Who we are | KIFF - Kerry International Film Festival

The Team

Eibh O'Brien-Collins
Programme Director

Eibh joined KIFF four years ago. Formally the Festival Manager of IndieCork, Irish Film London and Irish Screen America, Eibh, as well as being Programme Director for Kerry International Film Festival, is the short film programmer for the Oscar-qualifying Galway Film Fleadh and the Development Executive at Ardán. As if that’s not enough, Eibh is also a 2023 Shorts Associate Programmer at SXSW.

You’d be hard-pushed to find a human alive that’s seen more short films than our Eibh. She has also curated and coordinated dozens of Irish Focuses for a selection of major international festivals and film markets. A passion of hers is supporting Irish film & filmmakers by connecting compatible audiences, festivals and organisations.

Nicola O' Sullivan - Sponsorship/PR

A native of Co. Kerry, Nicola (MPRII) is a professional PR and Marketing Consultant with almost 20 years’ experience in campaign, sponsorship and event management. Nicola has a proven track record of creating and implementing successful and bespoke events and campaigns through strategic planning, media relations, creative PR, marketing and social media management.

Through her business Nicola O’ Sullivan & Associates, Nicola works with a variety of diverse clients including Press Up Hospitality Group, Gym Grow Gain, Little Island Publishers, Skelligs Chocolates, KIFF and Glasson Lakehouse Hotel amongst others. Nicola was recently nominated as a finalist for the Connect Kerry Women in Business Awards 2022.

Marie Linehan - Operations Coordinator

Marie is the Operations Coordinator at KIFF. She joined the team last year and is loving every minute of it! Born in London and raised in Dingle, Marie brings with her a wealth of experience from her background in Recruitment. Organisation skills, attention to detail and bundles of energy are a few of the traits required to coordinate the KIFF festival, all of which Marie has in droves!

If she’s not trying to keep her husband and two girls on the straight and narrow (which in her words is no mean feat), you might find her cooking, exploring the outdoors of Kerry or perfecting one of her many sewing projects!

Declan Mc Steen - Programmer

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.

KIFF Board of Management

Grace O' Donnell - Festival Chair

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 - founder and Chief Executive of the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA)

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 Garvey - Solicitor

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.

Andrew Power - Vice President of Academic Affairs and Registrar at the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology (IADT)

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.

Ailbhe Keogan - Screenwriter

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.

Karl King - Studio and Location Manager

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.