Lights, Camera, Access – Introducing the Speakers
As Lights, Camera, Access is just days away, we want to introduce some of the speakers and panellists that will be attending the event.
To find out more about the event, or to book your ticket, see our Lights, Camera, Access page here. A handful of tickets are still available for the event.
Writers Guild of Ireland Masterclass: Demystifying Funding Applications
Sinéad O’Brien
Sinéad will be hosting the Writers Guild of Ireland Masterclass in the morning.
Sinéad is an award-winning producer, director, writer, and non-fiction author with over 25 years of experience in documentary and drama. She has worked with Screen Ireland, BBC, Sky Arts, Virgin, TG4, RTÉ, and more on compelling real-life stories and cinematic projects. Her recent work includes Legends in My Backyard and the upcoming drama-documentary The Double Killing of George Nkencho.
Since late 2023, Sinead has been focusing on writing and directing drama. This includes directing the DLR First Frames short film The Invitation written by Niamh O’Connor, being a finalist for RTE Storyland 2024, a finalist for The Stowe Connemara Lab 2024 and completing an MA in Screenwriting for Film and TV at IADT.
Sinead has attended MIDPOINT TV Writers Room under the mentorship of Gabor Krigler and Ben Morris, and more recently she has been shadow directing Hannah Quinn on AMC+’s Sanctuary: A Witches Tale, and is now being mentored by Lisa Mulcahy. Her latest short Little B*tch, funded by Ardan and RTE, is now in post-production.
Case Study & Panel Discussion: ‘Dead & Buried’ TV Series
Laura Way
Laura will be hosting the Case Study & Panel Discussion of the ‘Dead & Buried’ TV Series.
Laura is a Wexford woman, a former film and TV actress. Laura transitioned behind the camera to direct acclaimed drama series such as Red Rock, EastEnders, Blood (Season 2), and The Holiday (currently on Netflix UK). Her true crime series Maxine hit No.1 on Netflix in Autumn 2023, and she recently helmed The Serial Killer’s Wife (Paramount+), The Vanishing Triangle (AMC+/Channel 5), and Dead & Buried (BBCNI/Virgin Media), written by Colin Bateman. You can watch Dead & Buried on Virgin Media Television.
Recognised for her powerful storytelling, Laura was nominated for Best Director at the 2023 IFTAs for Maxine, and won “Best Director of a Drama Series” at the 2024 Marseilles Series Stories Festival for The Serial Killer’s Wife.
Passionate about nurturing new talent, Laura previously ran the Screen Actors Programme at both the Gaiety School of Acting and The Lir at Trinity College, and established her production company Bodecii Film in 2018. She is also a founding member and one of the directors of Screen Wexford, along with Liz Burns (Arts Officer, Wexford County Council) and Elizabeth Hore (Director of Services, Wexford County Council).
Colin Bateman
Colin will be part of the the Case Study & Panel Discussion of the ‘Dead & Buried’ TV Series.
An acclaimed novelist, screenwriter and playwright, Colin is the author of over thirty novels, including Divorcing Jack, Mystery Man, and Papercuts. His storytelling talents span page, stage, and screen – with film credits including The Journey (starring Timothy Spall), Driven (with Jason Sudeikis), and the upcoming Killing Castro starring none other than Al Pacino.
Colin’s play Bag for Life was recently adapted into the gripping four-part series Dead & Buried, which aired on BBC1 and Virgin Media.
Cormac Fox
Cormac will be part of the the Case Study & Panel Discussion of the ‘Dead & Buried’ TV Series.
Co-founder of Vico Films, Cormac was named one of EFP’s Producers on the Move at Cannes 2019 and a SCREEN Future Leader in 2018. His impressive credits include The Au Pair (Channel 5/ITV Studios), Dead & Buried (BBC NI/Virgin Media), and Room Taken, which was Oscar-shortlisted.
Cormac is also the producer behind the hit comedy The Young Offenders, now prepping for its fifth season, and the award-winning film Spilt Milk, which premiered at Black Nights Tallinn and won the Glasgow Audience Award. His diverse slate also includes Animals, A Dark Song, and Cold Courage.
A graduate of ACE, EAVE, and Ireland’s National Film School, Cormac continues to develop an exciting range of projects with support from Screen Ireland, BFI, RTÉ, and NI Screen.
Eddie Doyle
Eddie will be part of the the Case Study & Panel Discussion of the ‘Dead & Buried’ TV Series as well as the Producing Beyond the Pale panel.
Since stepping into his current role in 2020, Eddie has overseen a diverse range of acclaimed content for both local and UK-wide audiences. His commissioning credits include powerful documentaries like Once Upon A Time in Northern Ireland, Teen Predator/Online Killer, Bombing Brighton: The Plot to Kill Thatcher, and Jailed: Inside Maghaberry Prison, as well as standout scripted titles such as Dead & Buried, Hope Street, Video Nasty, Crá, and Funboys.
Previously at RTÉ, Eddie was the driving force behind Prime Time Investigates, and went on to commission award-winning factual and comedy programming, including The Young Offenders, Mrs Brown’s Boys, A Mother Brings Her Son to Be Shot, and The Tommy Tiernan Show.
With a background in journalism, TV production, and commissioning, Eddie brings a wealth of insight into the evolving media landscape across Ireland and the UK. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including Ireland’s TV Journalist of the Year in 2001.
Case Study & Panel Discussion: ‘Feed’ Feature Film
Paul Walker
Paul will be hosting the Case Study and Panel of the feature film ‘Feed’.
Paul’s acclaimed writing credits include Stardust, Red Rock, and Call the Midwife, as well as international projects like The Professionals starring Brendan Fraser. As showrunner on Red Rock and consultant on upcoming series like Liberties, Paul brings rich insight into both the creative and production sides of storytelling.
A passionate supporter of new talent, he co-founded the Wexford Writers Academy, and regularly mentors emerging writers. His recent true crime podcast Obscene: A Dublin Scandal won Gold at the New York Festivals and Irish True Crime Podcast of the Year.
Producing Beyond the Pale 3
Fiona Kinsella
Fiona will be hosting the Producing Beyond the Pale panel in the afternoon.
Fiona is a seasoned producer with a dynamic career across commercials, short films, and feature films. She founded Jumper Productions in 2009 and is currently Head of Production at Tile Media, with a growing slate of projects supported by Screen Ireland.
Her award-winning work spans the Irish and international screen industries, and she is known for her collaborative approach and commitment to nurturing emerging talent.
A board member of Women in Film & Television Ireland and a key figure in Screen Wexford, Fiona brings a unique perspective on producing, development, and the future of regional storytelling.
Lorraine Higgins
Lorraine will be part of the Producing Beyond the Pale panel in the afternoon.
Lorraine has worked across international productions in both production office and location roles, before joining Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland in 2019, where she supported Irish and international producers in bringing major filming projects to life.
With a postgraduate qualification in Advanced Producing from TU Dublin, she now leads National Film and Television Crew West at the Atlantic Academy, where she champions crew development across the western region of Ireland. Through Crew West, Lorraine supports both new and experienced crew with training, mentoring, and upskilling opportunities that strengthen the future of the Irish screen industry.
Gar O’Brien-Collins
Gar will be part of the Producing Beyond the Pale panel in the afternoon.
A leading figure in the Irish screen industry, Gar brings deep insight into regional production, talent development, and funding strategies. Prior to his current role, he was Head of Film & TV at the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA), and before that, Programme Director at the Galway Film Fleadh, where he played a key role in championing new voices in film.
With a Master’s in Film, Society and Culture and a passion for audience development, Gar is also an educator, consultant, and creative in his own right – often found writing comics and graphic novels under the name Mr. Eibh O’Brien-Collins.
Stephen Park
Stephen will be part of the Producing Beyond the Pale panel in the afternoon.
With a background in the film construction department and years of hands-on experience in production, Stephen is part of the driving force bringing the screen industry to West Cork.
Through the development of studio infrastructure and local festival programming, he is helping to create exciting new career opportunities and boost the regional economy.
Join us on 25th April in Wexford to hear how Stephen and the West Cork team are transforming the area into a vibrant hub for film and TV production.
More about the Event
For details about the event, and to book your ticket, see our Lights, Camera, Access page here. If you can’t attend in person, remember that Screen Wexford will be livestreaming the event.
This event is presented by Bodecii Film and WFT Ireland, with the support of Screen Wexford, Wexford County Council, and Screen Ireland.
