastenders to the Hardy Bucks and is currently story producing on the Net...

Earlier this year, WFT held a panel discussion, featuring our members who had work screening as part of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival. In a discussion led by WFT Board Member Fiona Kinsella, we spoke with Paddy Director Roisin Kearney, Hum Director Maureen O’Connell, Imprints Director Cathy Dunne, The Fear Producer Dawn Mac Allister and Guard Up Performer Laura O’Shea. Talkin...

An audio mix can make or break a film, but what does it really take to forge a career in sound in this industry? As part of our Crew Talks series, Irish Sound Engineer Aoife McHale spoke with Academy Award-Winning Sound Engineer Lora Hirschberg about her career to date and the artistry behind what makes a sound mix great. This event has been made possible with the support of Screen Skills Ireland....