Last week, from 3–5 June, the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama welcomed 12 producers to participate in Inclusive Production Practices, a three-day professional development programme delivered by European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE). 

Designed to support more equitable, inclusive and ethical approaches to filmmaking, the programme explored how producers can embed inclusive practices across every stage of the production lifecycle, from project development and financing to production, co-production, distribution and audience engagement. 

Led by internationally recognised industry experts Tamara Dawit, Heejung Oh and Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine, the programme combined practical tools, case studies and collaborative discussion to help participants build more accessible, sustainable and culturally responsive screen projects. 

Across six sessions, participants examined topics including positionality and power in producing, inclusive development frameworks, equitable financing and budgeting, inclusive production management, ethical international co-productions, and audience-centred distribution strategies. 

About the Experts 

  • Tamara Dawit is an Ethiopian-Canadian filmmaker and alumna of Berlinale Talents and EAVE, as well as a Chalmers Arts Fellow (2023) and a MacDowell Fellow (2024). In 2021, Tamara was a  TIFF Producer Fellow, winning the Doc Institute Vanguard Award and the Gordon Parks Award for Black Excellence in Filmmaking. Her sessions explored how identity, privilege, and social location shape the roles, relationships, and influence of producers and key creatives, as well as examining  how to design distribution strategies that center equity, access, and cultural relevance. 

 

  • Heejung Oh founded Seesaw Pictures in 2017. She is an alumna of EAVE, Eurodoc, Berlinale Talents, Rotterdam Lab, and has served on the selection committees of IDFA Bertha Fund, Purin Pictures Fund, as well as being part of EAVE'S Racial Equity Advisory Group and #DocSafe initiative. Her sessions explored how participants can shape their project vision using care-based  development frameworks, including collaborative story design and consent-driven  research. She also provided practical tips for managing productions across diverse  cultural and geographic contexts, including inclusive hiring, cross-cultural crew  coordination, and ethical casting. 

 

  • Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine is a seasoned expert in international co-production and legal affairs with more than 20 years of hands-on experience across the audiovisual industry, having worked as a Line Producer, Head of Development, Business Affairs Executive, and Producer.  She is the founder of The Copro Agency, a consultancy specializing in the development, structuring, and strategic management of international coproductions and providing tailored mentorship and coproduction doctoring services.  Her sessions introduced inclusive budgeting tools and financing strategies that promote equity across the production lifecycle. She also examined strategies for negotiating fair  terms, drafting inclusive contracts, and navigating legal frameworks that support  respectful collaboration, transparency, and long-term sustainability. 

Meet the Participants 

Twelve emerging producers from across Ireland were selected to take part in Inclusive Production Practices with EAVE, representing a diverse mix of independent producers, production companies and creative voices working across the screen sector. 

The 2026 participants were: 

  1. Adam Rael – Cassette Vision Ltd. 
  2. Aesha Tandy 
  3. Ais Malone – Rye Films 
  4. Ali Doyle – Mental Pictures 
  5. Brian Durcan – Western Front Studios 
  6. Colmán Mac Cionnaith – Vico Films 
  7. Kamran Faiq 
  8. Paul Fitzsimons – Prelude Content 
  9. Peter D. Keating – Wan In The Chamber 
  10. Philip Kidd – Idiosync Films 
  11. Sophie Lynch 
  12. Vickey Curtis – Outer Limits 

Together, the cohort reflects the breadth of producing talent currently emerging within Ireland's screen industry and a shared commitment to creating more inclusive, equitable and sustainable production environments. 

About EAVE 

EAVE, European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs, is one of Europe’s leading producer training programmes, with a unique global network of over 2,900 producers to date. Working with an international network of partners, EAVE delivers programmes for producers around the world. Founded in 1988, its core objectives are to provide high-quality professional training opportunities and to bring together producers from different regions to foster meaningful co-production relationships.  

 

About the National Talent Academy for Film & TV 

The National Talent Academy for Film & TV is a national initiative of Screen Ireland, managed by Ardán, dedicated to developing talent across all levels of the Irish screen industry. Through funding schemes, training initiatives and career development opportunities, the Academy supports the growth of diverse voices and sustainable careers across film and television in Ireland.