Mary Tynan is a disabled director, actor and writer.  A highly-experienced theatremaker, she turned to film with her debut live-action short, Na Doirse, which was released last year, with the premiere being covered by Nuacht TG4.  A fluent Gaeilgeoir, she likes to work through the Irish language whenever possible, using her own lived experience to feature marginalised voices in an intersectional way, and exploring themes around the true meaning of inclusion and access.  During lockdown, she founded the online arts centre, Notes from Xanadu, which is the first of its kind.  Mary is also a broadcaster, singer and musician, and holds an MA in Irish language media (MA Cleachtas Gairmiúil sna Meáin) from the University of Galway. 

Kate Haley is an award-winning writer/director from Co. Donegal with an MFA in Film & TV from Savannah College of Art & Design (Fulbright Scholar) and an M.Phil in Screenwriting from Trinity College Dublin. She recently directed the Virgin Media Discovers / Screen Ireland short Emergency Accommodation, which received a special mention at Dublin International Film Festival and was shortlisted for a Young Directors Award at the 2026 Cannes Lions. Her debut feature, The Shadow of Me, is currently in development with Tri Moon Films. A director with a distinct visual sensibility, Kate is drawn to the darker edge of humanity with a particular interest in identity and belonging. 

Verena Barbosa is a Galway-based Brazilian filmmaker, journalist, and founder of Brazil on Screen, a cultural platform showcasing Brazilian cinema in Ireland with the support of the Brazilian Embassy and recognition from the Irish Government. Writing and directing live-action stories for all ages, she has a TV show in early development with Macalla Teoranta and is currently writing her first feature film. She holds an MA in Film Studies from the University of Galway and has been mentored by Nora Twomey of Cartoon Saloon. Verena is also guest-curating a Brazilian-focused programme at the Lighthouse Cinema and producing the second edition of the Galway May Day Film Festival.  

Abraham Hijazeen is an Irish-Jordanian screenwriter who studied writing at The Second City and acting at Bow Street Academy. He has a leftfield sensibility and specializes in offbeat comedy (for adults and kids) and world-building. 

EITILIT empowers underrepresented creatives to pursue their career ambitions at Ireland’s film and television market. 

EITILT (meaning “flight”) creates a structured progression route for emerging and underrepresented creators across the Galway Film Fair’s training and development initiatives. EITILIT participants will receive guidance year-on-year, through entry-level events such as the Script Pitching Competition or Short Film Exchange, through to workshops for more developed projects such as Facing In/Facing Out or Pitching for Games, through to advanced programmes like our Co-Production Marketplace. The ultimate goal is to facilitate underrepresented creators to bring their projects to a market-ready standard, where they can then be pitched to co-producers and investors at the Galway Film Fair. 

EITILT will invite 3–5 creators each year, whose work reflects the diversity and regional context we would like to see represented in our marketplace, and provide them with sustained, structured support. The programme will include tracking of participants and projects to ensure underrepresented people and stories have equitable access to further development.

Supported by the Amazon Regional Creatives Fund, Country Manager for Amazon in Ireland Ali Dunn said, “The Regional Creatives Fund Ireland is about reducing barriers to entry within Ireland’s creative sector and working with charities who are already making a difference to help them reach even more people. We’re excited to combine financial support with Amazon’s industry expertise to create real pathways into creative careers across Ireland.” 

“This support from the Amazon Regional Creatives Fund Ireland allows us to reimagine how talent development works at the Galway Film Fair. EITILT creates a clear pathway from first idea to market-ready project, giving emerging creators – particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds – the structure, access and confidence to build sustainable careers in the screen industry,” said William Fitzgerald, Director of Galway Film Fair.