The National Talent Academy Film & TV is proud to announce the launch of the Queer Talent Database, created by Alba Fernandez which will take place as part of this year’s CAFÉ AU GAZE at GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival.
CAFÉ AU GAZE will host a series of exciting panels and conversations throughout the weekend of the festival, beginning on Saturday with Dreamers writer and director Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. On Sunday, festival director Greg Thorpe will interview A Body to Live In director Angelo Madsen Minax, with the series concluding on Monday 4 August with the launch of Alba Fernandez's Queer Talent Databas, panel discussion and NTA Networking Event.
These events will run from Saturday 2 August to Monday 4 August, held at the Light House Cinema, beginning each day at 12.30pm.
SATURDAY 2nd AUGUST | LIGHT HOUSE 3 | 12:30
Hosted by Festival Manager Sam Ahern, Saturday’s Café au GAZE will feature DREAMERS Writer and Director Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. Joy was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow, a BAFTA Breakthrough, and her company Joi Productions received a BFI Vision Award. She has produced multiple projects for screen and in 2021, Joy directed FOR LOVE, a short film with the support of BBC Film, which premiered at BFI London Film Festival with a Best Short Film Nomination. It was later nominated for Best Short Film at SXSW in 2022 and won an Honorable Mention in the Best Short Film category at BlackStar Film Festival and Best Short at DeadCentre Film Festival. With more special guests for Saturday’s panel to be announced.
Ticket Link: HERE
SUNDAY 3rd AUGUST | LIGHT HOUSE 3 | 12:30
Sunday at Café au GAZE, festival director Greg Thorpe will interview A BODY TO LIVE IN DIRECTOR Angelo Minax Madsen, OUR FATHER writer, producer and actor Clare Duffy (LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland) and the team behind DEPARTURES, including actor and co-director Neil Ely, co-director Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, and actor David Tag. Join us for this relaxed conversation with guests of the festival on making work
Ticket Link: HERE
QUEER TALENT DATABASE LAUNCH | MONDAY 4th AUGUST | LIGHT HOUSE 3 | 12:30
Join us for a special edition of Café au GAZE on Monday 4 August as we welcome cinematographer Alba Fernandez (BOOBS, NIGHT GLANCES) to discuss the launch of her new Queer Talent database, the first in Ireland, supported by the National Talent Academy Film & TV Drama. Alba will be joined by her collaborators, writer/director Hiram Harrington (GLORY,HOLE, OVERTONE) and sound mixer/sound designer Danilo Zambrano (BOOBS, DIRTY TALK), for a conversation on the power of LGBTQIA collaboration, the importance of representation across all areas of filmmaking, and the value of Alba's recent mentorship with cinematographer Kate McCullough (AN CAILÍN CIÚIN). The panel will explore the richness LGBTQIA voices bring to storytelling and the future of Irish cinema.
Ticket Link: HERE
At approx 13.30 the launch will be followed by the NTA Networking Reception for LGBTQIA+ talent and allies, designed to connect crew, creatives, filmmakers, and industry professionals. Guests not attending CAFÉ AU GAZE on Monday but wishing to join the networking event can register separately HERE
Further Information:
GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival 2025 will take place in Dublin at the Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema from the 29th July to 4th August 2025. Find out more about the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival at www.gaze.ie
The NTA Film & TV is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, managed by Ardán.
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