First Take is a training and development platform for newly established film professionals, film and media students and the wider film industry, which comprises case studies, presentations and panel discussions.
This year’s event will include a focus on the art of editing short film, in collaboration with Irish Screen Editors, and present a case study of the new short film Mary is Missing (see p.48), which features a cast and crew of adults with intellectual disabilities.
We will also delve into the initiatives and players aiding in the development of sustainable regional film production in Cork city and county, in partnership with Screen Producers Ireland, and host a conversation with leading Irish writers about carving a career in screenwriting, in collaboration with Storyhouse.
THU 13 NOV | TRISKEL | 10:30 – 16:00 | TICKETS €20* | INCLUDES LIGHT LUNCH
Official Industry Partner
Supported by
SCHEDULE
10:00 – Door opens / registration
10:30 – Intro
10:35 – Session 1 – Building our film industry in a regional setting
11:25 – Session 2 – Mary is Missing | Case Study of Run of the Mill’s Film School
12:15 – Lunch
13:00 – Session 3 – The Art of Editing Shorts
14:00 – Session 4 – Storyhouse | Carving a Career as a Screenwriter
14:50 – Break
15:00 – Session 5 – Why Film Criticism Matters
16:00 – Drinks Reception
17:00 – END
10:35 Building our film industry in a regional setting
This session will delve into the initiatives and players aiding in the development of sustainable regional film production in Cork city and county, including building film productions and production companies in the region, our thriving West Cork Studio and its bustling production schedule, as well as insights from creators on how they make producing regionally viable.
Speakers:
- Édaín O’Donnell – Founding Director, West Cork Studio
- David O’Mahony – Producer, Blue Pineapple Pictures
- Sinead O’Riordan – Board Member, Screen Cork / Producer, Swing Bout
Host: Anthony Muldoon – Director of Strategic Policy, Screen Producers Ireland
Presented in partnership with 
11:25 Mary is Missing | Case Study of Run of the Mill’s Film School
This session forms a case study of NTA’s work with Run of the Mill’s Film School project, which has culminated in a new short, Mary is Missing, featuring a cast and crew of adults with intellectual disabilities. Directed by CIFF award alumnus Aisling Byrne, the session will discuss the process of making the film, including valuable insights from select cast and crew of the film.
Speakers:
- Aisling Byrne – Director, Mary is Missing
- Killian Coyle – Producer, Mary Missing
- Dan Keane – Cinematographer, Mary is Missing
- Cast Member, Mary is Missing
Host: Sinead O’Loughlin – Filmmaker
Presented in partnership with 
12:15 Lunch
13:00 The Art of Editing Shorts
Examining the craft of editing short film and its particularities as an art form mutually exclusive from feature film, this session will give insight into working with directors and negotiating narrative and story, as well as providing an understanding of technique, workflow and process, and general advice on how to carve a career in the field.
Speakers:
- Tori Clarkson – Editor, Swimmer
- Dan Keane – Editor, Mary is Missing
- Stephen Staunton – Editor, A Song
Host: Jenny Russell – Editor & Lecturer
Presented in partnership with 
14:00 Storyhouse | Carving a career as a screenwriter
In collaboration with Storyhouse, the festival and talent development programme that champions the art of storytelling for the screen, we celebrate the screenwriting craft with some of Ireland’s best talent, who will discuss cultivating a career in writing and the creative and practical mechanisms they implement in their work; with tips for emerging screenwriters entering the industry.
Speakers:
- Ailbhe Keogan – Writer, Bad Sisters, Joyride, Sunlight, Trespasses
- Cara Loftus – Writer, Hidden Assets, Spilt Milk
Host: Malcolm Campbell – Creative Mentor, Storyhouse
Presented in partnership with 
The event will be followed by a drinks reception, supported by the National Talent Academies.
15:00 Why Film Criticism Matters
The ubiquity of the internet has brought both a democratisation, and a fragmentation, of film criticism in recent years, bringing both positive and negative outcomes in this context. This session will consider the role of the contemporary critic and respond to the question of why criticism is important for the culture; in influencing audiences, providing analysis and fostering a deeper understanding of the cinematic arts.
Speakers:
- Aoife Barry – Freelance Writer, Broadcaster and Arts Journalist
- Rory Cashin – Entertainment & Culture Journalist
- Yal Sadat – Journalist & Film Critic
Host: Aurélie Godet – Director of Programming, Cork International Film Festival
A light lunch will be provided, supported by the National Talent Academies.
