Category: – Writers

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.

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).

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.

Roisin Agnew is a writer and filmmaker based in London. She’s the recipient of Arts Council Ireland’s Next Generation Artist Award in Literature 2020/21 and she’s currently in development with HIT WHERE IT HURTS, her first feature film with Screen Ireland, attached as writer/director. Roisin’s writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Irish Times, Elephant Magazine, Dazed & Confused, and Vice. She’s recently written an exhibition text for Jupiter Woods and has a forthcoming piece in Another Gaze.  Roisin is currently directing a documentary for Erica Starling Productions with the support of Northern Ireland Screen.  Roisin has also written for Playstation games and teaches screenwriting at the London Film School.

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 panelist on Ireland’s popular all female talk show ‘Midday’.

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.

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.

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 Moe Dunford; premiered at Galway Film Fleadh 2022; 2021: BUGALOO – Short Film written and directed by Ben Conway and Peter J MCarthy and starring Moe Dunford; premiered at Galway Film Fleadh 2021.

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 first sellout run during November/December 2023 and ever since – find out more here www.makingashowofmyself.com.

Paul is an award winning stage and screenwriter whose work includes the award-winning STARDUST, RED ROCK and CALL THE MIDWIFE along with writing for international series such as THE PROFESSIONALS with Brendan Fraser. He has worked in a variety of writers’ rooms, and was the showrunner on RED ROCK. He has worked as a consultant on a variety of series including the upcoming LIBERTIES and works regularly as a mentor for new writers. His recent podcast series for BBS, OBSCENE: A DUBLIN SCANDAL recently won gold at the prestigious New York Festival awards.

Denise Deegan is an Irish novelist and PAGE Award-winning screenwriter who tackles issues of loss and injustice through a prism of light and humour. Winner of The Pitch Film Fund, Denise’s comedy short about homelessness, THE INNKEEPER,  is on the festival circuit. A writer on Ireland’s longest running serial drama, Denise has two TV series and three features in development. Ireland’s film body, Screen Ireland, has supported three of her projects with development funding. Denise’s new psychological thriller, THOUGHT I KNEW YOU, is an Academy Nicholl Fellowship Quarterfinalist and Final Draft Big Break Semi-finalist. A former nurse, medical and psychological storylines regularly bubble up in her work. 

Following a successful career as a finance professional in the TV and Film Industry, Fiona is now a scriptwriter of original stories that capitalize on Irish humour with international appeal.

In May 2023, Fiona successfully completed a shadow script for the new TV version of the Gerard Butler “Has Fallen” franchise, PARIS HAS FALLEN which started PP in June 2023. She has been invited to write on Season 2.

Yellow Film have optioned a TV pilot Fiona co-wrote, with a writer’s room planned for later in 2023.

Fiona’s feature THE MOUNT, was selected for Screen Ireland Spotlight emerging talent scheme, which was optioned by 925 Productions and has recently secured further funding.

In Development: NORTHERN LIGHTS Series 2 (TV Adaptation) – Deadpan Productions for RTÉ; ADAPTING (radio play) – RTÉ Drama on One; SUMMERHILL (play); THE COUPLE OF PEACE (play); THE BILLY GOATS OF GLENVIEW PARK (YA Novel).

Credits: NORTHERN LIGHTS (play)- Theatre Upstairs, Dublin; NORTHERN LIGHTS (radio adaptation)- RTÉ Drama on One; FROM EDEN (play) – Theatre Upstairs, Dublin & National Tour, Ireland; FROM EDEN (radio adaptation) – RTÉ Drama on One. A CERTAIN ROMANCE (play)- Druid Theatre; THE GOO (5 part- web series) – Youtube.

A trained improviser with a Film Degree from IADT, Louise is an award-winning screenwriter whose unique voice spans the genres of Comedy, Comedy-Drama and Action/Suspense Thrillers.

Past TV credits include the Irish-Australian FOREIGN EXCHANGE and the BAFTA Winning CUSTER’S LAST STAND UP. 

Of her feature scripts SHELL GAME was a finalist in the 2019 Breaking Walls Thriller Screenplay Contest; BUT THEN THERE WERE TWO was an Official Selection of the 2021 Thriller/Suspense Film & Writing Festival; and A CHRISTMAS WEDDING won the 2020 WriteMovies Romance & Comedy Award. 

Louise’s supernatural Comedy-Drama TV series THE DAUGHTERHOOD is in development with a production company in Ireland.

Gavin is a Dublin-based screenwriter and lecturer. He has a degree in Film & Television from ATU Galway and a MA in Screenwriting from The National Film School (IADT). Gavin’s last four screenplays have received development funding from Screen Ireland and all are in development with Irish production companies. Among them is PATASHNIK, a sci-fi directed by Bruno Samper and Kristina Buoztye (Vesper) and produced by Samson Films, THIS YEAR’S MODEL and THIS IS GOING TO SOUND WEIRD (both developed by Tiger Darling). In October 2023 Gavin will attend the eQuinoxe Screenwriter’s Workshop. Gavin has been shortlisted for the Untitled Screenwriting Award.

Gavin also lectures modules on Irish Film and the History of Screenwriting at IADT and has lectured at other institutions (ATU Sligo, University of Plymouth). He has been a script reader and script editor for Screen Ireland since 2016. He has also provided coverage on a regular basis for various Irish production companies like Port Pictures, Samson Films, Janey Pictures and more. Currently, Gavin is a script editor for Igloo Animations and is providing maternity cover for Wild Atlantic Pictures in a development executive capacity.

A former film critic, he contributed reviews to RTE, Entertainment.ie, Film Ireland, The Irish Examiner and The Irish Independent from 2005-2018. He was a producer and presenter of film show Cinerama on Phantom 105.2, and has chaired discussions on film at the Irish Film Institute, Digital Biscuit and Dublin International Film Festival.

Pierce is an award winning writer whose second feature BLACK ’47 became the highest grossing Irish feature film bringing in over two million dollars worldwide.

2023: THE LIBERTIES – in development with Screen Ireland and 925 Production; 2021-22: MANSOUR – Bidaya Media; 2020-22: THE LIBERTIES – 925 Productions; 2019: In Development – Original screenplay with Samson Films and Hail Mary Pictures; 2018: BLACK 47 – Fastnet Films; 2014: STANDBY – Black Sheep Productions; 2012: FAIR CITY – RTE; 2010: RUNNERS – short film; 2008: AN RANGER – short film; 2005: JELLYBABY – short film; 2002: SMALLTALK – short film.