If you will be in Limerick, Ireland in early March, you should add “New Horizons” to your schedule. The one-day event, providing “an opportunity for contributors to lend their voice to the debate and produce an informed, robust, and inclusive discussion on how best to develop women’s greater role in Irish film and television.” A broad range of industry professionals will attend, including Women and Hollywood’s founder and publisher Melissa Silverstein.
Hosted by Mary Immaculate College and organized by Dr. Susan Liddy, “New Horizons” will see its attendees “engage in dialogue on the matter of gender equality in the industry,” the event’s official webpage writes. “A reflection on activities for women in film and television in 2016 will be followed by a discussion on what can be done this year.”
“New Horizons’” audience will include a diverse group of writers, producers, directors, film festival programmers, and educators.
Discussing the seminar, Silverstein commented, “Films are a way that people connect to each other. When stories about women are missing or when women are missing as the storytellers, our culture suffers,” the Limerick Post writes. “We are half the world, our stories matter. We are here. We count. This is a fight for our culture and for our future. It is that important,” she added.
Alongside Silverstein, “New Horizons” will feature Caroline Norbury, MBE, CEO Creative England and Professor Anna Wahl of KTH Stockholm as speakers. Panelists include Leslie McKimm, Project Manager, Irish Film Board; Jane Gogan, Head of Drama, RTE; Celine Craig, Deputy CEO, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; Orla O. Connor, Director, National Women’s Council of Ireland; and Siobhan Farrell, Eclipse Pictures.
Citing last year’s seminar, “Women in the Irish Film Industry: Moving from the Margins to the Centre,” Liddy emphasized the work that still needs to be done. “[Last year] provided a unique space to unpick the many gender specific challenges facing women. It also sent out a strong signal that for solid and lasting change to occur funding bodies would need to take the lead and seriously consider their gender policies,” she said. “The question posed at this [year’s] colloquium is how do we build momentum going into 2017?”
Tickets for “New Horizons” are still available. You can purchase them here until March 1. Visit the “New Horizons” webpage for more information.
“New Horizons: Women in the Irish Film and Television Industries” takes place Friday, March 3. Check out the official flyer below.
