Connect with the Irish Screen Industry: Industry Events at the 37th Galway Film Fleadh
Posted: 7th July 2025
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is proud to support the 37th Galway Film Fleadh and the line-up of industry panels, events and masterclasses taking place for emerging and established filmmakers and industry professionals throughout the festival’s run.
In addition to a diverse line-up across the film programme – the industry line-up for the festival includes masterclasses, discussion panels, networking events, and the Fleadh Forum day on Thursday, 10th July 2025.
Fleadh Forum
Thursday, 10th July 2025, 10:30-16:00, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
Screen Ireland is proud to support the Fleadh Forum at the 37th Galway Film Fleadh. This day-long event is a platform to explore, discuss and share ideas about what is happening in the audiovisual industry, delivering a unique opportunity for filmmakers and industry professionals to come together and exchange news and views. This year's forum will feature a chat with producer Christine Vachon from New York-based independent production company Killer Films; a panel explore French-Irish co-production opportunities featuring the producers behind the arthouse success Anatomy of a Fall; a discussion on low budget regional productions with the creative teams behind Christy and Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story; and a panel giving insights into fostering the creative relationship between writers, directors and producers.
Learn more about the Fleadh Forum and register your attendance
Masterclasses at the Galway Film Fair
Friday, 12th & Saturday, 13th July 2024, The Galmont Hotel
Screen Ireland is delighted to support the Filmmakers' Masterclasses at this year's Galway Film Fleadh. The annual masterclass series at the Fleadh’s industry section, Galway Film Fair, offers screen industry professionals a unique chance to learn from experts in their respective fields, in an intimate engaging environment. Danish-Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi (The Apprentice, Holy Spider, Border) will deliver this year’s Directors Masterclass and a panel comprising of leading casting directors Maureen Hughes, Louise Kiely and Luci Lenox will join for the Casting Masterclass. Additionally, Irish cinematography JJ Rolfe ISC and gaffer Brendan Dempsey will lead a hands-on Cinematography Masterclass.
Learn more about Masterclasses at the Galway Film Fleadh
Job Share 2.0: Progress, Possibilities, and What's Next
Friday, 11th July 2025, 10:00-11:00, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
National Talent Academies are excited to be hosting a panel in collaboration with Raising Films Ireland, Screen Guilds Ireland and Screen Producers Ireland, for an in-depth look at the evolution of our pioneering Job Share Programme, one year on. This session is your inside track on how the initiative has developed, the impact it’s had across the screen industry, and where we go from here.
Moderated by Stephen Fagan (Studio Meala), the panel features insights from key Stakeholders and champions of the programme:
- Jess Whelehan (Screen Guilds of Ireland)
- Ananta Kaur (Screen Producers Ireland)
- Aislinn Malone (Raising Films Ireland)
- Jade Travers (National Talent Academy Crew East)
- + One More Panellist TBC
Whether you’re an employer, freelancer, or policymaker, this is a chance to learn how flexible working models like job sharing are shaping a more inclusive, sustainable future for the industry.
Learn more and register your attendance
SCGI Present Focus on the Composer
Friday, 11th July 2025, 12:00-13:00, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
Join Screen Composers Guild of Ireland for an exclusive chat with a selection of composers who have work being shown in Fleadh 2025. This panel will look at the process and creative techniques composers’ use in creating original score for film. Panelists include Dáithí, composer of Christy, Gemma Doherty composer of I Hope We Will Can Still Be Friends and Craig Garfinkle talking about the film he co-scored with Eimear Noone – Báite. Panel will be moderated by filmmaker Nuala O’ Connor (In Time | Donal Lunny). We will also welcome guest composer Alexis Grapsas. (A Quiet Place: Day One , Pig)
Learn more and register your attendance
Cut to Zero: Sustainability and the Irish Screen Industry Roadmap
Friday, 11th July 2025, 14:30-15:30, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
With 2030 emissions reduction targets fast approaching, the Irish screen sector is entering a pivotal moment. This panel brings together key stakeholders to discuss the roadmap for decarbonising production, the role of carbon data in meeting our climate goals, and how new policies and tools, including the rollout of Albert certification, will shape the future of the industry.
Moderator - Dr. Ciarán O'Carroll, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Board Member
Panelists:
- David Donoghue, Chair of Screen Producers Ireland
- Megan Best, CEO of Native Events and Co-founder of Julie's Bicycle Group
- Stan Nangle, Sustainability Advisor
- Trisha Canning, Coimisiún na Meán and Coordinator of the Sustainable Media Network Ireland
- Matt Scarff, Managing Director at BAFTA albert
Learn more and register your attendance
Culture Ireland / IFI International - Networking at the Fleadh
Friday, 11th July 2025, 16:00, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
Returning for 2025, this networking session is an opportunity for Irish filmmakers, producers, festival programmers and resource organisations to engage directly, discuss future plans and projects and hear about festival planning timelines.
The session will include a panel discussion with festival programmers in attendance followed by the opportunity to engage directly with them.
Learn more and register your attendance
Finding Your Story - A Panel Discussion
Saturday, 12th July 2025, 14:00-15:30, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
Finding your story (and committing to it) is at the heart of every filmmaker’s journey to the screen. What is it that convinces filmmakers that this is the story they need to tell?
Creative Futures Academy (CFA) is excited to host this special panel discussion with Rory Hanrahan, filmmaker & lecturer at National College of Art & Design, Dublin, exploring the search for stories with personal perspectives from animators & narrative filmmakers.
Guest Speakers:
- Esosa Ighodaro (Writer, Director and Vocalist)
- Olivia McLaughlin (Writer, Director and Producer)
- Caleb J. Roberts (Screenwriter and Director)
- Giovanna Ferrarri (Director and Head of Story)
- Josh O’Caoimh (Animation Filmmaker)
Learn more and register your attendance
Ardán Presents: Pitching for Games
Saturday, 12th July 2025, 14:00-16:00, Lough Atalia Suite, The Galmont Hotel
Learn how to approach and talk to potential investors and publishers in your video game project.
Presented in partnership with Ardán, this ‘Pitching for Games 101’ workshop will look at the basics of how to approach and talk to potential investors and publishers in your video game project, with specialist input from top-level international talent.
Chair - Eoin Butler Thornton
Panelists/Scouts
- Rebecca Lautner – CBO bei Landfall Games
- K.A Pedersen – Head Game Scout at Fireshine Games
- Frank Meijer – Game Scout @ Focus Entertainment, Dotemu, and The Arcade Crew
Learn more and register your attendance
Producing Immersion: The European VR Landscape
Saturday, 12th July 2025, 15:30, Burren Suite, The Galmont Hotel
Join leading virtual reality producers and the project manager of the Words Across Europe virtual writing room to explore the development and financing of VR film across Europe, as well as the potential of immersive technologies as tools for collaboration. From navigating emerging funding streams to fostering creative collaboration in immersive formats, this panel offers practical insights into the evolving landscape of immersive media production.
Moderator: Conn Holohan, Director Centre for Creative Technologies, University of Galway
Panellists:
- Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, Wide Eye Films
- Gwenael Francois, producer Oto’s Planet
- Hélène Walland, producer The Dollhouse
Learn more and register your attendance
NTA Film & TV and WRAP Commission Producers' Panel & Networking Event
Saturday, 12th July 2025, 16:00-18:00, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
In early 2025, NTA Film and TV, in collaboration with the WRAP Commission, launched a new Mentorship Programme for Producers working in live-action drama and documentary. As part of our ongoing efforts to nurture and develop creative talent across Ireland, this programme aims to provide producers of varying experience, specialisms and backgrounds with meaningful guidance and support. By pairing mentees with experienced mentors, this new programme helps address skills gaps and supports career progression.
Building on the success of this initiative, NTA and WRAP are delighted to present a Producers’ Panel and Networking Event at this year’s Galway Film Fair (the key industry event at the Galway Film Fleadh).
Learn more and register your attendance
Pitching Competition in Association with Wild Atlantic Pictures
Sunday, 13th July 2025, 12:00-13:00, Ballroom 3, The Galmont Hotel
The Pitching Competition at the Film Fair, the industry market of the Galway Film Fleadh, provides screenwriters at any stage of their career with an opportunity to pitch their projects in an open industry forum. The Pitching Competition has given new screenwriters a platform to connect with the wider industry while filmmakers at all stages of development have used the Pitching Competition to attach producers, receive mentorship, and win development funding.
All that is required to enter is a 500-word written pitch of your project from beginning to end (no cliffhangers). Any genre of feature drama, documentary or animation will be considered. Finalists will be selected to pitch their project as an ‘Elevator Pitch’ of 90 seconds, in front of an audience and a panel of industry judges at the Galway Film Fair. The winner will be announced at the Film Fleadh Awards Ceremony and will receive a cash prize of €3000 sponsored by Wild Atlantic Pictures.
Learn more and register your attendance
X-Pollinator - Producer in Focus: Tina O'Reilly
Sunday, 13th July 2025, 11:00-13:00, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
X-Pollinator is thrilled to host a panel at Galway Film Fleadh with producer Tina O’Reilly. After recently world premiering at Tribeca Film Festival, her latest film Re-Creation, directed by Jim Sheridan and David Merriman, opens this year’s Galway Film Fleadh. Starring Colm Meaney, Vicky Krieps and Aiden Gillen, the film follows twelve members of a jury, in a fictitious trial, who must decide whether British journalist Ian Bailey is guilty of the murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan Du Plantier in 1996. Tina also produced Pat Collins’ highly acclaimed That They May Face the Rising Sun, adapted from John McGahern’s final novel which was awarded the Best Film IFTA in 2024, and made significant waves at the box office, passing €500,000 after only three weeks in cinemas.
Learn more and register your attendance
IFTA in Conversation at Galway Film Fleadh with Brenda Blethyn
Sunday, 13th July 2025, 11:30, The Burren Suite, The Galmont Hotel
IFTA is delighted to host a special In Conversation at the Galway Film Fleadh with Brenda Blethyn, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning star of film and TV including Secrets & Lies, Little Voice, Vera, Atonement and Pride & Prejudice. This event takes place on Sunday 13th July at 11.30am at the Galmont Hotel. Brenda will be attending the Galway Film Fleadh for a screening of acclaimed new film Dragonfly in which she stars opposite Andrea Riseborough, which screens at 3.30pm on Sunday.
Learn more and register your attendance
Short Film Exchange
Sunday, 13th July 2025, 14:00-16:00, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
The Galway Film Fleadh, Galway Film Fair, and NTA Film & TV are thrilled to offer live-action fiction Short Film Writers, Writer/ Directors, and Producers an exclusive opportunity to connect through one-on-one meetings on Sunday July 13th at this year’s festival.
Format:
- One-on-one meetings where writers can pitch their scripts to producers in a speed-dating format.
- Each meeting will last approximately 5 minutes.
- After the meetings, participants will have the chance to mingle and continue conversations in a more relaxed setting with NTA networking drinks from 4:00pm
National Talent Academies Networking Reception
Sunday, 13th July 2025, 16:30-18:30, Veranda Lounge, The Galmont Hotel
Looking to connect with fellow creatives and grow your professional network? Join the National Talent Academies at the Galway Film Fair for our 2025 Networking Reception.
Whether you work in film and television drama, crew, animation or visual effects, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet the Academy teams, hear about upcoming training and events, and connect with talent from across the screen industry. This informal gathering offers a relaxed space to build relationships, share ideas and spark future collaborations, with all career levels are welcome.
Learn more and register your attendance
Immersive Programme
Thursday, 13th-Saturday 12th July 2025, 10:00-16:00, The Galmont Hotel and Town Hall Studio
This year’s immersive programme features an expanded and exciting international line-up of innovative VR experiences. Curated in partnership with the Centre for Creative Technologies at the University of Galway and 4E Virtual Design.
- All I Know About Teacher Li (2024, USA)
- The Dollhouse (2025, Luxembourg)
- Emperor (2023, France)
- Impulse: Playing with Reality (2024, France)
- Mammary Mountain (2024, Ireland/UK)
- Oto's Planet (2024, Luxembourg)
- Sit Stand Smoke (2024, Ireland)