Kerry International Film Festival Announces 2026 Maureen O’Hara Award Recipient and KIFF REEL TALK

The Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) is delighted to announce that Teresa McGrane will be the recipient of this year’s Maureen O’Hara Award, which celebrates women who have made outstanding contributions to the film and television industries.

The award will be presented as part of a special In Conversation with Teresa McGrane, facilitated by producer Lesley McKimm at Randles Hotel, Killarney.

“I am delighted to be the recipient of this year’s award. It comes at a time for me personally where reflection on the past 25 years of growth in the industry is enormously satisfying. I acknowledge the hard work, duty and service of past Chairpersons, Boards, CEO’s and wonderful staff at Screen Ireland who served the industry with enormous dedication and commitment. Heartfelt thanks to the Kerry International Film Festival for this beautiful award in this very special place.”

Teresa McGrane has played a significant role in the development and growth of Ireland’s screen industry. She served as Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland for more than two decades, during which time the Irish film and television sector experienced remarkable growth in terms of production, talent development, and national and international recognition.

Since 2023, she has served as Chief Operating Officer of Wild Atlantic Pictures, one of Ireland’s leading production companies, with recent releases including Lee Cronin’s The Mummy and Saipan. In 2023 she was also awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry by the Animation sector.  Teresa worked as an independent producer and production accountant and has served on many industry boards nationally and internationally.

The In Conversation event will explore Teresa’s career and her contribution to the Irish screen sector, while also reflecting on the dramatic transformation of the industry during her time working at the heart of it.

Maureen O’Hara Award: In Conversation with Teresa McGrane

Friday, October 16 | 19:00 | Randles Hotel, Killarney

KIFF Announces REEL TALK.

Kerry International Film Festival is proud to introduce REEL TALK, a new series of conversations, panels and practical sessions taking place throughout the 2026 festival. Bringing together filmmakers, emerging talent, crew and creative professionals with experienced voices from across the Irish screen industry, REEL TALK is all about sharing ideas, experiences and insights into life behind the scenes. From building a career and finding opportunities, to regional filmmaking, working as crew and the realities of making independent film, REEL TALK will open up honest conversations about the industry and the people working within it.

Whether you’re just starting out, developing your next project or already working in film, REEL TALK is a space to listen, learn, connect and get inspired. Each REEL TALK session is free to attend, but booking is required.

REEL TALK 2026

Centered around the central theme of “Home”, Thursday’s industry sessions at KIFF will explore production within the county, examining what’s being done as well as what further opportunities will be available in the future, in what is certain to be an engaging and insightful afternoon for all interested in working within Kerry.

Session 1: The State of the County: A Presentation from Screen Kerry

Thursday October 15th | 12:30 | ANAM, Killarney

To start our industry afternoon, Seán Mulchinock from Screen Kerry will give an informative presentation on opportunities for filmmakers in Kerry, including what’s shooting, skills & development opportunities and funding avenues.

Session 2: The Kerry Crew Experience

Thursday October 15th | 13:00 | ANAM, Killarney

Bringing together three experienced Heads of Department, this panel will discuss how different departments work together on a crew to bring a vision to life, with a particular focus on working in Kerry and the Irish industry as a whole. Panellists include Kate Leys (Script & Story Editing), Michelle Navarro (Costume) and Bronagh McAuley (Intimacy Coordination). Moderated by Jess Whelehan, Skills Development Liaison for Screen Guilds of Ireland. Delivered in collaboration with the National Talent Academy – Crew Academy South and the Screen Guilds of Ireland.  NTA Crew South is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and is managed by Film in Limerick.

Session 3: Script & Story Masterclass with Kate Leys, ANAM

Thursday October 15th | 14:15 | ANAM, Killarney

Kate Leys is a script and story editor who recently worked on Whitetail, which was shot in Kerry. She works with screenwriters and filmmakers as they write their feature film scripts. In this session, Kate will discuss how she started out in the industry and what her work involves. She’ll  also talk about being a “story engineer’; about storytelling and filmmaking; and she will share some seriously useful things to know about writing a screenplay. This event is delivered in collaboration with the National Talent Academy – Crew Academy South. NTA Crew South is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and is managed by Film in Limerick.

Session 4: Making Diatribe: Building an Independent Feature from the Ground Up

Thursday October 15th | 15:30 | ANAM, Killarney

Director Shaun O’Connor, producer Mo O’Connell and writer Paul Cahill take audiences behind the scenes of Diatribe, a new independent feature film shot entirely in Kerry. Speaking while the film is still in post-production, the team will trace the journey from the initial idea and development of the screenplay through financing, casting and assembling a crew, to finally getting the cameras rolling.

They’ll discuss the realities of mounting an ambitious feature film on an independent budget, as well as the opportunities and challenges of shooting in Kerry, finding locations, working with local communities and bringing a production together. This will be an open and candid look at what it takes to get an independent feature film off the ground, with practical insights from the filmmakers behind the project.

This event is supported by the National Talent Academy for Film & TV. The NTA Film & TV is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and is managed by Ardán.

On Saturday, October 17th, festival attendees will be able to avail of more engaging talks held throughout the day in ANAM, Killarney.

Session 5: Storyboard Masterclass with John Coven

Saturday October 17th | 11:00am | ANAM, Killarney

Join internationally renowned storyboard artist and visual storyteller John Coven for a special masterclass exploring the art and craft of visual storytelling. John has been working as a storyboard artist in Hollywood for more than 30 years, collaborating with directors including Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Jon Favreau and Ben Stiller. His credits include The Lion King, Jurassic World, Venom, Logan, Captain America: Civil War and the original X-Men.

Alongside his work in film, John’s children’s picture books have been published in France by Gallimard, his comics have appeared in Spirou and Fluide Glacial, and his short films have won awards at festivals around the world. He has also taught filmmaking, storyboarding and entertainment design at institutions including the ArtCenter College of Design, Otis College of Art and Design, The Animation Workshop and Les Gobelins.

This masterclass will offer filmmakers and emerging creatives a unique opportunity to learn from an experienced visual storyteller and gain insight into the role of storyboarding in developing and communicating a film’s visual language.

This event is supported by the National Talent Academy for Animation.

Session 6: Run of the Mill’s Mary is Missing: A Case Study in Inclusive Filmmaking

Saturday, October 17th | 15:15 | ANAM, Killarney

Mary is Missing is a genre-flipping psychological thriller exploring truth, perspective and belief, with artists with intellectual disabilities at the heart of both the story and its creation.

Developed through a 12-week collaborative writers’ room, the film was produced by multi-award-winning inclusive arts organisation Run of the Mill, in association with Arcade Film, and supported by Ready to Roll, a pilot inclusive film-school initiative. Now Oscar-qualifying and screening at Kerry International Film Festival, director Aisling Byrne, alongside members of the film’s cast and creative team, will unpack how Mary is Missing was made and what inclusive and accessible co-creation looks like in practice.

Through panel discussion and Q&A, they will explore collaborative authorship, access, facilitation and the practical realities of creating professional film work that meaningfully platforms intellectually disabled talent.

This event is supported by the National Talent Academy for Film & TV. The NTA Film & TV is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and is managed by Ardán.

For tickets and further information, visit kerryfilmfestival.com

The full KIFF 2026 programme will be announced on September 22nd.

Kerry International Film Festival is supported by its principal funders The Arts Council of Ireland, Kerry County Council, and Fáilte Ireland, with headline sponsorship from Kerry Airport.