We are excited to announce the final five talented participants selected for our 'Screen Stories: Getting Disabled Writers in the Room' programme, a collaborative initiative by Tilting the Lens and National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama.
The selected participants have been chosen for their unique perspectives and the powerful narratives they bring to the table. Over the coming months, they will engage in an immersive experience designed to hone their skills, expand their networks, and bring their stories to life.
The final five participants are:
Adrian Francis:
Adrian is a Deaf screenwriter and originally from Toronto, Canada. Adrian aspires to write and direct deaf-themed films of different genres, performed by deaf actors.
Louise Bruton:
Louise Bruton is an arts journalist, playwright, disability rights activist, DJ and author. She made her theatre debut in 2017’s Dublin Fringe Festival with a sold-out run of Why Won’t You Have Sex With Me? which she is currently developing into a dramedy television series.
Mairéad Folan:
Mairéad is the Artistic Director of Galway based theatre company, NoRopes. She is interested in lesser told stories, and her debut script for the stage, Luke, is a metaphor for the difficulties people with disabilities face, without mentioning the word ‘disability’
Maura Campbell:
Maura is a screenwriter and author. Maura has had a number of short films and audio dramas produced and has written for BBC Ouch and BBC Radio 4. Maura has a particular interest in creating stories about people who are outsiders and is keen to contribute to better media representation of disability, including neurological diversity.
Rosaleen McDonagh:
Rosaleen is a member of the Human Rights Equality Commission, chair of the Irish Human Rights Disability Advisory Committee, and a writer. Rosaleen currently writes for the stage and her writing is typically from a Disabled Traveller feminism lens.
The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama is an initiative of Screen Ireland and is managed by Ardán