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Amy-Louise O’Callaghan has been appointed Programming Director for KIFF 2024. She will curate a special programme to celebrate 25 years of the festival, which takes place from 17 – 20 October 2024, across a variety of venues in Killarney.
Amy Louise is a film programmer and illustrator who has spent the last few years working in the Irish Film Institute on its annual schools programme, delivering an extensive selection of Irish and international films to young people throughout Ireland.
With a blend of passion and experience, Marie has been at the heart of the KIFF journey for the past four years. From her early days as a festival enthusiast to her current role as Festival Manager, Marie’s growth within the organisation mirrors the festival’s own evolution.
With her at the helm of festival operations, KIFF continues to grow stronger each year, attracting new collaborators, fans, and partners, while staying true to its mission of celebrating creativity, culture, and community.
Declan works in a variety of Technical, Programming and Administrative roles for Film Festivals.
After receiving a BA in Film and Television, and an MA in Screenwriting, he has gone on to a spectacularly unsuccessful career as a Screenwriter, and a mediocre at best one working as a Script Supervisor, Production Assistant, Assistant Director, Editor and Post-Production Audio Engineer on a variety of Film and Television productions. He also works as a Script Reader and in Development, so far managing to get zero (0) projects into Production. In his spare time (lots), he endeavours at all times to cultivate an air of mystery.
Working with KIFF since May 2017. Tadhg has worked in the Audio & Visual Industry since he was a teenager and has gained over 15 years of experience working with multiple festivals such as EP, Independence, Carlow Arts and The Rose of Tralee. Working as a lead content creator within the Professional Rugby Industry Tadhg has also worked on numerous live match day productions with visual mixing and live cameras along with shooting and creating behind-the-scenes content.
Helen is KIFF’s Front of House hostess with the mostess! There isn’t a task that Helen hasn’t been able to deliver for the festival. She goes beyond the call of duty always. A jack of all trades, and an all round deadly person – she’s Killarneys heart and soul. Organisation and bundles of energy are two traits which the festival requires to deliver the jam packed weekend of film in the kingdom, both of which Helen has in droves. We would be lost and run off our feet without her.
Having completed an apprenticeship in 35mm film projection, Kieran Fitzgerald has been providing technical support to film festivals since 2005, using his extensive knowledge of film formats and the filmmaking process to ensure error free screenings. Kieran is also an acclaimed Director of Photography & Colourist. Working on over 200 short & feature length films since 2000, including Damian McCarthy’s debut feature ‘Caveat’, which was an international critical and commercial hit worldwide in 2021.
Ailbhe’s first feature film, the IFTA-nominated RUN & JUMP, was selected as part of the Berlin Talent Campus Script Station and the Sundance Institute’s Lab. Directed by Oscar-nominated Steph Green, it premiered at Tribeca in 2012.
Her second script, IFTA-nominated JOYRIDE, was released in 2022 was directed by Emmy award-winning Emer Reynolds with Olivia Coleman in the lead role.
Her third feature, SUNLIGHT had its world premiere at Glasgow International Film Festival. It was directed by award-winning Claire Dix, starring Barry Ward. It won the jury award at Austin Film Festival.
Ailbhe is a writer on both seasons of the BAFTA-winning and EMMY- nominated BAD SISTERS, Sharon Horgan’s dark comedy TV show which streams on Apple.
Ailbhe adapted Louise Kennedy’s critically-acclaimed debut novel TRESPASSES for Channel 4, with Oscar-nominated Wildgaze Films producing. Directed by Dawn Shadforth, it stars Lola Pettigrew, Tom Cullen and Gillian Anderson in the lead roles.
Ailbhe is currently adapting Úna Mannion’s multi-award winning TELL ME WHAT I AM for Sid Gentle films.
A former Town Councillor and Mayor of Tralee, Grace always championed the arts in her time on the Council and continues to do so. A proud Kerry girl, she has been active in social issues and politics since her early teens. With a great interest in all things cultural Grace joined the board of KIFF as a director a number of years ago. Although not an expert in film Grace has always been an enthusiastic and dedicated supporter of the Kerry International Film Festival.
Grace now works with 321 Down Syndrome Kerry Charity Shop and also runs her own tourism business Hidden Kerry. Grace has watched the film festival go from strength over the years and looks forward to working with the team at Kerry International Film festival for many more years to come.
Aileen is a solicitor by profession. A native of Dingle, she worked in London and in Dublin for many years before returning home to Kerry. She now resides in Killarney with her family.
Aileen is a keen film enthusiast and has supported Kerry International Film Festival since her return to Kerry. Aileen joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and advises on legal matters pertaining to the festival. She also assists with marketing, sponsorship, fundraising and event planning.
Casey Hynes is the Press and Marketing Officer at the Irish Film Institute. Over the last few years, she has played a leading part in supporting the vital activities and work of the home of film in Ireland through marketing, promotion, print material design and curation, and through acting as a key contact for Irish film press and media. She previously worked at the Cork International Film Festival in marketing, schools programme delivery, and administration.
She received her Master of Arts in Film and Screen Media from UCC in 2021. During her time at UCC, she served as a jury delegate for the European University Film Award and was selected as a UCC Lord Puttnam Scholar in 2019. Her films have been screened at Cork International Film Festival, UCC Repeal Fest, IndieCork, and Fastnet Film Festival.
Following her MA in Film Studies at UCD, Gillian Cooper joined the film marketing start-up company, usheru & was a key member of their original team for 2 years. She went on to join Wildcard’s team in 2017 & is now their Head of Distribution, overseeing Wildcard’s slate across Distribution and Production.
Key releases she has worked on include Tomm Moore & Ross Stewart’s Oscar nominated Wolfwalkers, Lance Daly’s box office hit Black ’47, Lee Cronin’s debut feature The Hole in the Ground, Frank Berry’s award-winning drama Michael Inside, Kate Dolan’s indie horror You Are Not My Mother, & Rich Peppiatt’s box office & Sundance award-winning hit Kneecap, which Wildcard also co-Produced.
A former Town Councillor and Mayor of Tralee, Grace always championed the arts in her time on the Council and continues to do so. A proud Kerry girl, she has been active in social issues and politics since her early teens. With a great interest in all things cultural Grace joined the board of KIFF as a director a number of years ago. Although not an expert in film Grace has always been an enthusiastic and dedicated supporter of the Kerry International Film Festival.
Grace now works with 321 Down Syndrome Kerry Charity Shop and also runs her own tourism business Hidden Kerry. Grace has watched the film festival go from strength over the years and looks forward to working with the team at Kerry International Film festival for many more years to come.
Áine Moriarty is the founder and Chief Executive of the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) (www.ifta.ie) est. in 2003. It has 1,140 Members of Irish industry professionals and runs an Educational Programme of c. 50 events annually including the John Ford Ireland – Film Symposium. Áine has Executive Produced 17 x IFTA Awards Ceremonies; is a founding member of the Film Academies Network of Europe; and lectured annually at the Digital MEDIA Business School in Spain for five years.
Áine founded the IFTN – Irish Film & Television Network (www.iftn.ie) in 1995 and previously was manager of Film Ireland Magazine for 3 years. She is a member of the Audiovisual Federation of Ireland: Member of the Film Steering Group Kerry.
Aileen is a solicitor by profession. A native of Dingle, she worked in London and in Dublin for many years before returning home to Kerry. She now resides in Killarney with her family.
Aileen is a keen film enthusiast and has supported Kerry International Film Festival since her return to Kerry. Aileen joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and advises on legal matters pertaining to the festival. She also assists with marketing, sponsorship, fundraising and event planning.
Ailbhe’s first feature film, RUN & JUMP, was selected as part of the Berlin Talent Campus Script Station and the Sundance Institute’s Lab. Directed by Oscar-nominated Steph Green, it premiered at Tribeca in 2012 and the script went on to win numerous awards.
Her second feature, JOYRIDE, will be released in 2022, sold by Embankment, produced by Subotica and supported by Screen Ireland. It is directed by Emmy award-winning Emer Reynolds with Olivia Coleman in the lead role.
Her third feature, SUNLIGHT, is part of Screen Ireland’s POV scheme and will be released in 2022. Produced by Blinder Films and Roisin Geraghty of Little Rose films, it is directed by award-winning Claire Dix and stars Barry Ward and Liam Carney. Ailbhe was a writer on BAD SISTERS, Sharon Horgan’s new dark comedy TV show, which is due to be streamed on Apple TV in 2022.
Ailbhe was selected as one of two Irish participants on Guiding Lights 8, the UK film industry’s leading mentoring programme. She was under the mentorship of Alex Garland.
Andrew is the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Registrar at the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology (IADT). Prior to that he was the founding Head of Faculty of Film, Art, and Creative Technologies and Head of the National Film School at IADT. Andrew has served on a number of Boards in the Cultural and Creative Sector including the National Museum of Ireland, and the Film Classification Appeals Board.
Karl has been working in the film industry for the last 15 years. For the past decade he has been a Location Manager. He has worked on The Crown, Mary Queen of Scots, Motherland and more recently Joyride, (written by fellow board member Ailbhe and directed by Emmy Award Winner Emer Reynolds,) which was shot exclusively in Kerry!
Karl moved to Ireland from the UK at the beginning of the pandemic, and has lived in Ardfert, Co Kerry for the last two and a half years with his wife and 3 Children.
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