Irish actor Brendan Gleeson was a latest participant in The National Film School's successful Lecture series in Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT) which took place this week.
Gleeson is one of Ireland’s most well-known actors whose eclectic credits include ‘The General’, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘In Bruges’, ‘Calvary’ and most recently ‘Pursuit’. He has been nominated for three Golden Globes and won an IFTA and Emmy Award in 2009 for ‘Into The Storm’. He was also the lead actor in Martin McDonagh’s Oscar winning short film ‘Six Shooter’.
Brendan spoke extensively about his career, in conversation with Screenwriting tutor, Mary-Kate O'Flanagan, in front of a capacity audience of approximately 140 students, industry visitors and staff, including Dr. Annie Doona, President of IADT.
Students from Film & Television Production, Design for Stage & Screen, Screenwriting and Broadcast Production asked questions both about Brendan's varied screen credits and their own future ambitions, while others from IADT's successful Animation programme were particularly interested in his work on Cartoon Saloon's ‘The Secret of Kells’ and ‘Song of the Sea’, both of which were nominated for Oscars.
Donald Taylor Black, Creative Director of The National Film School, said, "It was a fantastic evening, one of the best public interviews we've hosted in recent years and Brendan was most generous with his time and advice to all.
During this academic year, the NFS Lecture series has welcomed animation designer Nelson Lowry (‘Fantastic Mr Fox’), writer/producer Lisa Albert (‘Mad Men’), and Oscar nominated and IFTA winning costume designer Consolata Boyle (‘The Queen, ‘Philomena’). In the coming weeks, the series will welcome Oscar nominated ‘Room’ producer, Ed Guiney (Element Pictures) and IFTA and Emmy winning Production Designer John Paul Kelly (‘The Guard’, ‘The Theory of Everything’). The NFS Lecture Series is supported by The Irish Film Board.