Filmmaker Ara Devine in conversation at difficult conversations symposium.

Filmmaker and Future Screens NI funding recipient Ara Devine recently spoke with Paul Moore about the Future Creatives funded film short Turf for the difficult conversations symposium. The symposium was a collaboration between the University of Canberra, Ulster University and the British Council structured to ask what role can the arts and creativity play in navigating unresolved concerns, ongoing debates and controversial questions for our communities?

Exploring complex topics, from reconciliation and truth-telling in the context of colonialism to polarising social or political issues, this symposium featured exchanges between leading artists and researchers from Australia and Northern Ireland about difficult conversations we, as a globally connected society, need to have today.

More information and a recording of Ara and Paul’s conversation can be found here.

The difficult conversations symposium was a live-streamed panel discussion featuring a conversation between university leaders and artists from Canberra and Ulster opening on 24 March 2022.

The Future Creatives scheme from Future Screens NI had been designed to enable participants to make a step change in their research and innovation by enhanced leadership and collaboration skills and developing new practices in the field of creativity and technology

This year’s BEYOND conference 2022 to be held in Cardiff, Wales 18-20 October.

This year’s BEYOND conference on Creative Industry and Business innovation will be held in Cardiff, Wales 18-20 October.

We are excited to showcase last year’s BEYOND Conference sizzle reel to provide a taste of what to expect in October.

The BEYOND Conference is an exciting opportunity to hear developments in cutting edge technology, research, policy and innovation in the Creative Industries. This is chance to explore the relationship between creative research and business innovation and to network with top representatives from the respective fields in the UK and abroad.

To receive more information sign up for BEYOND updates at this link.

We look forward to seeing you all in Wales!

Announcing the Puttnam Scholars Programme Awardees for 2022!

Following a competitive application process for the third year running, Atticus Education, Fís Éireann (Screen Ireland), Northern Ireland Screen and Future Screens NI are delighted to announce this year’s eight Puttnam Scholars. 

This cross-border initiative offers promising filmmakers access to interactive online masterclasses with Oscar-winning producer David Puttnam (Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields) and each a €1,250 scholarship from Atticus Education towards their career development. The scholarship bursaries are supported by Accenture in Ireland. 

The eight participants (four from Northern Ireland and four from the Republic of Ireland) are all emerging writers, directors or producers who have made, or are in the process of developing, their first feature or television drama. Chosen by Future Screens NI and four Irish higher education institutions, the participants are: 

· Dee Harvey Writer/Director, selected by Future Screens NI

· Jules Charlton Producer, selected by Future Screens NI 

· Margaret McGoldrick Writer/Director/Producer, selected by Future Screens NI

· PJ Hart Writer/Producer, selected by Future Screens NI 

· Tara Hegarty, Writer/Producer, nominated by Technological University Dublin 

· Lia Campbell, Writer/Director/Producer, nominated by Institute of Art, Design & Technology Dun Laoighaire 

· Turlough Ó Cinnéide, Director, nominated by Technological University of the Shannon (formerly Limerick Institute of Technology). 

· Mark Smyth, Writer/Director, nominated by Dundalk Institute of Technology 

In addition to the scholars, Future Screens NI has nominated Filmmaker & Producer Colum Eastwood as a representative and mentor.

David Puttnam said, “I’m seriously impressed with the calibre of applicants wishing to join our list of Puttnam Scholars this year. We now have eight highly qualified participants, bursting with talent and enthusiasm, and ready to embark on the next phase of their filmmaking journey with Atticus Education - I hope we do them proud!” 

A 2021 Puttnam Scholar, Ali Doyle (Head of Development, Wild Atlantic) said of her experience, "Being selected as a Puttnam Scholar was both an incredible honour and an invaluable experience. Across each masterclass, not only did I learn and strengthen my knowledge in these dedicated fields, but the awe-inspiring passion of David Puttnam and each of the invited guests, acted as a reignition of why we make movies and TV, how through these audio-visual mediums, we can teach as much as we can entertain. To all the Puttnam Scholars of 2022, congratulations, you deserve this and enjoy every second of it!" 

Over the course of the sessions, Lord Puttnam will explore the following themes: The Power of Identity; The Evolution of Creativity; Fact or Fiction; Builders and Brokers; Music and Meaning; and Interpreting the Future. The sessions are designed to enhance participants’ understanding of the creative process and the cultural context within which the screen industries operate. 

Seminars have in the past included conversations with several special guests, each providing insights into their own careers and thoughts on the industry. Guest have included Lenny Abrahamson, Ralph Fiennes, Paul Greengrass and Mark Cousins. 

The Puttnam Scholars Competition 2022 Now Open! Closing Friday 10 June 12 noon

Future Screens NI, Northern Ireland Screen, and Screen Ireland have teamed up with Atticus Education to offer four Northern Ireland residents the opportunity to attend 6 two-hour online master classes with Lord David Puttnam (producer of Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire, Local Hero, The Killing Fields, The Mission).  

The master classes will be fully interactive and a full engagement by each participant is an essential feature of the programme.  Having attended the entire programme each individual will receive a scholarship from Atticus Education with the support of Accenture Ireland to the value of €1250. 

Applicant information is available here. Please download and complete in word.  Online applications are not supported.  Please email completed applications to: info-futurescreensni@ulster.ac.uk by 12 noon on Friday 10th of June 2022. 

Important Dates: 

The master classes will run between 1000 hrs. and 1200 hrs. on the following dates: 

• Wednesday 22nd June 

• Friday 24th June 

• Monday 27th June 

• Friday 1st July 

• Monday 4th July 

• Friday 8th July 

Selected participants MUST be available for ALL the masterclasses. 

Ulster Touring Opera develops an AR Don Giovanni

The Belfast-based, cross-border opera company Ulster Touring Opera recently completed a Future Screens NI funded R&D Project exploring how immersive technology can play a central role in developing the future audience for opera. Focusing on Augmented Reality technology in the field of opera, UTO worked with its partners in order to chart a new immersive experience, where any user can enjoy and explore world-class operatic performance in their own home.

The project drew on Act II of Mozart’s famous opera Don Giovanni, where the famous seducer is dragged to hell. Set in naturalistic settings, the libretti was selected for its surreal eruption into real space, ideal material to explore creative, technical and production advancement by staging it in the user’s own home using AR.

In partnership with Belfast based company Sentireal, Dublin based company Volograms, and UTO’s own application developer Robbie McKinney UTO has created this 5-minute-long augmented reality event, as well as the App to host this and other AR Opera experiences.

For more information on Ulster Touring Opera visit here.