Kerry Film Festival has announced the appointment of Maeve McGrath to the post of Artistic Director. Maeve will take up the position on July 18th 2016. Maeve has extensive experience in film production and film festival management. She has most recently appeared in John Crowley’s Brooklyn, and has a list of producer credits in short film and has since transitioned into feature length formats.
As festival programmer, her work includes The Bram Stoker Film Festival and the Richard Harris International Film Festival (as short film programmer). She has also been instrumental in an array of arts festival organisations in recent years including Elemental Arts & Cultural Festival and Limerick City of Culture 2014.
Recently, Maeve has achieved a Masters in Media Studies from Mary Immaculate College /University of Limerick for her work on the topic of the Irish short film and its historical connection with the Oscars.
Commenting on the Phillip Doyle, Chair of the Kerry Film Festival board of directors, said:
Maeve was an obvious choice for us in that she not only provides the hands-on experience of successfully running a festival, she also brings a keen awareness of the evolving contemporary film festival landscape. As a festival currently in transition and growth, we in KFF are confident that Maeve will bring the kind of perspectives that will allow us to further develop in interesting ways for KFF 2016
New appointee Maeve McGrath said:
I am thrilled to be appointed Artistic Director of Kerry Film Festival and I am looking forward to working with a very talented team to build on this festival that is now in its 17th year. I am passionate about film, in particular short film, and I am looking forward with anticipation to the continued growth of the Kerry Film Festival and being part of that development and expansion.
In 2016 Kerry Film Festival will take place from the 19 – 23 rd of October in Killarney town, with events also running in towns and villages across the county. Kerry Film Festival is a non-profit cultural and educational organisation dedicated to bringing unique cultural experiences through film to local, national and international audiences. Through their annual Film Festival and year-round programme of events, their goal is to create new and exciting film experiences, create a hub of film creativity and appreciation in Kerry, champion the work of local and national emerging filmmakers and promote the county as a major filmmaking destination.
We here at Scannain have known Maeve for a number of years, and congratulate the Kerry Film Festival on their decision. We wish her and the festival the very best for 2016 and beyond.