This film screened 27th April 2018.

IFI Spotlight, now in its 6th year, will again present a series of panels and contributions exploring the world of Irish film and television in all its guises. We invite filmmakers, critics, academics and audiences to join us in reviewing the Irish film and television output of the last 12 months, and look at important topics facing the industry. We believe that an annual process of considered reflection and review is essential for the development of a healthy Irish film culture, an informed production community and a cine-literate audience body.

A special lunch deal is available from the IFI Cafe Bar for Spotlight ticketsholders – €7.50 for a soup and sandwich.

10.30 Welcome
Opening address from Professor Margaret Kelleher.

10.40 2017 in Review
Dr Roddy Flynn of DCU and Dr Tony Tracy of NUIG will review the film and television output of 2017 considering the continuing presence of Irish talent on the world stage, discussing fresh new work in film and TV drama, and identifying new trends in feature film production.

11.50 Out of Site: Artists’ Moving Image and The Cinema Space
Chaired by aemi’s Alice Butler & Daniel Fitzpatrick, a panel, including artist Jesse Jones, filmmaker Joe Comerford, Christine Molloy of the Desperate Optimists, Fionnuala Sweeney (Arts Council) and Anja Mahler (Digital Repository of Ireland) – will argue for the importance of cinema as an exhibition site for artists. The discussion will focus particularly on the Irish context, exploring where – and why – in recent years moving image work by visual artists has at times fallen under the radar of the wider Irish film community.

13.00 Lunch

14.00 A Catch-Up on Gender Equality
Annie Doona (Chair of Irish Film Board / Bord Scannán na hÉireann) will provide an update on the response in 2017 to IFB/BSÉ funding strands introduced to achieve gender equity in development and production within an agreed timeframe. Stephanie Comey will update on BAI strategies towards improved representation by women across various BAI-funded strands. The IFI will report on the 2017 introduction of the F-rating (hot on the heels of this session at IFI Spotlight 2017) and representation of women practitioners across IFI programme. Session will be moderated by Dr Susan Liddy, Department Media and Communications, MIC, Limerick

15.00 Artistic Expression in a New Age
With a recent dramatic shift in consciousness regarding gender parity, sexual dynamics and harassment and abuses in the cultural sphere and other work places, this panel considers the responsibility of cultural providers, programmers and indeed audiences in presenting and consuming a range of work – some produced in contexts at odds with newly acceptable best practice. The panel will address topics such as the merits and repercussions of artistic censorship and cultural boycotts, and where the line needs to be drawn with artistic expression.

16.15 Wrap-up