The seventh annual IFI Spotlight event, which will take place on Thursday, May 30th, will present a day of panel discussions, presentations and interviews gauging the current health of the Irish film and television industry. Providing an invaluable tool for students, industry practitioners and general audiences alike, this year’s programme will review the year’s film and television output, foreground a discussion on co-production practice, and finish with an end-of-term interview with the outgoing Chief Executive of Screen Ireland James Hickey, hosted by Hugh Linehan of The Irish Times.
IFI Spotlight stands as one of the key pillars in IFI’s mission to promote critical engagement with Irish film and television culture.
This annual process of independent review contributes to accountability within the industry while fostering a healthy Irish film culture, an informed production community and a cine-literate audience. IFI Spotlight 2019 delivers on all these fronts.
IFI Head of Irish Film Programming Sunniva O’Flynn
As in previous years, the day is split into morning and afternoon sessions. The day opens with a comprehensive review of film and TV output in 2018, conducted by Dr Roddy Flynn (DCU) and Dr Tony Tracy (NUIG). This will be followed by check-ins on provision by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Screen Ireland and IFI for increased gender equity in the industry and greater representation of women both on and off screen.
After lunch, there will be a panel, moderated by Niall Murphy of Scannain, that will interrogate Irish co-production practice. The panel will include amongst others Siún Ní Raghallaigh (CEO of Ardmore Studios and Troy Studios), David Collins (Samson Films) and Samantha Perahia MBE (British Film Commission).
The day will conclude with a wide-ranging interview with James Hickey, the outgoing Chief Executive of Screen Ireland, hosted by Hugh Linehan of The Irish Times. Hickey will reflect on his eight-year tenure and the future opportunities and challenges for the organisation.
Tickets for IFI Spotlight 2019 on Thursday, May 30th, are now available from the IFI Box Office on 01-6793477 and from https://ifi.ie/ifi-spotlight-2019/. Admission to either the morning session or the afternoon session costs €5.50, with an all-day ticket available for €8.50. A special lunch deal costing €7.95 will also be available from the IFI Café Bar.
The IFI acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council.
IFI SPOTLIGHT 2019 PROGRAMME
WELCOME (10.30)
Opening address from Professor Margaret Kelleher.
2018 IN REVIEW (10.40)
Dr. Roddy Flynn of DCU and Dr. Tony Tracy of NUIG will review the film and television output of 2018, considering the continuing presence of Irish talent on the world stage, discussing fresh new work in film and TV drama, and identifying new trends in feature film production.
CHECK-IN ON GENDER EQUALITY (11.50)
Annie Doona, Chair of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, will provide an update on the success of recent funding strands introduced to achieve gender equity across film development and production. Stephanie Comey, Senior Manager, BAI, will update on BAI strategies towards improved representation by women across BAI-funded strands. Sunniva O’Flynn of the IFI will report on the IFI’s F-rating and representation of female practitioners across the IFI programme. This session will be moderated by Dr. Susan Liddy, Department of Media and Communications, MIC, Limerick.
LUNCH (13.00)
COPING WITH CO-PRODUCTION (14.00)
A timely investigation of Irish co-production practice providing an overview of international co-production opportunities for Irish producers; inward production of major TV dramas; extension of Section 481; and cultural viability of international co-productions. A range of panellists representing sectoral interest will include Siún Ní Raghallaigh, CEO at Ardmore Studios and Troy Studios; David Collins, Managing Director, Samson Films; Samantha Perahia MBE, Head of Production UK, British Film Commission; Steven Davenport, Inward Production Manager, Screen Ireland; and Fionán Higgins, Senior Supervisor, Windmill Lane. The panel will be chaired by Niall Murphy of Scannain.
EXIT INTERVIEW: JAMES HICKEY IN CONVERSATION (15.00)
James Hickey will soon step down from his eight-year stewardship of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland. In conversation with Hugh Linehan, Arts and Culture Editor of The Irish Times, he will reflect on his tenure: on Screen Ireland’s contribution to the growth of the Irish film industry over the past ten years; the ongoing battle for retention of industry tax incentives; the highlights of his time at the helm and the areas he wasn’t able to develop as he would have hoped; and where he thinks the future focus of Screen Ireland needs to be as a new era dawns.
WRAP UP (15.45)