The Evolving Landscape of Irish Film and TV: Fís TV Summit 2026
'Be curious. Do as much as you can. Seek out the things that really excite you and try and find your community.”
Garry Talks: Film’s special edition, recorded live at the Radisson Red Hotel in Galway during the Fís TV Summit 2026, offers a rare, in-depth look into the Irish film and television industry. Through candid conversations with actors, writers, commissioning editors, and producers, the episode explores the challenges, triumphs, and future directions of Irish media.
The Power of Storytelling: Giving Voice to the Silenced
Storytelling as Social Change: Nora-Jane Noone, acclaimed Irish actress best known for her role in The Magdalene Sisters, shares her perspective on how film can confront uncomfortable truths and catalyse societal reflection. The film’s impact extended beyond entertainment, giving survivors and their families a platform and validation.
Personal Connection: Authentic storytelling often stems from personal or community ties. Nora-Jane’s family history with the Magdalene laundries deepened her commitment to the project, underscoring the importance of lived experience in powerful narratives.
Actionable Insights
Seek Stories with Societal Impact: When choosing projects, consider their potential to spark conversation and healing within communities.
Engage with Real Voices: Involve those directly affected by the stories you tell, ensuring authenticity and respect.
Building a Career in Acting:
Overcoming Barriers Without Formal Training
Beginning without drama school credentials, Nora-Jane’s journey demonstrates that alternative paths can lead to success. Her career was built on curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to learn on the job.
Detailed Tips
Embrace Continuous Learning:
Attend diverse workshops (e.g., clowning, physical theatre) to broaden your skillset.
Learn from every audition and role, regardless of size or prestige.
Combat Imposter Syndrome:
Recognise that many successful actors share similar insecurities.
Build confidence through preparation and by seeking feedback from trusted peers.
Find Your Community:
Connect with other actors and creatives for support and collaboration.
Institutions like Bow Street in Ireland offer not just training but a network of emerging talent.
Navigating International Markets
Nora-Jane’s experiences in the UK and US reveal the value of adaptability and cultural pride.
Adapt to Local Industry Norms: Understand the expectations and styles of different markets.
Leverage Your Unique Identity: Embrace your background - sometimes even exaggerate it for roles, as Nora-Jane did with her Irish accent in LA.
Balancing Career and Personal Life
Her decision to return to Ireland for family and safety reasons highlights the importance of aligning career choices with personal values.
Prioritise Wellbeing: Consider the broader implications of your work environment, especially when raising a family.
Stay Open to Change: Career paths are rarely linear; be willing to pivot as your circumstances evolve.
Commissioning and Creating Authentic Irish-Language Content
Proinsias Ní Ghráinne, Commissioning Editor at TG4, Ireland’s Irish-language broadcaster, offers a window into the channel’s philosophy and strategy.
TG4’s Approach:
Key Principles
Authenticity Over Celebrity: TG4 prioritises original voices and genuine Irish-language talent over attaching English-language celebrities to projects.
Serving the Community: The remit is threefold:
Create content for native Irish speakers.
Serve all of Ireland through subtitling.
Operate as a multi-platform streaming service.
Actionable Advice for Producers
Pitch Original, Culturally Rooted Ideas: Focus on stories that resonate with the Irish-speaking community and reflect contemporary issues.
Champion New Talent: Seek out contributors from diverse backgrounds - sports, music, acting - who are fluent in Irish and bring fresh perspectives.
Prioritise Language Integrity: Ensure directors and editors are Irish speakers, or provide robust language support on set to maintain authenticity.
Navigating the Streaming Era
Understand Your Niche: Competing with global platforms like Netflix is unrealistic for minority-language broadcasters. Instead, focus on serving and growing your dedicated audience.
Innovate with Format and Subject: Projects like Kneecap demonstrate the appetite for bold, identity-driven storytelling that can resonate internationally.
Championing Diversity and Gender Balance in Film and TV
Progress and Setbacks
Filmmaker Mia Malarkey, whose unique background bridges social sciences and the arts, joins Garry in a discussion on gender and diversity revealing both advances and ongoing challenges. She emphasized the danger of 'taking the foot off the pedal' when it comes to gender equality in the Irish film industry and the importance of continually adhering to the lessons outlined in the Swedish Model…
Lessons from the Swedish Model
Quotas Drive Change: Sweden’s 50/50 gender quota led to a surge in diverse, award-winning stories. Ireland’s adoption of similar measures initially improved representation.
Monitoring and Accountability: Regularly track and publish diversity statistics to maintain momentum.
Current Challenges
Declining Representation: Recent years have seen a drop in women and minority participation, especially in writing and directing.
The Glass Ceiling: Many women and underrepresented groups reach a career plateau, often due to financial instability and lack of support.
Actionable Steps for Industry Leaders
Support for Carers: Implement job sharing, on-set childcare, and flexible working arrangements to retain talent with caregiving responsibilities.
Mentorship and Training: Expand schemes that pair emerging talent with established professionals, as these are crucial for career progression.
Broaden Definitions of Diversity: Consider socioeconomic background, disability, and lived experience - not just gender or ethnicity - in commissioning decisions.
Innovative Production: The Making of Adolescence
The One-Shot Challenge
Mark Herbert, producer of the acclaimed series Adolescence, shared his insights into the creative and technical journey behind the show’s groundbreaking production.
Behind the Scenes
Meticulous Rehearsal: Each episode was rehearsed for days, with every movement and line precisely choreographed.
Technical Adaptability: The team used ADR to fix audio issues and embraced improvisation when technical glitches occurred, maintaining the integrity of the one-take style.
Emotional Authenticity: Real-life fatigue and minor imperfections were embraced, adding realism to performances.
Storytelling Choices
Nuanced Portrayal of Family: The series avoided stereotypes, presenting a hardworking, united family to foster empathy and relatability.
Facilitating Difficult Conversations: By handling sensitive topics with care, the show became a tool for parents and teenagers to discuss challenging issues.
Distribution and Funding
Strategic Partnerships: Netflix’s willingness to back the project, despite higher costs and unconventional format, was pivotal. Relationships with experienced producers and companies like Plan B and Matriarch were instrumental in securing support.
Actionable Advice for Aspiring Creators
For Actors
Be Curious and Proactive: Seek out varied training and experiences. Don’t wait for permission - create your own opportunities.
Build a Support Network: Find your community, whether through formal institutions or informal collaborations.
For Writers and Directors
Tell Stories Only You Can Tell: Draw on your unique background and experiences.
Embrace Mentorship: Seek guidance from established professionals and participate in training schemes.
Persist Through Setbacks: The industry is unpredictable; resilience and adaptability are key.
For Producers and Commissioners
Prioritise Authenticity: Choose projects that reflect real voices and lived experiences.
Support Emerging Talent: Don’t demand an extensive track record - back promising newcomers with strong ideas and business models.
Champion Diversity: Actively seek out underrepresented voices and provide the necessary support for them to thrive.
For All Creators
Innovate with Purpose: Whether through technical choices (like one-shot filming) or bold subject matter, innovation should serve the story and audience.
Engage with Community: Look for stories within your own environment - local, authentic narratives often have the greatest impact.
Conclusion: The Future of Irish Media
The Fís TV Summit 2026 paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads - rich with talent, grappling with challenges, and poised for further innovation. The key to continued growth lies in:
Championing Authentic, Diverse Voices: From Irish-language productions to stories of underrepresented communities, the future belongs to those who tell genuine, resonant stories.
Supporting New Talent: Mentorship, training, and flexible working models are essential to nurture the next generation of creators.
Embracing Innovation While Honouring Tradition: Irish film and television are strongest when they blend technical experimentation - like the one-shot format of Adolescence - with the deep-rooted storytelling traditions that have defined the nation’s cultural output for generations.
Building Sustainable Careers: As the industry evolves, it must create pathways that allow creators to balance personal wellbeing with professional ambition, ensuring that talent is not lost to burnout or inflexible systems.
Collaborating Locally and Globally: Strategic partnerships, both within Ireland and with international platforms, will be crucial for funding, distribution, and amplifying Irish stories on the world stage.