Griffith College is Sponsoring the Inaugural Dublin International Screenwriting Festival
Ireland’s first screenwriting festival starts on April 19th.
Griffith College is delighted to announce it will be the official main sponsor of the inaugural Dublin International Screenwriting Festival, which will take place from 19th to 23rd April 2021.
Supported by Screen Skills Ireland, the Dublin International Screenwriting Festival wishes to celebrate the art of screenwriting and is free to screenwriters and the general public to attend online.
The festival will feature contributions from the creators of some of Ireland’s favourite television and film productions including Love/Hate’s Stuart Carolan, Derry Girls’ Lisa McGee, Kate O’Riordan, writer of RTE’s new hit drama, Smother and one of Ireland’s most renowned authors and screenwriters, Roddy Doyle.
The festival was created by film producer Daniel Hegarty and screenwriter Gavin Ryan, who both lecture on Griffith's BA in Film & TV Production.
Co-director of Ireland’s first screenwriting festival Gavin Ryan said: “Irish screenwriters have made huge contributions to film and television productions that have been critically acclaimed both in Ireland and all over the world. This is a unique and much-needed festival, never before offered in this country, to support professional and aspiring screenwriters, to celebrate the craft of screenwriting and to inspire the hundreds of screenwriters in Ireland to continue to connect, create and grow their talent. We are very grateful to our sponsors, Screen Skills Ireland and Griffith College. We are also extremely grateful to all the fantastic Irish and international speakers who have agreed to be part of this year’s festival and we hope that this will be the first of many annual festivals for screenwriters in years to come.”
Screenwriter Gavin Ryan and producer Daniel Hegarty established the Dublin International Screenwriting Festival to address a clear gap in this area in Ireland. Having attended similar successful international events, the pair decided to establish a screenwriting festival in Ireland, where there is a thriving screenwriting sector and hundreds of people working in the profession. The aim of the festival is to provide industry insight into the future for Irish screenwriters and the channelling of reputation of literary endeavour into the screen industry. The festival will consist of workshops and panel discussions on topical issues such as the local execution of global themes, diversity in screenwriting, writing in the Irish language, bringing animation to life through writing and the role screenwriters play in the development of games for the gaming industry.
Commenting on the programme, Daniel Hegarty said: “This festival will address the hot topics in screenwriting today and is unmissable for both professional and aspiring screenwriters. For example, Irish animation is hugely respected worldwide and it is a sector that is crying out for great screenwriters. This is reflected in our programme with our animation dedicated panel, 'Animate This!' Gaming is another huge focus for the festival. In North America the games industry is similar in value to film and North American sports combined! Not only does that present a massive opportunity for screenwriters but it also presents incredibly interesting new ways to tell stories in non-linear branching narratives.”
Highly experienced and renowned local and international speakers will share their knowledge and experience with attendees, including a Screenwriting Masterclass from renowned screenwriter and script consultant Mary Kate O Flanagan and interviews with successful screenwriters including Derry Girls’ Lisa McGee; Smother’s Kate O’Riordan; Love/Hate’s Stuart Carolan and the renowned Irish author and screenwriter Roddy Doyle. The Festival also offers an opportunity for screenwriters to connect with and pitch their projects to some of the top producers in the business.
The Dublin International Screenwriting Festival is sponsored by Screen Skills Ireland and Griffith College and is supported by the Writer’s Guild of Ireland, Screen Producers Ireland and Film Network Ireland. Events are free to registered participants and attendees are encouraged to donate to listed charities in lieu of paying for a ticket as a way of paying it forward.
To be part of the inaugural Dublin International Screenwriting Festival or for further information please click here.
