Multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do Before You’re 30. Her Sunday Times bestselling books – Getting Rid of Matthew, Got You Back, Foursome, The Ugly Sister, Skeletons, Strictly Between Us, My Sweet Revenge, Faking Friends, Tell Me a Secret, Queen Bee, Worst Idea Ever, Just Got Real and Over Sharing – have sold over a million copies in the UK.
Author: Sofie
Nadya Todorova
Screenwriter & director with a love for stories that highlight the small human facing world-changing events. Nadya graduated from Screenwriting at FAMU International in 2018 and the TV Showrunning program Serial Eyes in 2020. She was chosen as a writer’s apprentice at Frank Spotnitz’ Big Light Productions in 2021. Nadya was a staff writer on the TV show FRANKLIN for the Spanish company Grupo Black Panther, and on ALPHA, a TV show for bTV Bulgaria which premiered in February 2024. She recently finished post-production for her documentary debut feature I’M NOT A BAD MAN which is now starting its festival life. Nadya has also won the BBC International Playwriting Georgi Markov Award and was a finalist at the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival One Act Play Competition.
Ella Dorman-Gajic
Ella is a published playwright, screenwriter, poet and performer of Serbian and Austrian heritage. Described as “impassioned” by The Guardian, Ella’s work is grounded in the female experience with an interest in sexual politics, coming-of-age and immigration. Her 5-star stage play TRADE premiered at Omnibus Theatre (VAULT Transfer Season), supported by Arts Council England and won an OffCom Award. It went onto an Arts Council Funded UK tour in 2023, starting with a sell-out at The Pleasance Theatre and finishing with another sell-out show at Norwich Arts Centre.
Her debut short film, BACK OF THE NET (executive produced by Depot Cinema) is multi-award-nominated and has just won the Audience Choice Award for Best Drama at Tottenham Film Festival 2024.
Ella has been nominated for several playwriting awards, most recently the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award for her play DIVIDED. Ella holds a first-class degree in Scriptwriting & Performance from UEA, is an alumnus of National Youth Theatre, New Writing South’s Young Writers, Roundhouse Poetry Collective, Apples & Snakes Writing Room and was Broken Silence Theatre’s first Writer in Residence.
Charlotte Couture
Charlotte is an award-winning director and writer and is currently on the Directors UK Inspire Mentoring Programme 2024 – 2025. She is passionate about making films that provide a window to worlds that might ordinarily be overlooked and endeavours to depict life, relationships and human behaviour in a deeply authentic way.
Charlotte has written and directed numerous short films under her company, Seven Light Films. Her last film, ROSE, is qualified for BIFA, recently screening at Crystal Palace International Film Festival and Unrestricted View. Prior to this she wrote and directed DIFFERENT DAY, which won Best British Short Film at Cornwall Film Festival, the Jury’s Choice Award at The South London Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Film and Best Director at Unrestricted View. She is currently in post-production for her latest short, DEAR CLAUDIA.
Charlotte is developing several projects including her first narrative feature, DIFFERENT DAY.
Cal McGhee
Award-winning Irish LGBT screenwriter and development executive with a passion for genre-skewed works. Cal’s work ranges from dark drama and psychological thriller to elevated horror, grounded sci-fi, comedy and even children’s stories – always passionate about writing bold, fun, offbeat content that pushes boundaries and reflects salient contemporary issues. Cal has been a development executive at Tailored Films in Dublin for 5 years and currently manages a lean slate including feature films and scripted TV series. His first series in funded development, YESTERDAY’S GIRL, is with TG4 and Creative Europe.
Sarah Richardson
Sarah Richardson is an award-winning playwright. Her debut play, GirlPlay, won “Best Digital Experience” at Stockholm Fringe 2020 before being selected for Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe in Edinburgh 2022. Her one woman show, Sun Bear, was developed in a residency at Gothenburg Fringe 2023, where the production won the “Simply the Best” award. Sarah was recently awarded the DYCP grant for the development of her new play, Daisy Chains, which won the runner up prize for The Ambassador Theatre Group Playwright’s Prize in association with Platform Presents 2023.
Leon Oldstrong
Leon Oldstrong founded Solaris2 Media to create the films and TV programmes he wanted to see growing up. A self-taught, passionately humane writer and film maker, Leon is committed to telling authentic, unapologetic, stories about underrepresented groups. As versatile as he is creative, he writes across genres and his poetic imagination and unique voice have won him many awards. His current project in development is a dramedy series, set against a London dreamscape, executive produced by Cush Jumbo.
Robyn Grant
The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch – A Musical Parody with book and lyrics by Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx is showing at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until the 17th February.
Jimmy Smallhorne
Jimmy Smallhorne is a writer, director and actor, particularly renowned for THE MIRACLE CLUB, 2BY4, LOVE/HATE, TAKEN DOWN, CARDBOARD GANGSTERS, DARKLANDS, and DEAD STILL. In addition to this he was the co-founder of the legendary Bronx Irish Theatre Company.
Thomas Ryan
An accomplished, innovative and collaborate director, best known for his critically acclaimed feature films TWICE SHY and TRAMPOLINE, as well as his award-winning short comedy POGNOPHOBIA.
Thomas recently became one of the first filmmakers in Ireland to work with virtual stage production, the same technology used on ‘The Mandalorian’.
With years of industry experience, Thomas has directed TV and commercial content alongside his feature projects. He has also directed animated content for both broadcast TV and commercials and has written and directed an Irish language educational series for the BBC.
In addition to his creative work, Thomas has worked with a variety of corporate clients, including The White House, Speedo, Amazon, Canterbury, Unreal, Adobe, DK, Scholastic, and NASA.
With a unique perspective on the filmmaking process and a proven track record of success, Thomas is sure to continue making waves in the industry for years to come.
Andrew Lynch
A writer passionate about creating stories that centre on marginalised and underrepresented groups – stories that not only entertain but also spark debate and conversation. Andrew began his career in theatre, with his first play DEATH ROW COWBOY transferring from Dublin to London. Moving to film, Andrew co-produced and wrote the multi award-winning short film BRENDA, and created the minidocumentary REBIRTH, both of which aired on RTÉ. Supported by Screen Ireland on the Spotlight Development Scheme, he developed his feature film FISHSCALE and recently completed the BBC Writersroom Voices programme where he developed the TV series ROUTE ’94. Andrew is currently working with Yellow Film & TV, who have optioned his original TV series.
Cal McGhee
Award-winning Irish LGBT screenwriter and development executive with a passion for genre-skewed works. Cal’s work ranges from dark drama and psychological thriller to elevated horror, grounded sci-fi, comedy and even children’s stories. Cal enjoys writing bold, fun, offbeat content that pushes boundaries and reflects salient contemporary issues, often through a genre lens. Cal has been a development executive at Tailored Films in Dublin for 5 years and currently manages a lean slate including feature films and scripted TV series. Cal’s first series in funded development, YESTERDAY’S GIRL, is financed in development with TG4 and Creative Europe.
Eve Connolly
Eve is a writer and actor from Kildare. She has worked in film and television since graduating from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2016. Her writing focuses on the relationships between women. She writes character-driven scripts that strive to capture the complexities of our most intimate relationships. She recently graduated from Atlantic Technological University with a first-class Honours Degree in Writing & Literature and is currently developing a number of projects for both film and television. ONE DAY YOU’LL THANK ME is in development with Port Pictures (EP Martina Niland).
Kevin Walls
Kevin’s first short film, IDENTICAL, won a British Academy Scotland New Talent Award in 2015. He is a graduate of the MATV Fiction Writing programme at Glasgow Caledonian University with a scholarship from Warner Bros. Creative Talent. Kevin was also a part of the inaugural BBC Writersroom Scottish Voices Group.
His short film WHEN ABBIE MET EMMY premiered at BFI Flare in 2019 and DOUBLE WORD SCORE was selected as part of the DepicT! 2020 programme at the Encounters Film Festival. Kevin is currently writing for the BBC Scotland continuing drama, RIVER CITY.
Recent credits: THE CONSCIOUS CLOSET – BBC Scotland; EAT THE TOWN – BBC Scotland; WHEN ABBIE MET EMMY – Sonorous Films; IDENTICAL – Sonorous Films; WHEN PISH COMES TO SHOVE – BBC Writersroom.
Sinead O’Loughlin
2022: LAMB – Screen Ireland Focus Short; Winner of the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Cork International Film Festival 2022; Official Selection at Tribeca Film Festival 2022; Nominated for 2023 IFTA Award for Best Short Film; 2016: HOMECOMING – Winner of Best Narrative Short Film at Kerry International Film Festival 2016. 2023: VOCATION – Feature Film Screenplay in development with Screen Ireland and Coper Alley Productions.
Maureen O’Connell
A graduate of RADA, with a BA in Acting and a Film Production Diploma from Ballyfermot College, Maureen (Mo) O’Connell has made several award-winning shorts and an award-winning, micro-budget, slacker comedy feature film, SPA WEEKEND.
Some credits include – 2022: HAVEN (multi-award-winning) Semi-Finalist Flickers Rhode Island Intl Film Fest 2023 and Best Short Film B3 Biennale 2023 – 2022: BRUISE (multi-award-winning) Official Selection Galway Film Fleadh 2022 and Best Arthouse Fastnet Film Festival 2023 – HUM (multi-award-winning) Winner of the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Emerging Lens Film Festival 2021 – 2019: SPA WEEKEND (multi-award-winning feature) Winner of Best International Feature at Polish International Film Festival 2020 and Winner of SHE IS ON FIRE Award Berlin Female Filmmakers Film Fest 2019.
Sam Atwell
Sam has produced the six-part drama NORTHERN LIGHTS for Lionsgate and Deadpan and was then Head of Development for Deadpan. Prior to this he was the Drama Development Executive for RTÉ where he worked on HIDDEN ASSETS, SMOTHER and NORTH SEA CONNECTION as well as their development and production slate. He Executive Produced the three storyland titles, MUSTARD, EVERY FIVE MILES and BALOR HALL and the short films, PICTURE DAY, FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE and THE WALL. Has been the inhouse story-editor for animation company, JAM Media and Script Producer for RTÉ’s, FAIR CITY where he directed multiple blocks. He has written, directed and script edited for ATN Seven’s HOME AND AWAY in Sydney and currently has multiple shows in development.
Mary Kate O Flanagan
Award-winning writer, journalist and story consultant working in the film and television industry. She has designed and delivered training in Storytelling On The Screen across the world and works as a credited co-writer and an uncredited script doctor. Several of Mary Kate’s projects have been award Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland development funding, including SPARTACUS RISING, a television series co-written with Gavin Ryan; HEART OF DARKNESS, an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novella; and the original feature screenplays for MY HUCKLEBERRY FRIEND, AIRLIFT TO BIAFRA (an adaptation of the true life story of Father Tony Byrne) and KICKING THE HABIT. Mary Kate was Ireland’s First Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth. She was also a Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth in Los Angeles and a Champion Storyteller at The Dublin StorySlam. You can hear one of her stories on The Moth Radio Hour – https://themoth.org/stories/carry-him-shoulder-high – and on Tik Tok, where it has amassed over one million views – https://www.tiktok.com/@mothstories/video/7245791769315609899.
Mary Kate has turned her true-life stories into a piece of theatre, MAKING A SHOW OF MYSELF, which received standing ovations and rave reviews in its sellout run during November/December 2023 and beyond – find out more here www.makingashowofmyself.com.
Sinead O’Loughlin
2022: LAMB – Screen Ireland Focus Short; Winner of the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Cork International Film Festival 2022; Official Selection at Tribeca Film Festival 2022; Nominated for 2023 IFTA Award for Best Short Film; 2016: HOMECOMING – Winner of Best Narrative Short Film at Kerry International Film Festival 2016. 2023: VOCATION – Feature Film Screenplay in development with Screen Ireland and Coper Alley Productions.
Mary Kate O Flanagan
Mary Kate O Flanagan is an award-winning writer, journalist and story consultant working in the film and television industry. She has designed and delivered training in Storytelling On The Screen across the world. Mary Kate works as a credited co-writer and an uncredited script doctor.
Several of Mary Kate’s projects have been award Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland development funding, including SPARTACUS RISING, a TV series co-written with Gavin Ryan; HEART OF DARNESS, an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novella; and the original feature screenplays MY HUCKLEBERRY FRIEND, AIRLIFT TO BIAFRA and KICKING THE HABIT.
Mary Kate was Ireland’s First Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth. She was also a Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth in Los Angeles and a Champion Storyteller at The Dublin StorySlam. You can hear one of her stories CARRY HIM SHOULDER HIGH on The Moth Radio Hour: https://themoth.org/stories/carry-him-shoulder-high – and on Tik Tok, where it has amassed over one million views – https://www.tiktok.com/@mothstories/video/7245791769315609899
Mary Kate has turned her true-life stories into a piece of theatre, Making A Show of Myself, which she is currently rehearsing for a national tour.
Conor McMahon
2022: NO WORRIES IF NOT – TV sketch series for RTE Television; 2021: LET THE WRONG ONE IN – Comedy Horror – Feature Film written and directed by Conor McMahon and starring Anthony Head funded by Screen Ireland; Winner of Jury Prize at Screamfest. 2021: Nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay at the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards 2023. 2014: FROM THE DARK – Horror Feature Film written by Damian Fox and Conor McMahon, directed by Conor McMahon and Starring Niamh Algar; premiered at Fantastic Fest 2014. 2012: STITCHES – Comedy Horror – Feature Film written by David O’Brien and Conor McMahon, directed by Conor McMahon and starring Ross Noble; Winner of the Carmel Jove Jury Award at Sitges 2012. 2009: THE DISTURBED – Horror Feature Film written and directed by Conor McMahon and starring Carla McGlynn; premiered at Galway Film Fleadh 2009. 2004: DEAD MEAT – Comedy Horror Feature Film written and directed by Conor McMahon and starring Marian Araujo.
Michael Kinirons
Award-winning Irish screenwriter and director. He studied English and Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin and went on to study directing at the prestigious National Film and Television School, (NFTS) London. He has had projects selected for the Torino Film Lab, the Britlist, eQuinoxe, EAVE and is a Berlinale Talent Campus alumni. Michael’s first produced feature as screenwriter, STRANGERLAND, an Australian set mystery drama starring Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Joe Fiennes, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, 2015. THE SPARROW, Michael’s feature film debut as writer/director, premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh 2022 where it won Best First Irish Feature. Subsequently, it won the meeting point audience award at Valladolid Film Festival and has been nominated for two Irish Film and Television Awards.
Michael Kinirons
Award-winning Irish screenwriter and director. He studied English and Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin and went on to study directing at the prestigious National Film and Television School, (NFTS) London. He has had projects selected for the Torino Film Lab, the Britlist, eQuinoxe, EAVE and is a Berlinale Talent Campus alumni. Michael’s first produced feature as screenwriter, STRANGERLAND, an Australian set mystery drama starring Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Joe Fiennes, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, 2015. THE SPARROW, Michael’s feature film debut as writer/director, premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh 2022 where it won Best First Irish Feature. Subsequently, it won the meeting point audience award at Valladolid Film Festival and has been nominated for two Irish Film and Television Awards.
Caroline Grace-Cassidy
Caroline is The Irish Times bestselling author of nine novels and has been translated into various languages. She is also a Screenwriter and Creative Director of Document Films. As a Screenwriter she has written and directed seven successful short films that have played at festivals all over the world, including a Galway Film Fleadh winning short and she was also the recipient of the Cineuropa award.
Caroline has co-written her first feature film, BRIDE SQUAD, optioned by Vico Films, IRL and Myriad Pictures, US. Her second feature THE QUIET WOMAN is being developed with support from Screen Ireland. Caroline is currently writing her first TV drama, MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME – again with development funding from Screen Ireland. She adapted her novel, THE WEEK I RUINED MY LIFE, for TV supported by the BAI & Canadian Media Fund. Caroline has also written for Irelands longest running soap, FAIR CITY. She is also a regular panellist on Ireland’s popular all female talk show ‘Midday’.
Ben Conway
2023: In development SOMEWHERE IN NORWAY – Take Ten Productions. 2022: ONE WAY – Feature Film directed by Andrew Baird and starring Kevin Bacon and Travis Fimmel. International Sales by Highland Film Group. 2021: NIGHTRIDE – Feature Film directed by Stephen Fingleton and starring Moe Dunford. Winner of Best Actor Award (Moe Dunford) at Irish Film and Television Awards 2022); 2022: SIMON – Short Film written and directed by Ben Conway and Peter J McCarthy and starring Aaron Monaghan – premiered at Galway Film Fleadh 2022 – won Best Drama and Best Irish Film at Fastnet Film Festival 2023; ; 2021: BUGALOO – Short Film written and directed by Ben Conway and Peter J MCarthy and starring Moe Dunford; premiered at Galway Film Fleadh 2021.
Paul Burke
Paul has written some of the UK’s favourite and best known TV and radio commercials. He has won various awards for his writing including: D&AD, Creative Circle and the Aerials. He was also presented with a Radio Academy Fellowship at the House of Lords. In 2001, his first novel FATHER FRANK was published to great critical acclaim. He followed this with three more – UNTORN TICKETS in 2003, THE MAN WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS WIFE in 2005 and THE LIFE OF REILLY in 2007. More recently, he has turned to screenwriting. He is currently adapting UNTORN TICKETS into a screenplay and has THE HUTS, a TV comedy drama, in development with the BBC. He has also adapted FATHER FRANK for the screen with Mallinson Television Productions.
Mat McHale
Mat is a Producer whose grounding came at the BBC where he began as a 3rd AD working his way up to Senior Producer on a number of flagship programmes such as CASUALTY, EASTENDERS, PLAYING THE FIELD and, in 2023, he became Series Producer on SISTER BONIFACE MYSTERIES Season 3. Also in 2023, his episodes of CASUALTY won the BAFTA, Rose d’Or and RTS awards. His film work includes Michael Winterbottom’s JUDE, GO NOW (Revolution Films) and PRINCESS IN LOVE (Kushner-Locke).
Roisin Agnew
Roisin Agnew is an Italian Irish filmmaker and researcher based in London.
She has recently worked as a games writer for PlayStation developing a new IP as part of its first writers’ room. She directed THE BAN (2024) that premiered at Docs Ireland in June and wrote YARA (2023) in competition at the Galway Film Festival in July. She is currently in development with her first feature with Screen Ireland and Tailored Films (The Apprentice, Bring Them Down).
She is a Visiting Lecturer at The London Film School and a PhD student at the Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmith. She has worked as an assistant producer on Grierson Award-nominated film THE PLAN THAT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM UP (2020). She has worked for Irish and Italian TV (RAI, TV3, RTE) as an assistant producer and prior to that she worked as a breaking news subeditor at The Irish Times.
Roisin’s fiction has appeared in The Dublin Review and MAP Journal. She’s been published by The Guardian, The Irish Times, Vice, Elephant Magazine etc. She curates Storming Heaven, a London screening series assembled around activist film.
She’s won the Next Generation Artist Award in Literature (2021) from Arts Council Ireland and is a graduate of the Edinburgh Talent Lab (2022) and won JETS Berlinale (2021).