Fni Wrap Chat

With the Brilliant news that Lee Cronin's  "The Hole in the ground" has received a whopping 7 IFTA nominations last week. We're joined by co-writer Stephen Shields  this week for a new ep. Check out our chat previously with Lee here: shorturl.at/elmEZ Stephen Shields is an Irish screenwriter. After winning the RTE STORYLAND 2010 with his web series ZOMBIE BASHERS Stephen went on to write on RTE's flagship comedy show THE REPUBLIC OF TELLY, where he was the longest-serving writer. He was nominated for two Irish writers' guild awards for his work on the show. He was nominated for two Irish writers' guild awards for his work on the show. Stephen also wrote for many other Irish comedy shows including the highly rated CALLAN'S KICKS, DES BISHOPS: THIS IS IRELAND and created and wrote 32 episodes of RTE's children's show TIM'S TACTICAL TIPS. Stephen now turns his attention to drama and has numerous features in development with Screen Ireland whilst also developing television drama. Stephen's first produced fe

This week on the next Episode of FNI Wrapchat, Paul Webster chats to a bit of a cult hero director for a lot of Irish creatives, Paddy Breathnach. Paddy Breathnach started his directing career making natural history documentaries. His first feature, AILSA, won the Award for Best First / Second Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival. His second feature I WENT DOWN (BBC Films) starring Brendan Gleeson, won the New Directors prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival 1997. I WENT DOWN screened at Sundance in 1998 and won the Best Director award at both Thessaloniki and Bogota Film Festivals. He produced SOUTHPAW, a feature documentary that was selected for Sundance in 1999 and got a US and UK theatrical release. Breathnach went on to direct BLOW DRY, MAN ABOUT DOG, SHROOMS and RED MIST. In 2012 he completed the documentary AN OICHE A GINEADH M'ATHAIR. In 2016 his Spanish language film VIVA was short listed for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His latest film, ROSIE, premiered at the 2018 Toront

EP 111. Diarmuid Goggins. Director. We caught up with Diarmuid this week in between car chases and controlled explosions to have a chat about being real, working hard, wanting an actual fistfight in a fake emergency room and general kindness in the industry. Wrapchat is brought to you by Film Equipment Store and mixed by BEDFORD. Seán T. Ó Meallaigh joins PBL today as our new co-host. An Irish IFTA-nominated director for Film and TV Drama, Diarmuid recently completed work on BULLETPROOF Series 2 as Lead Director having previously been Lead Director on SILENT WITNESS. Other recent credits include Lead Director on series 3 of Dublin-set police drama RED ROCK for Element Pictures/TV3/BBC. His early credits include directing on CASUALTY, HOLLYOAKS, and CBBC comedy-dramas DANI'S CASTLE and MILLIE INBETWEEN. Graduating from The National Film School in 2003, Diarmuid's short film NELL came 3rd in the Best First Short category at the Galway Film Fleadh. He went on to direct factual and dramatic programming

Brought to you by Film Equipment Store: This week brings us a special podcast. One of our Favorite Actors Michael Smiley.   Michael Smiley is a Northern Irish actor. Smiley was born in 1963 in Belfast and grew up in Holywood. He moved to London in his 20s with his wife. He began doing stand-up in 1993, after accepting a bet at an open-mic night. He had worked as a cycle courier (like his character in Spaced) and as an acid house DJ. He became well known for his role as Tyres O'Flaherty in the sitcom Spaced. In 2008, he starred in British film Down Terrace in memorable turn and in 2011 he starred in the horror film Kill List both Directed by Ben Wheatley. The latter film received critical acclaim, and earned him the "Best Supporting Actor" Award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards. In 2013, Smiley also starred in the Netflix show Black Mirror as Baxter in “White Bear”. He also had a major role in British crime series Luther from 2010 until 2019. In 2019, Smiley co-starred with Elijah Wood and Mar

We're joined today by award-winning filmmaker Barrie Dowdall on FNI Wrapchat, back in the studio for the first time in 12 weeks. Brought to you by Film Equipment Store and mixed by Bedford. Hot on the heals on the Packed out Screening at VDiff of his Latest docu-drama, Violet Gibson. Violet Gibson tells the story of the Irish Woman who tried to assassinate Benito Mussolini in 1926, on the cusp of the rise of fascism and the advent of WW2. Using a mixture of historical newsreel footage and shots filmed on-site in Rome, Barrie's documentary proves that if it wasn't true, you couldn't and wouldn't believe it. Incredible stuff. Barrie specialises in producing, directing and shooting documentaries of historical, human and social interest for broadcasters worldwide. He has worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Nepal, Zambia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Australia, Venezuela, the United States and throughout Europe, producing work for various broadcasters including RTE, BBC, TG4, PBS, ZDF, The HISTORY CHANNEL, ABC,

On this EP of FNI WrapChat is Director Daniel O'Hara. Fni WrapChat is brought to you by Film Equiptment Store and is produced on the Headstuff Podcast network, an Mixed by Bedford.  Daniel O’Hara is a director from Dublin, based in Edinburgh. He has directed television projects for a wide range of international broadcasters and content providers, including Netflix, BBC, Sky, RTÉ and TG4, on shows including Harlan Coben’s The Stranger, Brassic, Doctor Who and Being Human. His short films, Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom and Fluent Dysphasia, won a combined total of 25 awards at international film festivals. FNI@HOME IS BACK THIS WED 24th @6pm AND IS PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN’S AMBULANCE SERVICE BUMBLEANCE FOR THIS OUR LARGEST FNI@HOME EVENT TO DATE. WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE HIJACKED FOR OUR LATEST PROGRAMME BY THE LONGEST SERVING AND LARGEST FILM FESTIVAL IN IRELAND: THE CORK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.  More info/Reserve a spot for free here: https://wearefni.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me

We talk obstacles to Women in Film, Shooting THAT scene in Normal People and Kate's love for documentaries.  Kate received the Golden Frog for Best Cinematography on a Docudrama ‘I Dolours’ at Camerimage 2018. In the same year she was nominated for an Emmy for her work on ‘The Farthest’. The Hollywood Reporter listed McCullough as top 10 to watch in Irish Film Industry 2017. More recently she was nominated for the IMAGO award 2019 for her work on ‘The Farthest’. Upon completing her studies at The National Film School, Lodz, Poland, McCullough shot the Irish box office hit  ‘His and Hers’. This film went on to win the ‘World Cinematography Award in Documentary’, Sundance 2010.   More recently Kate's Credits include Can't Cope Won't Cope, The Tv Drama Blood, Arracht and the wildly popular Normal People for BBC/RTE.  Kate is a member of the Irish Society of Cinematographers. FNI@HOME IS BACK AND IS PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN’S AMBULANCE SERVICE BUMBLEANCE FOR THIS OUR LARGEST FNI@HOME EVENT TO DATE.  WE

Born in Dublin and raised in Meath, Cathal has travelled the world working on a variety of projects including news, documentaries and film and television. Cathal's older brother (a press photographer for local newspapers), piqued Cathal's interest in the trade in their homemade photography dark room: a garden shed in County Meath. After having studied Drama in Trinity College Dublin, Cathal began working for news channels and shooting documentaries. In the subsequent years, Cathal worked on a number of documentaries and shorts including Che and Toy Soldiers, as well as shooting music videos for musicians such as Sinead O'Connor. In recent times, Cathal has turned his eye towards film and television drama. In the last three years particularly, his work as the D.O.P on hit BBC drama series Peaky Blinders has received widespread praise, as well as earning Cathal an IFTA nomination for 'Best Cinematography.' Other notable IFTA Award achievements include his win for Viva in 2015, as well as nominations for t

On this Episode of FNI Wrapchat is IFTA and Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Award winning Actor Aisling Franciosi.   Aisling most recently appeared in the leading role of Clare in The Nightingale, opposite Sam Claflin and directed by Jennifer Kent (The Babadook,) She will next be seen opposite Mark Ruffalo in I Know This Much Is True , a brand new TV drama for HBO, which this week broadcast in Ireland. Aisling first appeared on screen as Katie in THE FALL for BBC in 2013 and then as Phoebe Griffin, the young female lead and daughter to Gabriel Byrne, in BBC’s QUIRKE on both BBC One and RTE in early 2014. Aisling was awarded the Irish Film and Television Award for 2015 for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama for her appearance as Katie in season two of THE FALL in 2014. Aisling appeared in the recurring role of Kate in season two of LEGENDS starring Sean Bean for FOX/TNT in 2016 and most recently appeared as co-lead Georgia in CLIQUE for BBC3 in 2017. Aisling appeared as Marie in Ken Loach’s

Ross Whitaker is a vastly successful documentary filmmaker. He has developed, produced and directed a number of successful independent documentaries including Katie, Unbreakable: The Mark Pollack Story, Between Land and Sea and most recently The Boys in Green for RTE.  Ross is also former commissioning editor of Film Ireland and former festival programmer of Stranger Than Fiction at the IFI, he is well versed in the language of film and an active participant on the Irish film scene. His first feature, the self-funded Saviours, was called the “best Irish film of 2008” by the Sunday Tribune. His follow-up short Bye Bye Now won awards at multiple festivals including Silverdocs and Nashville. His work in television with Blind Man Walking in 2010 and the Prime Time political documentary The Bailout in 2011 has also drawn great praise. He is best known for the riveting and emotionally powerful documentary features When Ali Came to Ireland (2012), Unbreakable: The Mark Pollack Story (2014), and Between Land and S

On this special episode of FNI Wrapchat is Irish Oscar-nominated  director Lenny Abrahamson. Sponsored by our friends at Film Equipment Store, Wildcard Distribution, brought to you as always by the Headstuff Podcast Network. Mixed by Stephen Bedford and FNI Wrapchat theme tune by Pat 'Connor. Lenny is from Dublin and is an internationally renowned film and Television Director and Screenwriter. He is known for directing such acclaimed independent films as Adam & Paul (2004), Garage (2007), What Richard Did (2012) and Frank (2014) all of which contributed to Abrahamson's six Irish Film and Television Awards. In 2015, he received widespread recognition for directing Room, based on the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue. The film received four nominations at the 88th Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Abrahamson. Lenny studied physics and philosophy at Trinity College Dublin. While at university he directed short videos with the Trinity Video Society, which he co-founded w

On this weeks Fni Wrapchat is Screenwriter of Calm With Horses Joe Murtagh. This episode is brought to you by Film Equipment Store on the Headstuff Podcast Network.   Calm With Horses is distributed by Element Distribution and is currently available to rent on various streaming platforms including Volta, iTunes, BFI Player etc.  Joe Murtagh is a London born Irish writer. He comes from a family of carpenters and labourers, though it's been said that Joe himself "couldn't hammer a nail straight", and after some site experience, he would wholeheartedly agree. So he's making a good go of writing. Joe's first feature film, CALM WITH HORSES (adapted from the short story of the same name by Colin Barrett) premiered at TIFF 2019 (DMC Film / Element Pictures / Film 4) and was directed by Nick Rowland with Cosmo Jarvis and Barry Keoghan starring. He is currently developing a number of features including DREADFUL NED (DMC) with Michael Fassbender attached and THE KITCHEN (DMC/Film 4) which will be Kibwe Tavares’ d

With over 30 years of experience in all aspects of media including journalism, public relations, scriptwriting, and programme-making, Hugh Farley has worked for RTÉ, BBC, Channel Four, ITV, NHK (Japan), and SV3 (Sweden) amongst others. A Fulbright scholar, he was the first Irish citizen to be accepted by New York University’s filmmaking programme in 1985. His documentary work includes; We Shall Overcome which won the Best Documentary Award at the 1998 Celtic Film Festival. In recent years, he has worked extensively in drama, directing the popular series Fair City, Ros na Rún, Hollyoaks and the very popular Red Rock for Virgin Media/Tv3. His work was nominated for three Irish Film and Television Academy awards in 2006. Most recently, Hugh has recently wrapped on a kids historical drama for Rte, which will be screened this year. Hugh is also currently Director of the Writers Guild of Ireland Don't miss out this very informative discussion on the future of Irish Film and Television. To find out more abo

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On this weeks episode (99) of FNI Wrapchat, Paul Webster is joined by Director Maurice Sweeney For the last ten years, Maurice has been regarded as one of Ireland’s leading documentary filmmakers. In more recent years he has also begun to focus on fiction. His Doc Trial of the Century, a historical drama series for Treasure Films was a critical hit for, Loose Horse and TV3. Other work includes drama documentary series Barbarians Rising for the History Channel and October Films. Having worked on diverse films from drama documentary Cromwell In Ireland to creative portraits of Irish writers Flann O’ Brien and Brendan Behan and crime writer John Connolly, Maurice also recently directed his first major drama feature, Saving The Titanic, to wide critical acclaim. The film has been sold throughout the world, including America, Canada and Britain with Channel 4 and has been watched by an estimated 10 million people. It was selected for the British Independent Film Festival, where it has just won three awards, includ

Firstly BIG SHOUT OUT AND MASSIVE RESPECT to our doctors, nurses and everyone in the emergency services in Ireland. You're a credit to our country. #STAYSAFE #STAYINDOORS ** Billy mentions his standup shows in Galway in April these have obviously been cancelled until further notice.  On this episode (98) of FNI Wrapchat is Director and Producer Billy McGrath. Billy was a major pioneering figure in the development of Irish music (manager, promoter and PR) and comedy (performer, writer and promoter) before training with RTÉ as a TV producer / director in the mid 1980s. Both passions were to the fore as new ideas and talent were brought to RTÉ screens before Billy moved to London as features director on the BAFTA award-winning Channel 4 music series WIRED (Initial TV London ‘88). His documentary films, Most Recently 'Citizens of Boomtown' on the Boomtown Rats,  U2, The Pogues and Clannad were screened at festivals in Dublin, London, Washington, Brazil and on TV throughout the world. In the 1990s Billy again

On this weeks Ep of FNI Wrapchat (which we recorded a couple of weeks ago), is a Distributor with a vast amount of experience over a number of years. Derry O'Brien of Network Ireland Television. Start stockpiling episodes of Wrapchat this crazy season. Derry O'Brien has over 40 years’ experience in international services in the music, TV and film industries and with the Irish Trade Board. Derry was responsible for the inauguration of the Ireland on Screen joint marketing initiative between the relevant Northern and Southern trade promotional agencies at both the MIP and MIPCOM television markets for 5 years, from 1991 - 1995 inclusive, a marketing initiative that survives to this day. Furthermore, as a Board Member of the Brussels-based E.U. Programme, Euro Aim for a similar period, Derry was actively involved in Euro Aim sales and marketing activities at both the Berlin Film Festivals, the Donestia Screenings and their Rendezvous Co-production and more recently at the Cannes Film Festival. Derry also serv

Nick Rowland is an award-winning directing graduate of the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the UK. Even before graduating, his work as a director had already earned him a Royal Television Society Award for DANCING IN THE ASHES, and he has since been nominated for a BAFTA for SLAP. His recent TV credits include HARD SUN (BBC1), RIPPER STREET (BBC) and CUFFS (BBC2). His first Feature CALM WITH HORSES (starring Barry Keoghan, Niamh Algar and Cosmo Jarvis) premiered at TIFF 2019 and gained excellent reviews at the London Film Festival aswell as the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival recently. It's a fantastic debut feature with amazing performances from a stellar cast. It's in Irish cinemas this weekend.  Keep up to date with all things Film Network Ireland here: https://linktr.ee/fni Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Ep of FNI Wrapchat from the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival is Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy. As a Directing Duo, Desperate Optimists are Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, they are multi-faceted creatives rooted in theatre, performance art and mixed media. Hailing from Finglas in Dublin, Ireland they have lived and worked in the UK since 1987. For over ten years desperate optimists have been making works for a variety of media and contexts including film, video, digital arts, performance and radio. They have an abundance of short and Feature content which explores the boundaries of the endless endeavour to challenge an audience and subvert creative and narrative expectations. Their work includes: Rose Plays Julie 2019 Further Beyond (Documentary) Mister John Iong Bahru (Short) Helen Joy (Short) Daydream (Short) Moore Street (Short) Who Killed Brown Owl (Short) Rose plays Julie, Starring Aidan Gillen, Orla Brady and a striking leading performance from Ann Skelly, will be avail

On the First of our Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2020 Specials of FNI Wrapchat is Director Matthew Toman and Director Daniel J. Holmes. Daniel J. Holmes is Self Shooter, Writer and Director. Who has been based in Ireland for a number of years. Daniel comes from The Windy City of Chicago in the United States (He ain't no blow in..., Dan has worked on a number of Productions with Bankhouse Productions in various roles. His credits include Street Leagues, The Feature "Dive" "Static" and in the light of my eyes. Matthew is an award-winning film producer, founder of a successful digital media agency, and creator of "The Evolution of Success" - a film series, podcast, and soon-to-be book series intended to help people facing similar challenges to re-define success, discover their joy, and turn it into a profitable, sustainable career. The film features many of the people who Matthew looked up to at his lowest point like Jack Canfield, Joe Vitale, and Bob Doyle. Now Matthew's main mission is to