The National Talent Academy for Film and TV Drama is delighted to announce the five finalists selected to take part in the FÍS TV Summit Pitching Competition in Galway on 26 February 2026.
This year’s Pitching Competition opened in December and, for the first time, invited applications for unscripted television programmes.
Five projects were selected, and the teams will pitch their unscripted Game and Competition television show ideas at the Summit on 26 February. The winning project will be chosen by a panel of industry experts, with the winning team receiving a prize of €1,000.
This year’s finalists are:
1. Maryjane Smyth
SÁRGHRÚPA: THE CÉILÍ BAND
2. Niamh Heery
IRELAND’S TEEN TRIALS
3. Mikey Fleming, Colman Hayes & David Atkinson
THE MAYOR OF COMEDYTOWN
4. Megan O'Rourke & Jack O'Neill
THE WALL
5. Max Campbell
BANK ON IT
The five projects will now move into an exciting phase of development, with the pitching teams taking part in tailored workshops, rehearsals and one-to-one support to help strengthen both the projects and the pitches ahead of the Summit.
REAS MORE ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND PITCHERS:
1. Maryjane Smyth
Maryjane Smyth is a creative and innovative producer crafting bold, people-powered programmes across television, radio and digital platforms. A GOLD PPI and Celtic Media Award winner, she has worked with BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Radio Ulster, independent and Irish language broadcasters to create standout formats; from live farming and multicultural outside broadcasts to broadcasting music, cooking, craic and chats live from people’s homes.
Founder of her own production company Maryjane has a musical, dance and performance background with an instinctive ability to discover and promote new talent. Her work is driven by a deep connection to community, sport and cross-border storytelling from Co. Down to Galway.
SÁRGHRÚPA: THE CÉILÍ BAND
A high energy, audience driven social experiment, where musicians from all walks of life compete to form the ultimate Irish Céilí Band - An Sárghrúpa!
2. Niamh Heery
Niamh Heery is an Irish writer-director working in documentary, fiction and youth & community filmmaking. She’s received support from the Irish National Talent Academy, has made shorts and developed features with Screen Ireland and has worked in various capacities on RTÉ and Virgin Media documentary productions. Her factual work with her company Swansong Films has won the Radharc Award, the ICCL Human Rights Film Award, and screened and won internationally.
IRELAND’S TEEN TRIALS
Teenage teams of legal eagles from across Ireland go deep in case arguments and youthful trials and tribulations while battling it out in a national competition to reach victory in the highest court in the country.
3. Mikey Fleming, Colman Hayes & David Atkinson
Mikey Fleming and Colman Hayes are the creative duo behind the critical hit Best Man, which enjoyed a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and was named Playbill’s 2023 ‘Pick of the Festival.’ With deep roots in the Irish comedy scene, their combined portfolio includes the award-winning podcast Bootsy Boy’s Blackbird, the RTÉ scripted series Boyz on Top, and a massive digital footprint - with Colman’s viral videos amassing over 20 million views in the last year alone.
Completing the team is Producer/Director David Atkinson, Lead Comedy Producer for JOE Media Group UK & I and founder of Newscheck Comedy. A broadcast veteran with credits including The Two Johnnies Late Night Lock-Inand Republic of Telly, David drives a digital network that engages over 5 million viewers monthly.
Most recently, this trio combined their diverse skill sets to produce The Short Game for Newscheck, a comedy game show designed for the modern audiences' attention span.
THE MAYOR OF COMEDYTOWN
A gameshow where comedians campaign, debate, and roast their way to victory in a chaotic battle for approval.
4. Megan O'Rourke & Jack O’Neill
Megan O'Rourke, is a Dublin-based producer and director working across a range of Non-Scripted TV, including Sports TV, Shiny Floor Game shows and Reality TV. With over 15 seasons of game shows under her belt, she has a keen eye for what elevates this competitive genre which has inspired her to develop 'The Wall' with Jack O'Neill.
Jack is a Dublin based assistant director and floor manager having ample experience on projects across both scripted and non scripted productions.
THE WALL
The Wall is a climbing and knowledge based gameshow combining strengths and smarts in a high intensity race for the prize money.
5. Max Campbell
Max is a recent graduate from ATU where he studied Film And Documentary and is looking to break into the television industry. From an early age his mother was an avid reality TV fan and they would watch shows together endlessly and so he has a special grá for the format through that connection.
BANK ON IT
Through a series of rotating challenges each week, contestants train to become the greatest thieves in the country.
About FÍS TV Summit
The FÍS TV Summit takes place in the Radisson Red on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th February. The Pitching Competition will be held on the Thursday to a packed room of Industry Professionals.
For information on the exact time of the Competition, follow the social media of the NTA and Ardán.
Now in its 9th year, FÍS TV Summit 2026 brings creatives from all sectors of the Irish TV industry together to listen, to learn, and to connect with each other alongside a carefully curated slate of local, national, and international guests and experts. Stakeholders include Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland, Gréasán na Méan Skillnet, TG4, Coimisiún na Meán, Creative Europe Media Desk, Northern Ireland Screen, WRAP, ATU, and RTÉ. With thanks to our hospitality partners at Radisson RED Galway and our tech partners at Sound to Light.
National Talent Academy of Film and TV Drama is an initiative of Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann, managed by Ardán.