The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama and the WRAP Commission are delighted to announce the 13 producers selected for the second edition of the Screen Producers Mentorship Programme. 

Following the success of the 2024–2025 pilot programme, the initiative continues its commitment to supporting producing talent across Ireland working in live-action drama and documentary. 

The programme provides tailored one-to-one mentorship for producers at a range of career stages, supporting creative development, leadership, business skills and long-term career sustainability. 

The 2026 mentors include Richard Bolger, (Producer/Hail Mary Pictures);  Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly, (Producer/Nine Daughters); Pearce Cullen, (Producer/Figboot Productions); Lauren Dark, (Producer/Unified); Rachel Hooper, (Creative Director/Walk On Air Films); Aideen Kane, (VP of Production/Little Monster Films);  Christine Le Goff, (Producer/ZED); Deirdre Levins, (Producer/Fantastic Films); Ailish McElmeel, (Executive Producer/Deadpan Pictures); Laura McNicholas, (Producer/925 Productions); Martina Niland, (Producer/Port Pictures)  

The 2026 selected mentees are: 

  • Mieke Vanmechelen (Kerry) 
  • Leah Rogers (Wicklow) 
  • Rachel Rath (Monaghan) 
  • Kathy Raftery (Roscommon) 
  • Ríon O’Mahony (Dublin) 
  • Mo O’Connell (Dublin) 
  • Michael McLaughlin (Donegal) 
  • Peadar King (Galway) 
  • Thabile Hlongwane (Roscommon) 
  • Heather Higgins (Galway) 
  • Jade Gavin (Galway) 
  • Doireann de Buitléar (Galway) 
  • Ciarán Charles (Galway) 

Read more about each of the selected mentees below. 

Eibh Collins, Programme Director at the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama, said: 

“We’re delighted to welcome this year’s cohort of producers to the programme. What stands out so clearly is the strength of producing talent emerging right across the country, and how important it is that this talent is supported not just nationally, but within the regions where people are building their careers and creative communities. Strengthening capacity in the regions is central to the long-term health of the screen sector in Ireland. By investing in producers where they are based, we can help create more sustainable career pathways, deepen local industry networks, and ensure that ambitious, distinctive work can develop from every part of the country. This programme is designed to offer tailored, meaningful support that responds to the realities of working in the industry today, while helping producers build lasting and ambitious careers.” 

Running from May to December 2026, each participant will be paired with an industry mentor based on their individual goals and development needs. 

The programme is structured around four key areas: 

  • Creative & Professional Practice 
  • Production & Business Skills 
  • Leadership & Strategic Development 
  • Personal Development & Resilience 

Gar O’Brien-Collins, Executive at the WRAP Commission, added: 

“At the WRAP Commission, we’re committed to supporting producers in the regions and to strengthening the capacity that allows screen work to grow and thrive there over the long term. That means not just backing individual talent, but helping to build the networks, confidence and opportunities that make sustainable careers possible across the West, Northwest and beyond. This programme creates a valuable space for producers to learn from experienced mentors, develop their leadership and producing skills, and build lasting relationships within the industry. We’re very pleased to be partnering with NTA Film & TV Drama on an initiative that invests so directly in the future of regional production in Ireland.” 

 

MEET THE MENTEES:  

  • CIARÁN CHARLES is a co-founder of Fíbín Films based in Galway and Cushendall. Current projects include CRÁ Season 2 for BBC & TG4. Recent credits include WAShhh, by Mickey Lai - winner of the Golden Leopard at Locarno Film Festival and CRÁ S1 which has sold to 68 countries worldwide Fíbín Films is a recent recipient of the BBC Small Indie Fund and love working with brilliant creative people who share their passion for original movies and television. 

  • DOIREANN DE BUITLÉAR is a producer with more than two decades of experience across film, animation, VFX, post-production and immersive media. Working internationally across commercials, documentaries, drama, television, feature animation and experiential projects, she is known for combining strong creative vision with calm, solutions-focused production leadership.  Her work spans live action, animation, integrated VFX pipelines and interactive formats, collaborating with directors, studios, agencies, brands and artists to deliver visually distinctive and technically ambitious projects. Alongside screen-based production, she has developed immersive and audience-led experiences with a focus on innovation, storytelling and user engagement.  An experienced leader across global productions, Doireann brings together creative sensitivity and operational expertise, guiding projects from concept through to final delivery. 

  • JADE GAVIN is an emerging producer, and mother of three based in Galway, with over 18 years' experience working in film, television and theatre. Having worked extensively within the costume department, Jade has developed a strong understanding of on-set production, crew dynamics, and cross-department collaboration. Her producing credits include two short films and one feature film, and she is currently developing a feature adaptation of an award-winning book for which rights have been secured. Her recent work has focused on literary IP acquisition, project development, and script development, alongside writing her first short screenplay. Through the mentorship programme, Jade aims to deepen her understanding of genre filmmaking, particularly within the supernatural and horror space, with a focus on project development, production planning, festival positioning, team building, and navigating relationships with agents and talent representatives from attachment through to delivery. 

  • HEATHER HIGGINS is Director of Development for the Galway Film Fleadh, where she supports emerging filmmakers and industry initiatives. She has recently transitioned into full-time producing through Éiru Films, with current projects including the Irish-language series Ar Ais Arís, the UK/Ireland co-production The Sleeping Woman, and Learning to Breathe Underwater.  Alongside her producing work, Heather runs First Bite Catering, a specialist film catering company, and her own PR consultancy supporting film and arts clients. She also serves as Chair of the Loughs Agency Board, bringing experience in governance, communications and business leadership. 

  • THABILE HLONGWANE is a South African-born emerging creative producer and actor based in County Roscommon, working across film and television. With a background in performance and experience on professional sets, she is now focused on developing her producing practice. Her work is driven by an interest in meaningful storytelling that connects audiences and sparks conversation, shaped by both her personal and professional experiences. Through the NTA Film & TV and WRAP Commission Mentorship Programme for Producers, she is building her skills in development, leadership, and production, with a focus on bringing diverse stories to life from concept through to completion. 

  • PEADAR KING has over a decade of professional experience across film, events and cultural programming. As Co-Director of Black Gate Productions, Director of the INISH: Island Conversations festival, and Co-Director of the Black Gate Cultural Centre, he has developed extensive expertise in video and event production. Working across the west of Ireland, he collaborates on the delivery of high-quality creative projects and events, drawing on a strong background in music and video production to create engaging content and experiences. His work is grounded in a commitment to innovation, excellence, diversity and creativity across the cultural sector. 

  • MICHAEL MCLAUGLIN is a producer, actor and director with a long-standing passion for storytelling across film and theatre. He began his screen career in 1999 and has since gone on to write and produce several award-winning short films, with two selected to screen on transatlantic flights. Alongside his producing work, Michael is the founding director of Disappear Here Film Festival and he continues to work across performance and voiceover, including a recent campaign for Vodafone for the Rugby World Cup. Known for his strong work ethic, collaborative approach and creative energy, he brings a people-focused and adaptable mindset to every production. 

  • MO O’CONNELL co-produced three times IFTA nominated indie hit feature HORSESHOE with Wavewalker Films and 3 Hot Whiskeys. It had its World Premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2025 and won Best Debut Irish Feature. It got 5 star reviews in its Irish cinema run and recently opened in the USA through Juno film for its theatrical run. O'Connell is a RADA trained multi-award winning actor & filmmaker.  She is the founder & head of both 3 Hot Whiskeys Films and the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival. She recently completed Wicklow funded short film "Elephant in the Room" and it is currently in post-production. She has also won funding from Laois Bursary to direct "Banbh" (Piglet) in September 2026. Her most recent short ‘Sherry Trifle’ made with Dublin 8 charity RADE has just begun its festival journey. O’Connell is currently producing the feature film "DIATRIBE" through her own production company, 3 Hot Whiskeys. It stars Moe Dunford (The Dry, Patrick’s Day) & Charlie Reid of ‘Joyride’ fame. 

  • RÍON O’MAHONY is currently a Producer at Newgrange Pictures, having worked her way up within the company from Junior Production Executive. Prior to this, she gained experience as a PA to Producers at Element Pictures, one of Ireland's most acclaimed production companies. Across all of her roles, she has worked closely with producers at the highest level on projects including Bugonia (Focus Features), Grown Ups (Netflix), and Rivals (Disney+/ITV). Ríon is currently producing The Last to Disappear, a series based on Jo Spain's novel of the same name, and is co-producing a number of projects from the UK and US in various stages of development and production. 

  • KATHY RAFTERY  is an independent filmmaker from County Roscommon whose short films and documentaries have screened at festivals and exhibitions in Ireland and internationally, including Docs Ireland, Irish Film Festival Los Angeles and the Galway Film Fleadh. Her recent documentary ONE BY ONE, THE LIGHTS GO OUT screened internationally in 2025–2026, while A ROSCOMMON SNAPSHOT won Best Foreign Film at the Veterans Film Festival in Los Angeles. Earlier work includes the award-winning MAID IN AMERICA.  Alongside filmmaking, Kathy’s photographic work was shortlisted for the AIB Portrait Prize and exhibited at the National Gallery of Ireland. A graduate of TU Dublin’s Advanced Producing course, she is currently developing her debut feature documentary, As This Leaves Me Here, Vietnam Hero, with support from Screen Ireland and the WRAP Fund. 

  • RACHEL RATH is an Irish producer, writer, and actor who trained at the Gaiety School of Acting and has worked across 40+ film and television projects. She founded The Attic Studio in Dublin in 2002, facilitating weekly film and theatre workshops for over a decade, and is part of the team behind the cold-reading series Second Draft Los Angeles. She has trained with practitioners including Helen Hunt, Mark W. Travis, and most recently Emmanuel Oberg through Screen Ireland’s TV Rewriting Lab. Rachel has written feature and television projects, primarily in comedy and historical drama, and has produced a number of short films and web series. She attended the Berlinale Talent Campus before relocating to the US, where she worked across Los Angeles and New York with organisations including Irish Screen America, the British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios Group, and the Association of Film Commissioners International. A board member of CIACLA (Contemporary Irish Arts Center Los Angeles), Rachel returned to Ireland in 2023 to co-found 12 Point Pictures and recently worked with the Dublin International Film Festival. She is delighted to have been selected for the NTA Film & TV Drama and WRAP Commission Mentorship Programme for Producers. 

  • LEAH ROGERS is an emerging Producer and Writer, currently in post-production on her debut short film, Blessed are the Cake Makers, a romcom exploring compulsive heterosexuality. Born in Derby to an Irish Mum, she relocated to Wicklow two years ago to be closer to family and the stories she wants to tell. Having utilised her experience within the production department of large scale projects to strengthen her practical approach to producing, Leah is also dedicated to maintaining an inclusive working practice in all stages of development to foster unique perspectives. A participant in The Abbey’s Box of Tricks programme and GALPAL’s Writers Club, Leah is passionate about creating character led work packed with queer joy and laughter. 

  • MIEKE VANMECHELEN is an independent producer based in County Kerry and founder of Fierce Quiet Films. Working across feature documentary and emerging drama. Her projects have screened at Irish and international festivals, including the Galway Film Fleadh, IndieCork, IFI Documentary Festival, and Ethnografilm Paris. Fierce Quiet Films is committed to making work that observes, reveals, and connects, offering fresh perspectives on the cultural threads that shape us. She is currently developing with national and international partners.  

 

Further Information 

The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama is an initiative of Screen Ireland managed by Ardán. 

The WRAP Commission is operated by WRAP, an initiative of Ardán and the Western Development Commission, with support from the local authorities of Clare, Donegal, Galway City, Galway County, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon, and Údarásna Gaeltachta. 

For any questions, please email filmandtv@nationaltalentacademies.ie