Beyond Shorts: supporting the next generation of Irish talent
Posted: 15th September 2025
A fully funded three-day workshop with award-winning director Cathy Brady will give eight short film directors the chance to develop the skills of storytelling for feature film. With five of the places reserved for female-identifying directors, this groundbreaking programme tackles gender imbalance in the industry
Beyond Shorts is a new, fully funded three-day workshop designed to help short film directors make the leap into feature filmmaking. The first programme of its kind in Ireland, it gives directors dedicated space to work with professional actors on the unique demands of long-form storytelling, outside the pressures of production. Led by award-winning filmmaker Cathy Brady (Wildfire) and supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the programme will take place at Bow Street Academy, Dublin, from 28–30 October 2025.
Eight selected directors will collaborate with professional actors on a feature script case study. For many short-film directors, the leap from minutes to hours of screen time is significant. Sustaining story and tone at that scale, while working with a professional cast, can be daunting without practical experience.
Cathy Brady says:
Working with actors is one of the things I love most about directing, and with this workshop I want to share that joy. I want to encourage emerging directors to build a more open, peer-to-peer relationship with actors. Beyond Shorts is a space to practise, experiment, and even make mistakes, while building the confidence to lead with clarity and empathy — so they feel ready to take the next step in their careers.
The workshop will also include a guest session with Maureen Hughes, one of Ireland’s leading casting directors, who will lead a live audition demonstration offering rare insight into the casting process and the actor’s perspective. Participants will receive individual mentoring before and after the workshop, ensuring the experience is tailored to their professional needs and goals. To address the ongoing gender imbalance at feature level, five of the eight places are reserved for female-identifying directors. Inclusion bursaries will also be available to support parents and carers, helping to remove financial barriers to participation.
Producer Maeve Stone says:
The support from Screen Ireland for this programme is fantastic, and it addresses a serious need. While there’s been a huge shift in funding for female talent over the last decade, too often women find themselves circling in development or shorts without the opportunity to move forward. We’re not yet seeing enough of that talent transition to features. Cathy’s skills as a facilitator, combined with her hard-won industry experience, mean this intensive workshop is a brilliant moment to bridge that gap.
Commenting on the launch of the programme, Colman Farrell, Head of Skills and Professional Development at Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
We are delighted to support the Beyond Shorts Workshop through this year's round of the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme. Led by award-winning filmmaker Cathy Brady, this new programme aims to address the key skills needs of emerging directors as they transition from shorts to feature filmmaking. Screen Ireland is committed to the continuous development of an inclusive screen industry with creative talent at its heart. We particularly welcome the programme's focus on nurturing female-identifying directing talent and the availability of an inclusion bursary which will further expand access for participation.
Beyond Shorts: Transitioning to Features and TV Drama is supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme.
Applications Open: 15 September 2025
Deadline: 6th October 2025
Workshop: 28–30 October 2025
For more information visit: cathybradyworkshop.com