IFTUK's St Patrick's Film Festival 2025
IFTUK’s St Patrick’s Film Festival kicks off this month. We will be exhibiting in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 16th March from our stand, where you are all welcome to come along and have your selfie taken with your favourite Irish celebrity! IFTUK’s selection of short films will be screened in the Irish Creative Collective Sessions Marquee hosted by the Irish Creative Collective. Programme of Films screening to follow.
Make sure you download the free IFTK App from the App Store, which will be packed with Irish films for you to screen for free! Full Programme of titles to follow.
The theme for this year St Patrick’s Festival and Parade is sustainability. We are delighted that Irish musician and filmmaker Nick Kelly, whose feature documentary The Song Cycle follows his journey from Dublin to the Glastonbury Festival by bicycle, will be travelling sustainably to Trafalgar Square this year. Nick will also be on his bicycle as part of the St Patrick’s Parade. His band Dogs will also be performing on the main stage in Trafalgar Square where clips of his film will be shown also.
Upcoming Workshops
IFTUK’s St Patrick’s Festival Masters At Work Tuesday 25th March 6.30 for 7.00pm, Century Club
In celebration of IFTUK’s St Patrick's Festival and in partnership with the Century, legendary Casting Director Amy Hubbard and her Associate, Heidi Lawry, will be interviewed by IFTUK’s Chair, Carey Fitzgerald, on all things casting!
BIFA winner, Emmy & RTS nominee Amy was nominated for two BAFTAs including one for her work on Jimmy McGovern’s critically acclaimed drama TIME 2. Television credits include the very popular LUDWIG, Jack Thorne’s BEST INTERESTS (BBC) whilst other television includes HIJACK for Apple TV+, BODIES for Netflix, Stephen Merchant’s THE OUTLAWS for Amazon/BBC and Amazon series MALICE starring Jack Whitehall.Films includes MUTINY starring Jason Statham, GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION starring Gerard Butler. Amy’s past film credits include Pablo Larraín’s SPENCER starring Kristen Stewart, GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE starring Emma Thompson and ALBERT NOBBS starring Glenn Close.
To book your free to attend place email julie@iftuk.com
More IFTUK St Patrick’s celebrations! In Partnership with and from the Wise Women Platform we will be presenting an online St Patrick’s Making It Happen workshop with renown, published Irish writers, including Denise Deegan, the Irish novelist & PAGE Award-winning screenwriter who tackles issues of loss and injustice, often through humour and Maeve Murphy, whose first novella “Christmas At The Cross” was serialised in the Irish Times, which she then adapted to the screen, writing and directing the multi-award winning “St Pancras Sunrise”.
There will be an opportunity for Q & A’s so put Tuesday 18th March 6.30pm GMT in your diary for what will be a lively and fascinating free to attend online workshop! Register your place at wisewn.com
Previous Workshops
MASTERS AT WORK: STEVEN GREENIELDS INTERVIEWS LINEN MILL STUDIOS FOUNDER AND GAME OF THRONES STUDIO TOUR CREATOR, ANDREW WEBB
On Tuesday, 18th February, international lawyer and filmmaker, and IFTUK’s non-exec vice-chair, Steven Greenfields, welcomed legendary studio director, Andrew Webb, to a lively interview in the company of a thoroughly engaged and well-informed audience in the beautiful surroundings of the cocktail lounge at the Century Club.
As creator of both Linen Mill Studios, where much of Game of Thrones was filmed continuously over an eight-year period, and the Game of Thrones Studio Tour, now Ireland’s biggest indoor visitor attraction preserving and sharing the Game of Thrones legacy for future generations, Andrew provided plenty of fun facts and stories, which we all washed down with lots of great questions, networking and cocktails.
“Thanks so much for a really enjoyable talk” - Catherine Cunning, Producer and Writer
“It was fascinating to hear from a person in the industry how suddenly you can become a part of such a grand project. It was lovely to hear him talk about his experiences and challenges in managing a set as versatile as the one in Game of Thrones.” - Matei Coniac, Physicist
"Thank you so much for this event, it was fascinating to hear about the studio's incredible journey and behind-the-scenes of the show" - Hannah Louie, Musician
“I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, as did my guest. He wants to be invited to all future evenings. I am really looking forward to my trip in May, to bring the whole experience to life.” - David Clark, Financial Controller
Photography by Rowena Medlow and Harold Greenfields
ONLINE MASTERCLASS IN CELEBRATION OF ST BRIGID'S DAY
As part of the IFTUK St Brigid's Film Festival and in partnership with Wise Women, we enjoyed a packed online masterclass from the Wise Women Platform. Sadly, because of the violent storms in Ireland resulting in no power or water, legendary Casting Director Maureen Hughes was unable to jump on. Producer Edwina Forkin & Global Distribution Expert, Tara Gaule thrilled the participants with their insight into the film & TV industry and their respective roles on TIS THE SEASON TO BE IRISH .
This is what the audience said:
"Thank you so much for sending , it was wonderful! Great to get all of your insight on things. It's a pity Maureen couldn't make - she is the Queen of casting in Ireland and has certainly paved the way for those behind her." - Tracy Coogan
"I really enjoyed the session and Q & A this evening, thanks so much." - Pat Garrett
"Thank you so much for adding me to the event, it was priceless! Amazing women in an amazing industry for sure" - Gillian Fischer
"I very much enjoyed listening to the discussion last night. It was so helpful to get a behind the scenes look at tv & film production." - Jackie Pulford
"Thanks so much for organising the talk last night—it was really insightful, and I took away a lot of valuable information." - Aidan O'Callagan
MASTERS AT WORK: IN CELEBRATION OF THE ST BRIGID'S FESTIVAL - MASTERS AT WORK: Nicola Waddell meets Julie Baines, Maeve Murphy & Farah Abushwesha
On Tuesday 21st January, IFTUK launched the St. Brigid's Festival in partnership with the Century Club, with a lively Masterclass. Nicola Waddell interviewed three of the film & TV industry's most successful filmmakers. Julie Baines, Maeve Murphy & Fara Abushwesha, who thrilled the audience with their stories of how they put together their productions in a challenging environment, followed by an informative and entertaining Q & A.
"It was so inspiring to hear how three women smashed through the glass ceiling, also do informative, particularly understanding how Irish and UK co-productions are put together." - Deidre Costello, Writer
"Thank you IFTUK for another brilliant evening. I learned so much and received good advice on the short film I am currently making." - Naimh O'Sullivan, Director
"I took away so much from this session and am looking forward to the next one, thank you IFTUK!" - Rory O'Neill, Film Student
Photography by Archie Friend
MASTERS AT WORK: STEVEN GREENFIELDS AND PETER CURRAN OPEN THE STORY VAULTS OF VISIONARY PRODUCER, STEPHEN WOOLLEY
On Friday, 4th October, IFTUK welcomed Stephen Woolley to a record crowd at the wonderful Century Club, hosted by former colleague and Vice Chair of IFTUK, Steven Greenfields, and interviewed by BBC Radio 4 presenter and IFTUK director, Peter Curran, with stories, smiles, lessons and laughs aplenty.
As well as several insights into his famous partnership with legendary Irish director, Neil Jordan, from the financing of their first film “The Company of Wolves” to the casting of "Mona Lisa" and "Michael Collins", Stephen had us all in raptures with tales from his own journey from cinema usher to chair of Bafta.
This was the first of a two part production, the second part to be announced in IFTUK's programme for The Irish Film Festival 13-17 November, coming soon…
“That was a great talk tonight…” - Maeve Murphy, writer and director
“An amazing evening… Stephen Woolley was an inspiration. I loved listening to his journey.” - Breandán O’Connor, actor and singer
“So generous with his thoughts and experience…” - Paul McQuaid, actor
“Very rewarding masterclass today. Thanks to you and all at IFTUK.” - Eugene Doyen, Senior Lecturer in Film Practice
MASTERS AT WORK: NICOLA WADDELL MEETS JOHN NOLAN
On the 17th September, IFTUK's Director of Sponsorship and veteran Show Runner & Executive Producer, Nicola Waddell, chatted with Global Industry Funding Expert, John Nolan, on the important subject of finding the money for Film & TV production.
A lively Q & A and networking followed, as the audience heard how productions such as “Tell them you love me!” with Sky, “The Masked Singer” with ITV, “Let’s Dance!” with RTL, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” with ABC, “I am Ruth”, “Help!” and “Frank of Ireland” reached our screens.
“So informative! John was incredibly generous with his time and knowledge. Though some of it was very eye opening and a little daunting it did not strip us of the hope that a great, though provoking, entertaining, innovative idea could find its way in this industry against the odds.” - Tracy Coogan
“Very good event last night. It covered a big gap in my knowledge of the funding process today.” - Eugene Doyen, Senior Lecturer Film Practice
“Thanks for inviting us to the excellent event on Tuesday – we enjoyed it very much. ” - Tatevik Ayvazyan
"John ‘can-you-see-it-on-the-side-of-a-bus’ Nolan generously and candidly tackled the business of funding with gentle humour and razor sharp insights, stuff you can’t just pick up. Brilliant." - Joyce Greenaway (Writer-performer-creator WHISK(E)Y WARS)
MASTERS AT WORK: Tara Gaule, James Braham & Joel Atley
Another packed MASTERS AT WORK was enjoyed by all at the Century Club this July. IFTUK’s Director of Television, Tara Gaule, had a lively & entertaining conversation with James Braham (former Vice President of Endemol Shine) and Joel Atley (Commercial Director at Hello Deer Productions).
The three Global TV Industry Legends shared their knowledge and experiences working on titles such as Father Ted, David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Luther, Sherlock, Death in Paradise, Wife Swap, The Inbetweeners, Kitchen Nightmares, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Doc Martin, amongst others.
Followed by an animated Q & A and Networking, the evening was an enormous success.
Photography by Bea Cook
“It was so interesting to hear how the business side of the television industry works, I will now be better prepared when pitching my projects in future.” - Sadbh Lyons, Screenwriter
“I love Masters At Work. I have been to all three so far and all have been totally different and equally fascinating. It’s great to see how IFTUK is expanding. I am looking forward to the next one.” - Jack Irwin, Actor
“This is the first time I’ve attended this event, please invite me to the next one as I’ve learned a lot and met some really interesting people this evening.” - Lorna O’Sullivan, Executive P.A.
David Arnold Interview with Peter Curran
On Friday 28th June, BBC Radio 4 Presenter, Peter Curran, interviewed the Grammy-winning Irish composer and musician, David Arnold, who thrilled the audience by sharing his insights on a creative life in the music, film, theatre & TV industries. David’s credits include scoring five James Bond films alongside acclaimed scores for Stargate, Independence Day, Zoolander, and the tv series’ Sherlock and Good Omens to mention a few.
Photographer Ajay Chowdhury
"David Arnold's conversation with the excellent Peter Curran was part of IFTUKs 'Masters At Work' was breezy and bright. From Luton to Los Angeles, the 2012 Olympics to 007 via Van Morrison, Don Black, Scott Walker and Sammy Kahn, Arnold was unpretentious yet enlightening." - Ajay Chowdhury, co-author Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films & global spokesperson for The James Bond International Fan Club
"It was an absolute pleasure to hear the stories, process and inspirations behind some of the greatest scores, themes and songs by prolific ( 5 Bond movies, Sherlock , Zoolander he’s done it all) composer, musician and great raconteur, David Arnold. Once again, hosted with wit and charm by BBC Radio’s Peter Curran . Thanks IFTUK for the invite. Looking forward to your next event." - Bunmi Akintonwa, Producer, Writer & Diversity Consultant
"Thank you IFTUK for a lovely evening, we found it to be insightful and the anecdotes were source a of discussion and left food for thought. " - Tania Freimuth, Cinematographer
VERDIGRIS, A CASE STUDY
On the 18th June in partnership with Wise Women and from the Wise Women Platform, Patricia Kelly (writer/producer/director), Geraldine McAlinden (lead actress) & Tania Freimuth (Director of Photography) shared their experiences on how they managed to create the multi-award-winning Irish feature film. With 5 IFTA Nominations, 9 Major Festival prizes and 10 Festival selections to date, the audience was thrilled to hear how this ground breaking film is taking the world by storm.
“What an inspiring story! This workshop was entertaining and enlightening. Congratulations to all involved.” - Siobhan Murphy, Executive P.A.
“Such an interesting evening, it has spurred me on to follow my dream of making my debut film.” - Aoife O’Sullivan, Writer
“I’m a big fan of Irish Film and it was great to hear the process involved in making and marketing an independent film.” - Lynne Raimbault, CEO, Picnics & Vines
MASTERS AT WORK: Adam Gee & Peter Curran
On April 23rd, BBC Radio Four Presenter Peter Curran met Adam Gee, Emmy and 6-time BAFTA winning producer and commissioning editor. Adam's latest feature documentary is ‘The Pilgrimage of Gilbert & George’, going out on Sky in May. His most recent scripted project is futuristic drama on which his fellow producers were Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Besides film and television, he has been a pioneer in digital and interactive media, with expertise ranging from multiplatform TV to AI. Adam has commissioned at Channel 4, Little Dot Studios, Red Bull Media and CAA (Creative Artists Agency).
Joe Comerford Career Interview
Sunday 19 November. Location: Century Club, 61-63, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6LQ.
BBC Radio 4 Broadcaster Peter Curran will interview the legendary filmmaker, Joe Comerford.
As an independent filmmaker in Ireland, Joe Comerford has spent more than 50 years giving a voice to marginalised people in Irish society. With a social conscience admirably evident, his work remains compelling and relevant. As his films have been made available again via IFI’s International portal and ahead of a rare cinema screening of the digitally restored Reefer and the Model at the Festival, this year’s recipient of The Súil Eile Award acknowledging an outstanding contribution to the Irish film industry, this event sees Comerford reflect on a singular career and a striking body of work.
