EXCLUSIVE: Aisling Bea, the BAFTA-winning writer behind This Way Up, Savanah Leaf, the BAFTA-winning filmmaker of Earth Mama, and Censor writer-director Prano Bailey-Bond are among the latest speakers added to Element Pictures’ upcoming Storyhouse, its Dublin-based screenwriting festival that celebrates storytellers and storytelling.
Writer-director Aislinn Clarke (Fréwaka), writer Cara Loftus (Spilt Milk), writer Courttia Newland (Small Axe, The Woman in the Wall), director Morgan Matthews (X+Y, The Railway Children Return), writer Richie Conroy (Crá, Fran the Man) and writer-director Tom Sullivan (Arracht) have also been added to the lineup for this year’s event, which will be held at the Irish capital’s Light House Cinema on April 3rd and 4th.
They’ll join previously announced speakers Peter Straughan, who is fresh off of his Oscar win for Best Adapted Screenplay for Conclave, as well as Kenneth Lonergan, Laurie Nunn and Nia DaCosta.
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The festival has also announced the hosts for the events taking place across the two days, including writer-director Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Normal People), writer Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul, Garage), writer Stephen Shields (Abigail), writer-director Frank Berry (Michael Inside, Aisha), writer-director Kate Dolan (You Are Not My Mother), writer Sheena Lambert (The Lake), producer Emma Norton (The Dry, Normal People) and producer Chelsea Morgan-Hoffman (The Listeners, September Says).
Storyhouse, which was launched last year by The Favourite producer Element Pictures, will feature panels, keynote talks, interviews and case studies, offering a unique opportunity to learn from a lineup of acclaimed Irish and international screenwriters and storytellers. The festival focuses on supporting the next generation of screenwriters and aims to provide a platform for emerging talent to engage with and be inspired by the expertise of industry veterans.
In addition to masterclass sessions, the topics of discussion this year will include the craft of writing horror, navigating Hollywood, approaching low budget filmmaking and writing films and television in the Irish language.
“We’re delighted to welcome an incredible roster of talent to this year’s Storyhouse and we look forward to hosting insightful sessions that are set to inspire and ignite creativity, giving emerging voices the chance to connect, learn and develop their craft alongside industry leaders,” said Ed Guiney, founder of Storyhouse and Co-CEO of Element Pictures.
Bea added: “First rule of Storehouse festival is to have fun. Well, it’s actually ‘No ChatGPT’, but I’m so excited to be a part of the esteemed panel of this year’s screenwriting festival and meet the new incredible writing talent Ireland has to offer. ChatGPT wrote this.”
In parallel with the main event, Storyhouse is also expanding on Storyhouse Lab, an interactive program that will now take place across five days, including the two-day festival. The lab will provide a small cohort of emerging writers with complimentary access to all Storyhouse events, as well as additional focused sessions with guests under the mentorship of BAFTA and IFTA-winning TV and film screenwriter Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did, Bad Sisters).
Darren and Colin Thornton will be special guests at this year’s lab, where they will discuss their screenwriting career and their BFI London Film Festival Audience Award-winning new film Four Mothers.
Storyhouse is a not-for-profit initiative spearheaded by Guiney and is supported by Screen Ireland, Fremantle and Element Pictures. It’s produced in association with the Light House Cinema.
The sold out event takes place April 3-4 at Dublin’s Light House Cinema.
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