SCHEDULE:
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Irish Language Screenwriting
Featuring: Siobhán Ní Ghadhra (Danú Media), Richie Conroy (Crá), Cóilín Ó Scolaí and contributing moderator Bláthnaid Altaf.
2.15pm - 3.30pm
'From Pitch to Package: Today's Market'
Industry professionals discuss how projects move from pitch to production, examining market realities, packaging strategies and collaboration between writers, producers and sales agents. Organised by the Writers Lab UK and Ireland.
3.30pm – 4.45pm
Screenwriting Masterclass with Ailbhe Keogan in conversation with Danny Brocklehurst
4.45pm- 5.00 pm
Catalyst Short Screenplay Award 2026 Pitching Event
Finalists in the Catalyst Short Screenplay Award 2026 present live pitches of their projects, offering audiences an insight into the pitching process and the challenges of communicating story ideas effectively.
5.00pm
Informal networking reception bringing together writers, filmmakers and industry guests attending the Industry Day programme
Curated to highlight the pivotal role of screenwriting in diversifying the industry, locating new voices and promoting a range of on-screen representation, Shaping the Future in Screenwriting 2026 underscores the importance of supporting authentic stories. These narratives serve as the foundation for creating dynamic, diverse screenplays and compelling characters.
The Industry Day celebrating screenwriting will begin with two engaging panel discussions, diving into aspects of contemporary Irish screenwriting. This will be followed by a Screenwriting Masterclass, in the form of a conversation between BAFTA winner Danny Brocklehurst and IFTA winner Ailbhe Keogan.
Danny Brocklehurst is a leading UK screenwriter, a working-class writer who is outspoken about the lack of working-class characters and stories in the contemporary television landscape. His work includes Clocking Off (2000-2002), Shameless (2011-2021), Brassic (2019- 2025), and Adultery (2026). He also wrote the script for the film The Railway Children Return (2022). Danny is currently part of the creative team that is adapting Harlan Coban novels for the screen, including Fool Me Once for Netflix (2024).
Ailbhe Keogan has written for both film and television. Her first feature, Run and Jump, premiered at Tribeca in 2012. This was followed by IFTA-nominated Joyride (2022) and Sunlight (2023). Ailbhe is currently in pre-production with Mrs. Allen, a feature film about Myrtle Allen. On the small screen, Ailbhe was a writer on both seasons of the BAFTA-winning and EMMY-nominated Bad Sisters. More recently she adapted Louise
Kennedy's critically acclaimed debut novel Trespasses into a four-part-limited series for Channel 4 which won her an IFTA for Best TV Drama
SCREENPLAY AWARD PRIZES:
Winner
- Cash Prize of €1,500
- Membership of Writers Guild of Ireland (WGI) for one year
- Book Voucher – Value €150 (Kindly sponsored by WGI)
- Catalyst Trophy
Runner Up
- Cash Prize of €500
- Membership of Writers Guild of Ireland (WGI) for one year
- Catalyst Trophy
Special Mention (If decided by Jury)
- Membership of Writers Guild of Ireland (WGI) for one year
- Catalyst Trophy
Catalyst 2023 Screenplay Award Runner Up Méabh De Brún
Supports for Screenwriters
Every year Catalyst strives to be instrumental in helping diverse writers break into the industry and thrive as storytellers.
By offering networking opportunities (in a non-competitive relaxed atmosphere), professional one to one support, panel discussions, workshops and masterclasses.
Learning from seasoned professionals can help them develop their screenwriting skills and better navigate the industry and this is of critical importance to Catalyst's remit as a film festival addressing under-representation.
"I am thrilled beyond measure that my script 'Perspective' won the Best Short Screenplay Award for the 2023 Catalyst International Film Festival in association with the Writer’s Guild of Ireland. It’s a huge honour and means so much to me, as ultimately the goal is to take this story from the page to the screen, and I feel confident this award will help me do that. "
- Catalyst 2023 Screenplay Award Winner Amy Joyce-Hastings