Directors Masterclass
Friday 10 July 2026 | 10:00am – 1:00pm | Galmont Hotel, Galway
The 38th Galway Film Fleadh is delighted to welcome award-winning Irish writer and director Frank Berry as the featured guest of this year’s Directors’ Masterclass, proudly sponsored by Story House Ireland.
One of Ireland’s most distinctive filmmaking voices, Berry has built an award-winning career creating powerful, emotionally resonant stories that shine a light on those living at the margins of society. Renowned for his deeply human approach to storytelling, his work explores themes of identity, community, resilience, and social justice, earning both critical acclaim and industry recognition.
Born in North Dublin and now based in County Wicklow, Berry began his filmmaking journey at Coláiste Dhúlaigh, where he later returned to teach while developing his career in television and community filmmaking. Today, he is regarded as one of Ireland’s most respected and socially engaged writer-directors.
Berry’s latest feature, The Lost Children of Tuam, will receive its World Premiere at the 2026 Galway Film Fleadh. Directed by Berry and written by acclaimed screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz (The Salt Path, She Said), the film is based on Dan Barry’s landmark 2017 New York Times article. Starring Monica Dolan (Sherwood, Mr Bates vs The Post Office) as historian Catherine Corless, alongside Andrew Bennett (God’s Creatures, The Quiet Girl) and Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls), the film further demonstrates Berry’s extraordinary ability to bring urgent and important stories to the screen with compassion, integrity, and emotional depth.
His previous feature, Aisha (2022), starring Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and brought international attention to Ireland’s Direct Provision system, earning Berry IFTA Awards for Best Director and Best Script. Before that, Michael Inside (2017) won Best Film at the Irish Film & Television Awards and was widely acclaimed for its powerful portrayal of a young man’s journey through the Irish prison system.
Berry’s debut fiction feature, I Used to Live Here (2014), won Best Irish First Feature at the Galway Film Fleadh, while his acclaimed documentary Ballymun Lullaby (2011) captured the transformative power of music education within the Ballymun community.
Across documentaries and feature films alike, Frank Berry’s work is united by a commitment to telling stories that matter—stories that challenge, inspire, and amplify voices too often overlooked. His films continue to resonate with audiences in Ireland and around the world, making him one of the country’s most compelling contemporary filmmakers.
Join Frank Berry at the 38th Galway Film Fleadh for an inspiring conversation about storytelling, filmmaking, and bringing socially relevant stories to the screen.
To register for this event, please complete the form on this page and pay the €50 fee
