IFTA FILM COMMITTEE

• John Gleeson
  Partner - Head of Media and Entertainment, Grant Thornton

  John leads Grant Thornton's Irish, Northern Irish and International Media and Entertainment Practice. He has over 23 years commercial experience in providing tax advice and advisory services to individuals and corporates across a range of issues and tax heads - with a particular focus on the media and entertainment sector. John has particular experience in film and television projects having raised finance and advised on a broad range of transactions involving large international television series, animation series for the US market and numerous feature films including: Vikings, Ripper Street, Cardboard Gangsters, The Breadwinner, Nightflyers and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

• Neasa Hardiman
  Director / Writer (Chair of Film Committee)

  Neasa is a BAFTA-winning director and screenwriter. Currently writing a thriller screenplay with Dreamworks, Neasa recently directed Jessica Jones for Marvel / Netflix, after teaming with New York's Killer Films to direct the story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Z: The Beginning of Everything, and making acclaimed gritty murder drama Happy Valley for BBC/Netflix. She directs her award-winning sci-fi screenplay Sea Fever this summer. Born in Dublin, Neasa holds two Master's degrees. Her early formation includes producing and directing with RTÉ, where she designed the corporate logo, made award-winning creative and investigative documentaries, before becoming the youngest director of in-house drama Fair City.

• Ros Hubbard
  Casting Director

  Ros Hubbard is the legendary Irish casting director, who, together with her husband John, founded and has run Hubbard Casting since 1976. They have cast films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, The Bourne Trilogy and The Da Vinci Code. Their Irish projects include The Commitments, Father Ted, Bloody Sunday, and Angela's Ashes. In 2014, Ros was inducted into the American Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and in 2018 she joined the Irish Academy's honorary Membership, receiving the Irish Academy's Honorary Industry Award, sponsored by Spotlight.

• Brian Kirk
  Director

  Originally from Northern Ireland, Brian has worked extensively in the UK and US including directing three episodes of the first series of HBO's international hit series, Game of Thrones and the TV Movie, My Boy Jack, starring Daniel Radcliffe concerning Rudyard Kipling and his son's experiences during World War One. In the UK he is probably best known for his acclaimed Dickens adaptation of Great Expectations for the BBC, starring Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson. Shown at Christmas 2011 by the BBC and subsequently by PBS in the US, it was the recipient of four Emmys in 2012. Recently, Brian has shot episodes for season 2 of the British American horror TV series, Penny Dreadful.

• Audrey Sheils
  Head of Distribution, Element Pictures

  Audrey is responsible for acquisitions and developing release strategies for all of Element Pictures' films, both acquired and produced. Prior to her role in EPD, she was Account Director for Empire Design working with Sony and Universal on titles such as Casino Royale and Spiderman. Before that, she was Marketing Director in Metrodome responsible for the success of cult title Donnie Darko, and Oscar Winning Monster. Since setting up the distribution arm of Element Pictures, she has released titles such as Garage, The Guard, Frank, The Lobster, and Room. She also handles the theatrical release of Studio Canal titles in Ireland and will be releasing titles such as The Breadwinner in coming months.

• Andy Weltman
  Managing Director, APA International

  Andy Weltman is Managing Director of APA International. Andy joined APA in January 2016 to establish and oversee APA's UK division. Andy is responsible for exploring business development opportunities and packaging film and television projects in the UK, Ireland and Europe. Prior to joining APA, Andy was the EVP of Pinewood International, responsible for bringing US productions such as Star Wars to the company's studio in London. Before Pinewood, Andy worked at the British Film Commission and spearheaded the team that successfully lobbied for the High End TV Incentive. Among the iconic directors Andy has worked with are Peter Weir, Steven Spielberg, and George Miller. His filmography includes Dead Poets Society, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Witches of Eastwick.

• Paul Young
  Co-founder/CEO, Cartoon Saloon

  Paul is a co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, an IFTA winner and Oscar and BAFTA nominee. He Produced the animated features, The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. The Breadwinner, directed by Saloon Partner Nora Twomey and Executively produced by Angelina Jolie Pitt is Paul's latest feature film Project as a Producer. He produced two seasons of Puffin Rock, an original TV series which has been dubbed into 16 languages. Paul is also Chairman of Animation Ireland, the representative body for animation studios in Ireland and an Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the year finalist.