Keeper’s Katie Holly and Evan Horan Deliver X-Pollinator: CREATOR

X-Pollinator was founded by Katie Holly, in order to address the issue of gender diversity in the Irish screen industry and after three years, the professional development and networking initiative has grown from strength to strength.

CREATOR started with a week-long immersive residency for female and non-binary directors in Adare, Co. Limerick in January 2023, led by director Aisling Walsh (MAUDIE, SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY).

The twelve directors selected for CREATOR are:

Aisling Byrne
Andie McCaffrey
Alya Amano
Claire Frances Byrne
Gilly Fogg
Katie McNeice
Kim Bartley
Mia Mullarkey
Rachel McGill
Rosie Barrett
Sinead O’Shea
Solène Guichard

The directors participated in group sessions with visiting experts, including directors Clio Barnard (ALI & AVA), Kate Dolan (YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER), Sophie Hyde (GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE) and Frank Berry (AISHA), producers Tristan Orpen Lynch (JOYRIDE) and Keeper’s Yvonne Donohoe (BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL), cinematographer (THE QUIET GIRL), editor Alex Mackie (BENEDICTION) and casting director Maureen Hughes (IT IS IN US ALL).

In February 2023, the CREATOR participants then took part in an Actors Workshop in association with Bow Street Academy, guided again by Aisling Walsh. They were joined by actors Helen Behan (THE VIRTUES) and MOE DUNFORD (THE DRY) for a panel, as well as acting alumni from Bow Street Academy, who then workshopped scenes with the CREATOR participants over three days.

X-Pollinator: CREATOR is supported by Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), Northern Ireland Screen and BBC NI’s CINE scheme and Creative Europe Desk Ireland, in association with Bow Street Academy and the National Talent Academies.