The 2015 Galway Film Fleadh will play host to a number of panel discussions, masterclasses, and other events. One of the most interesting of these is sure to be the special Women in Film panel discussion. This year’s topic is Money, or more specifically the money made available to female film-makers and paid to female cast and crew.
Discussion points will include the fact that female talent attracts less than a quarter of all funding from the Irish Film Board; that according to Eurostat, pay inequality actually increased in Ireland over the five years 2008-2013; that of the top 100 grossing films of 2012 in the US, only 4% of directors, 12% of writers and 20% of producers were female. Despite this obvious inequality an ESPN study from last year proved that films that passed the Bechdel Test were actually more profitable. 
The panel, which will be chaired by Lesley McKimm (Producer – My Name is Emily, Co-managing Director of NewGrange Pictures), will discuss these issues and a host of other topics in a lively and engaged conversation. Other panellists will include Rachael Moriarty (Director – Traders), Shannon Sun Higginson (Director – GTFO), Abigail E. Disney (Director – Armor of Light), with more to be announced.The panel takes place in the Radisson BLU hotel in Galway on Saturday July 11th, at 2.30pm. More information on the Fleadh website.
