We have been teaching film in Dun Laoghaire since 1984 and the National Film School at IADT was launched in November 2003. It is a centre of excellence for education and training in film, animation, broadcasting and digital media. This status is based on the consistently high achievements of its student productions in both professional competitions and festivals, at home and abroad; the careers of its graduates in the entertainment and media industries; and on the excellence of its staff. IADT's full-time and part-time staff possess considerable industry experience and a high proportion continue to work as practitioners.
In 2004 IADT instituted the first series of National Film School Lectures, in association with The Irish Times. Since then distinguished participants have included JIM SHERIDAN (writer/director); ALEX McDOWELL (production designer); NEIL JORDAN (writer/director); OLIVER STONE (writer/director); RODDY DOYLE (writer/producer); ALAN PARKER (producer/director); CAROLINE LEAF (animator); JEFFREY CAINE (screenwriter); STEPHEN REA (actor); JOANNA QUINN (animator); SEAMUS McGARVEY (cinematographer); STEPHEN FREARS (director); DEBORAH NADOOLMAN (costume designer); JOHN LANDIS (director); LUCIANA ARRIGHI (production designer); JOHN SAYLES (writer/diector); MAGGIE RENZI (producer); KRZYSZTOF ZANUSSI (writer/director).
IADT student films have achieved considerable successes over the years, and have been shown at more than 75 different film festivals across the world, winning numerous prizes along the way. Twenty-five television stations have screened them.
Graduates and former students include directors: Aisling Walsh (Song for a Raggy Boy); Kirsten Sheridan (Disco Pigs); Kieron J. Walsh (When Brendan Met Trudy); Robert Quinn (Dead Bodies); Liam McGrath (Southpaw); Conor McMahon (Dead Meat); Ciaran Donnelly (The Tudors); Billy O'Brien (Isolation); producer Liam O' Neill (How Harry Became a Tree); and cinematographer s James Mather (Adam & Paul) and Robbie Ryan (Red Road).
The Advisory Board of the National Film School is chaired by producer, MORGAN O'SULLIVAN; and its members include directors NEIL JORDAN, JIM SHERIDAN, KEN WARDOP and JOHN BOORMAN; JAMES MORRIS, Chair of the IFB; writer RODDY DOYLE; actor/producer PIERCE BROSNAN; composer BILL WHELAN; animator CATHAL GAFFNEY; television producer JOAN EGAN; editor EMER REYNOLDS; CLARE DUIGNAN, Director of Programmes - Television, RTÉ; Dr. KEVIN ROCKETT, Head of the School of Drama, Film and Music at Trinity College Dublin; Entertainment Lawyer, JAMES HICKEY, and RÓISÍN HOGAN, former Director of IADT.
