X-POLLINATOR 2024

Course Profile

X-POLLINATOR is a cross-disciplinary professional development and networking initiative for female, trans and non-binary talent launched four years ago, setting out to help rapidly address gender diversity in the Irish screen industry. In late 2019, the inaugural two weekend event saw 140 participants, 37 sessions and 63 industry speakers inspire collaborations and networking amongst the next wave of Irish talent. Since then, X-POLLINATOR has run more initiatives and built a strong network of over 170 female, trans and non-binary talent. Many of the previous participants have gone on to collaborate and make work for the screen that has received funding and support, screening at multiple festivals and won awards. X-POLLINATOR was nominated for the Diversity & Inclusion Initiative Award at the Big Screen Awards 2023.

There is now a new generation of talent emerging since our launch, and we are delighted to announce our return to a large-scale event in order to bring this new generation into the X-POLLINATOR network.

Keeping our core principles of diversity and inclusion at the heart of what we do, we want to shift focus to a new, emerging, diverse group of writers, directors and producers, from multiple backgrounds and artistic disciplines.

We are seeking participants from various disciplines of film, theatre, performance, literature, comedy and visual art including both emerging and established female, trans and non-binary creative talent. The programme will take place over one weekend and aims to inspire collaboration and facilitate the forging of new creative teams and partnerships to foster the creation, development and production of new work for the screen. The initiative will also cover the business and practical side of creative screen content and navigating the audio-visual industry.

This initiative seeks to address the gender imbalance in the audio-visual industry while encouraging the cross-pollination of ideas and collaborative practices between art forms and creative disciplines outside of the audio-visual sector.

X-POLLINATOR 2024 will consist of a wide, carefully curated programme of talks, masterclasses, panel discussions, break-out sessions and keynote speeches from esteemed speakers and practitioners, sharing their approach and experiences to inspire and inform participants over one weekend. The initiative will also provide facilitated networking opportunities to make connections between participants and build the creative teams of the future.

X-POLLINATOR 2024 is supported by Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme and Coimisiún na Meán, in association with Creative Europe Desk Ireland and TU Dublin School of Media.

Schedule of Events

Learn more about the schedule of events for X-Pollinator 2024

Speaker Line-up

Learn more about the speaker line-up for X-Pollinator 2024

Participant Profile

• Female, trans and non-binary writers, directors and producers working in film, TV, commercials, online content, animation, documentary, theatre, comedy, performance, visual arts using film/video and writers with at least one credit including journalists, literature, comedy, drama, advertising copy who want to make work for the screen.
• Female, trans and non-binary practitioners in other roles (e.g. cinematographer, actor, assistant directors etc) who are interested in moving into writing or directing work for the screen.
• Male producers across all disciplines and with a range of experience are also strongly encouraged to apply.
• To facilitate a 360 view of the industry, we will also reserve a limited number of places for executives working in other roles across the screen industries (e.g. development, marketing, distribution, festivals etc).
• We want to ensure open access and diverse representation from across Ireland, and from under-represented groups.
• Criteria: at least one professionally produced piece of work either in film, TV, animation, - radio, theatre, visual art, dance, literature, journalism, comedy or other related forms; or other relevant experience.
• X-POLLINATOR 2024 participants cannot be former X-Pollinator participants.
• You must be available to attend each day of the event in February 2024.

Application Procedure

X-Pollinator 2024 is no longer accepeting applications.

If you have any queries, please email info.xpollinator@gmail.com

Social Media

Facebook: facebook.com/xpollinator

X: @X_Pollinator_

Instagram: @x_pollinator_

Hashtag: #xpollinator