GAZE LGBTQIA Film Festival today announced the 2024 starGAZE recipients, a unique professional development initiative to support emerging LGBTQIA filmmakers.
Philip Emo, Alba Fernandez, Ian Fallon, Hiram Harrington, Pradeep Mahadeshwar, and Liadán Roche were announced as the six filmmakers who will be platformed during the 2024 festival, as well as access to talks, screenings, and networking events and receiving mentorship throughout the following year.
Designed to provide a platform for LGBTQIA talent through an internationally recognised film festival, the recipients will have written, produced or directed a short film, which has screened at a recognised Irish or international film festival within the last three years, and be working towards a debut feature or television/online project. The initiative offers access to Irish and international creatives at a crucial point in their careers, with the ambition to increase the number of Irish LGBTQIA stories on screen and showcase the next generation of Irish queer and trans voices.
The six starGAZE recipients will receive year-long mentorship with thanks to National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama; a Lab Day during GAZE, hosted in partnership with The Dean Arts Studios and Press Up Hospitality Group, featuring filmmakers Peaches, John Butler, Félix Maritaud and Rory Fleck Byrne, as well as access to the festival including events and talks with filmmakers such as Andrew Haigh, Kate Dolan, Russell Tovey, Susie Hall, Dominic Savage, Bob Gallagher, David Amado and more.
“We are so thrilled to have the first edition of starGAZE taking place as part of this year's GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival, as part of the festival's ambitions to offer a talent development programme for the wealth of LGBTQIA screen talent in Ireland,” said Greg Thorpe, Sam Ahern & Evan Horan from GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival. “We're looking forward to seeing our six participants, who are writers, directors and producers, engage with the festival community, our industry guests as well as their mentors following the festival. We also wish to thank our partners for their support of starGAZE.” - Greg Thorpe, Sam Ahern & Evan Horan, GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival
Eibh O’Brien- Collins, Programme Director, National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama added: "starGAZE is not only an innovative new development program but also an incredibly vital space dedicated to LGBTQIA writers, directors, and producers, providing the opportunity for talent to connect, learn, upskill, and engage with both each other and the wider industry. The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama is delighted to collaborate with the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival to support this lab and its talented filmmakers.”
Kate Farnon, Director of The Dean Art Studios said: "The Dean Art Studios are delighted to support the starGAZE programme. Providing access to resources and uplifting talented creatives perfectly aligns with our ethos. We are excited to see how the programme develops and impacts this year’s incredible lineup of filmmakers."
starGAZE is supported by the National Talent Academy Film & TV Drama, an initiative of Screen Ireland and managed by Ardán, The Dean Arts Studio, and Press Up Hospitality Group.
