IADT Students Take the Lead in a Dazzling 19th Annual FÍS Film Awards Live from The Helix
The talented students of the National Film School at IADT took full creative and technical control of this year’s FÍS Film Awards, delivering a seamless live production from The Helix Theatre’s Mahony Hall. Under the expert guidance of IADT lecturers David Cooper and Anthony McGuinness, students collaborated with leading industry professionals from TVM, Creative Technology Ireland, Stage Lighting Design, and Tara Productions, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in live broadcasting.
Bringing together first, second, and third-year students from TV production, directing, and editing, as well as students from new media and arts management, the team worked tirelessly over two days at The Helix. Their dedication ensured a polished and engaging 2.5-hour livestream hosted by Sinead Kennedy. (Recording to be made available soon on fisfilmproject.ie.) With the support of TVM’s Outcast Broadcast Facilities and its state-of-the-art OB truck, students had the unique opportunity to operate industry-standard equipment in a professional live environment.
“The Fís Awards Ceremony affords IADT TV Students the opportunity to experience Live Outside Broadcasting disciplines and industry practices, reinforcing the teaching and learning aims of lecturers”. -Anthony McGuinness, Department of Film and Media, IADT.
This year marked the first time the production incorporated Irish Sign Language (ISL) ensuring accessibility for viewers and attendees and supporting the project’s reach to as many primary students as possible.
The outstanding students who played a key role in bringing the live show to life included:
PRODUCTION CREW:
- Director: Laura Gallagher
- Producer: Oscar Lewins
- Camera 1: Arthur Sinclair
- Camera 2: Callum Sinnott
- Camera 3: Harry Merton/Ezra Dolan
- Camera 4: Anna Mc Loughlin
- Roaming Camera: Grainne O’Reilly
- Editor: Hugh Turner
- Sound Desk 1: Aoibhin O’Byrne
- Sound Desk 2: Bianca Kovacic
- Sound Assist: Cal Corcoran
- PA: Percy Turcanik
- Vision Mixer 1: Margareta Trapp
- Vision Mixer 2: Ronan Donnelly
- Media Manager: Daithí Hopkins
- Media Manager 2: Patrick Devereux
- CCU 1: Maxim Bunea-Jivanescu
- CCU 2: Ricards Dzerkals
- Floor Manager 1: Nina Mullen
- Floor Manager 2: Kevin Meggs
- Camera/Sound: Mariia Moroz
- Interviewer: Lillian Hedlund
- Lighting Assist 1: Dominic Andoni
- Editors: Vince Levay & Orla Engstfeld
- Social Media: Nathan Coster
- Event Assistant: Martí Puiderrajols Fauria
- Pre-Production Assistant: Sean McNamara
“I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to direct this year’s Fís awards ceremony. It’s such a great event for the kids to learn about filmmaking and express their creativity and it’s something I wish I could’ve done in primary school. It was great to meet and work with the TVM crew. I learned so much and had an amazing time.” – Laura Gallagher, Television Student.
The hard work and professionalism of the above students continues to highlight IADT as a leading institution for film, television, and media education in Ireland, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world industry experience.
About the FÍS Film Awards
The live event, which runs annually, offers a unique platform for creativity and recognition for students and teachers who have introduced filmmaking into their classrooms. More information is available on www.fisfilmproject.ie.
Photography by Mark Stedman.