Joining our Speaker Line-up are…

Jan 21, 2026 | News, Event

We’ are delighted to welcome Ruth Negga (Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress) and Aisha Tyler (award-winning actress, producer, director, Criminal Minds, The Walking Dead) to the growing speaker programme for the 2026 WIFTI Summit!

We can’t wait for the inspiring panels and discussions ahead – join us in giving them a very warm welcome, and be part of an unforgettable few days in Adare this February!

🎟 DAILY tickets now available:

We’re delighted to announce that you can now join us at the WIFTI Summit 2026 with daily tickets, if you’re unable to attend the full four days.

📅 Thursday 5th February

📅 Friday 6th February

Secure your place:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/wifti-summit-2026-tickets-1817949418649

Learn more about Ruth Negga and Aisha Tyler‘s incredible work:

Ruth Negga

Oscar- and Emmy-Nominated Actor

Ruth can recently be seen starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Apple’s remake of Presumed Innocent, adapted by David E. Kelley. She has received nominations at the Independent Spirit and IFTA awards for her performance. She also recently starred in Dan Levy’s directorial debut Good Grief for Netflix. 

Ruth was nominated in 2022 for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of ‘Lady Macbeth’ in her Broadway debut opposite Daniel Craig in Sam Gold’s Macbeth. Previously, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Loving opposite Joel Edgerton, which Jeff Nichols wrote and directed. Ruth’s performance in the film earned her several other Best Actress nominations at the BAFTAs, Film Independent Spirit Awards and SAG Awards.

Ruth can also be seen in the feature film Passing for Netflix opposite Tessa Thompson, adapted for the screen and directed by Rebecca Hall. She won the Independent Spirit Award for her performance and received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for Best Supporting Actress. She also previously starred opposite Brad Pitt in the Plan B/New Regency film Ad Astra, which James Gray wrote and directed. 

On the small screen, Ruth starred as ‘Tulip O’Hare’ in the critically acclaimed AMC series Preacher, which Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg executive produced. She received rave reviews for her electrifying turn as the unpredictable and volatile ‘Tulip,’ a gifted criminal who is not afraid to steal, cheat or kill to get what she wants. In addition, Ruth won the Irish Film and Television Academy Award for Best Actress in 2012 for her portrayal of ‘Shirley Bassey’ in the TV movie Shirley. 

Ruth previously performed as the Prince of Denmark in Yael Farber’s take on the Shakespearian play Hamlet. After an acclaimed sold-out run in October 2019 at The Gate Theatre in Dublin, Ruth reprised the titular role in her American stage debut in February 2020 at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. Ruth and the production received stellar reviews and she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.

Aisha Tyler

Award-winning actor, director, producer (Criminal Minds, The Walking Dead), CEO of Hot Machine Films

Aisha Tyler is an award-winning director, actor, New York Times bestselling author, comedian, podcaster, and entrepreneur. She is also an Emmy-winning television host and a multiple award-winning voice actor for Archer. Her feature directorial debut, AXIS, won Outstanding Achievement in Feature Filmmaking at the 2017 Newport Beach Film Festival and was named “Best of the Fest” at the Sarasota Film Festival. Her second feature film, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, had its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh, and was included at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2025. Aisha has directed multiple hit television shows, including The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Roswell, New Mexico, Evil, The Wonder Years, Criminal Minds, and Criminal Minds: Evolution.

Revisit our previously announced lineup further down the page to see the breadth of voices already confirmed.

May Leung

Visual Effects Supervisor: Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Bohemian Rhapsody

May Leung is a Visual Effects Supervisor with over 25 years of experience in Film and HETV, with credits in Oscar Award winning films such as Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Bohemian Rhapsody in which she obtained a Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature from the Visual Effects Society.

May Leung is an experienced visual effects (VFX) supervisor and emerging producer with over 25 years in the film and television industry. Based in London, she has worked on a wide range of high-profile and critically acclaimed productions. Her notable credits include Spy Kids: Armageddon, where she served as VFX Supervisor as well as  Bohemian Rhapsody both vendor side VFX Supervisor and onset 2nd Unit VFX Supervisor. She also worked as Production VFX Supervisor on The Witcher: Blood Origin as well as Horizon Line. Earlier in her career, she contributed to major films such as Inception, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Dark Knight Rises, and several Harry Potter titles in lead roles. May has recently completed work in several projects, including Fountain of Youth and The Magic Faraway Tree, 100% Organic (short film in post-production) as well with several projects in development:  Cold Enough for Snow (Feature, Producer), Alice, An Immersive Experience (Producer), A Light In The Dark (Feature, Producer) and Sutter’s Point (Feature, Producer). Her consistent contributions to major studio productions underline her industry recognition and credibility. She is also featured on professional platforms like ScreenSkills and Primetime, reflecting her leadership in the VFX field and her expanding role as a producer.

Niamh Fagan

Project Manager Feature Film, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland

With almost 30 years’ experience in the film and television industry, Niamh Fagan started out working in feature film cutting rooms in Dublin, London & Los Angeles, learning the craft of storytelling and filmmaking from Oscar winning editors and directors. From being an accomplished editor, Niamh gravitated toward developing and producing award-winning TV comedy and drama series for RTÉ, BBC & TG4.

 In 2019, Niamh produced international multi-award-winning feature documentary Shooting the Mafia, which had its World Premiere at the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival and had its European Premiere in the Panorama section at the Berlinale Film festival. Niamh is currently working for Screen Ireland, Ireland’s National Screen Agency as Project Manager across a busy slate of Film, Documentary and TV Drama.

Domizia De Rosa

Founding member & President of Women in Film, Television & Media Italy; Vice President, WIFT International

Domizia De Rosa is a founding member and President of Women in Film, Television & Media Italy and Vice President of WIFT International. She teaches as an adjunct professor at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) in Milan and at NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (New Academy of Fine Arts) in Rome. Previously she held several roles including Executive Director, Television at Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia, a company she joined in 1995. Her research interests are: gender media studies, visual cultures and production studies.

Kelly Luegenbiehl

Co-Founder, Shorties Studios (Ex Netflix, Disney, NBCU)

Kelly Luegenbiehl is a trailblazing media leader who has had a defining impact on the global entertainment industry. At Netflix, as Vice President of Franchise and Spectacle Series, she was the guiding force behind the global phenomenon The Witcher, propelling it into one of the top 10 most-watched shows globally. As Vice President of International Originals and Vice President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Netflix, she spearheaded the company’s groundbreaking push into international markets and local-language originals, a strategic initiative that revolutionized the way content was created and consumed globally. Under her leadership, viewership of non-English programming on Netflix surged by 50% in the U.S. alone between 2017 and 2021. Kelly was responsible for hit series including “The Witcher”, “DARK” (Germany), “Lupin” (France), “Suburra” (Italy), “Kingdom” (South Korea), “Sacred Games” (India), “The Rain” (Denmark), “The Protector” (Turkey), “Baby’ (Italy), “Cable Girls” (Spain), “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father” (UK), “Ingobernable” (Mexico), “3%” (Brazil), “Elite” (Spain), “The English Game” (UK), “Casa de las Flores” (Mexico), “Unorthodox” (Germany), and “Sintonia” (Brazil). Her keen eye for quality storytelling and ability to tap into diverse cultural perspectives have been instrumental in Netflix’s success in captivating audiences across the globe. Previously at ABC, she developed acclaimed shows like “The Goldbergs”, “The Middle” and “Fresh Off the Boat”, earning recognition on prestigious industry lists. At Bravo, Luegenbiehl won an Emmy award for her work on “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List”. A leader in elevating voices from around the world, Kelly has been honored by Variety’s International Women’s Impact Report, AFI, and received an International Emmy nomination. Her innate ability to discover talent, lead teams with a strategic vision, commitment to authentic storytelling, and deep global relationships have cemented her as an influential force transforming the content landscape today. 

Kissy Dugan

Writer & Producer, WIFTI Executive Board Member

Kissy Dugan is an American/Irish writer/producer based in Rome, Italy. Recent writing credits include: Twisted (animated feature currently in production with Mediawan France) and the Italian black comedy I Cassamortari (Amazon Studios Italy). Producing credits include the UK/ Italian feature The Habit of Beauty (Rome Film Festival) and doc features Botero (Palm Springs International Film Festival, Barcelona Doc Fest) and I Want My MTV for A&E Network. Kissy worked as both a classically trained actor and stand-up comic across the US (Caroline’s on Broadway, Gotham, Stand Up NY, The Improv, The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store) and Europe. She has worked in casting (20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures) and has produced short films, live stage shows, industrial films and commercials. Kissy also provides concierge production services for foreign productions in Italy. She is a founding member of Women in Film, TV and Media Italia and a current board member of Women in Film International.

Michelle Martin

VFX Executive Producer

Michelle Martin is a senior VFX executive with extensive experience building trusted creative partnerships with studios, producers, and show teams to deliver premium episodic and feature content. Currently working in partnership with Elephant Goldfish, she has held senior leadership roles at Pixomondo, Milk VFX and Framestore. Her credits include The Crown, The Witcher, The Boys, and Doctor Who. Michelle is recognised for her ability to balance creative ambition with commercial and scheduling realities, guiding productions through an increasingly complex and innovative VFX landscape while delivering sustainable, high-quality outcomes for clients and facilities alike. 

Teresa Mc Grane

Chief Operating Officer, Wild Atlantic Pictures

In 2023, Teresa took up a new post with Wild Atlantic Pictures in Dublin, as Chief Operating Officer.
Previously she was Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland for over 2 decades. Screen Ireland is Irelands
Screen agency fostering Irish artistic vision and Ireland’s diverse creative and production talent,
growing audiences, and attracting filmmakers and investment into the country.
During the time she spent at Screen Ireland she was across the commercial and financial aspects
of projects that the Board invested in, to the marketing and promotion of Irish films and the
Irish film sector, domestically and internationally. She was also across the Boards strategy with
regard to the development of the industry and the development of skills to increase the creative
and business capacity of the sector.
She represented the Screen sector at a European level being Irelands representative on EFAD
(European Film Agency Directors) and was recently a member of the European OMC working
group on European co-production.
Prior to Screen Ireland, she was an independent producer and also a production accountant on
many large-scale feature films that shot in Ireland. She also worked for many years in the UK
television sector ad production accountant.
She is a qualified Certified Accountant and has a Masters in Business Administration from Dublin
City University.

Dearbhla Walsh

EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA award-winning director

Dearbhla Walsh is a renowned, international director whose work has been recognised with multiple awards wins and nominations including EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA awards.  Dearbhla’s newest show is MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES for Apple TV/ A24, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman.

Dearbhla was lead director and EP for both series of the BAD SISTERS. She has directed multiple episodes of FARGO, and the award-winning Washington DC episode of THE HANDMAID’S TALE. Dearbhla’s work has also ranged from LITTLE DORRIT (winning her a Best Director Emmy) to Roald Dahl’s ESIO TROT with Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman, TALES FROM THE LOOP, and SHAMELESS.

Eranka Weerasuriya

Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd

Eranka Weerasuriya is the Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd, a £72 million next-generation virtual production studio and creative technology firm based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With more than two decades of experience spanning Virtual Production, Visual Effects, Animation, and Live Action, Eranka has an unwavering passion and commitment to advancing immersive storytelling and driving technological innovation. She has been integral in delivering high-profile film, television, commercial, and branded entertainment projects for international clients.

Most recently, Eranka served as Head of Production (VP) at Eyeline Studios, Powered by Netflix, where she managed over 65 virtual production shoots and led cross-functional teams comprising up to 150 members worldwide. Previously, she held key roles at Industrial Light & Magic in both London and Singapore, where she contributed to the strategic bidding, planning and execution of VFX productions and effectively managed client relationships on major projects.

WIFTI SUMMIT 2026 SPEAKERS

Anna Serner
Former CEO, Swedish Film Institute and 50/50 by 2020 Champion

Anna is a lawyer but has spent her professional life as a CEO at three major organisations; The Swedish Advertising Association (Komm), The Swedish Media Publishing Association (TU) and The Swedish Film Institute (SFI) where she was CEO 2011-2021.

In all her positions Anna has worked with equality and inclusion in order to make sure the highest possible quality and freedom of expressions. 

During her period at Komm she published a book ”A Man Called Rolf, And Other Stories”, written by female copy writers. It was a book about being a copy writer in the advertising world. The book led to a leadership educations for women in creative works, an education that she offered in the film world (called ”Moviement”) at SFI, as a strategy to get more women behind the camera in big budget films. ”Moviement” was a part of the action plan to reach equity behind the camera, a strategy that became ”50/50by2020 which was released by SFI in Cannes 2016. That inspired the big festival movement for equality with the same name.

Anna is now starting an organisation called ”The Swedish Center for Investigative Journalism” to support a diversity of investigative reports to ensure an open democratic society.

Dame Heather Rabbatts
Chair, Time’s Up UK

Dame Heather Rabbatts’ career spans law, government, media and sport. She is currently Chair of Saatchi PLC, Associated British Foods PLC (where she is also Senior Independent Director) and Soho Theatre and until recently was MD of film & TV production company Cove Pictures where she produced The Drifters and The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu. In 2018, Heather became Chair of TIME’S UP UK and in 2019 joined TIME’S UP global board. Born out of the revelations of #MeToo, TIME’S UP advocates to end sexual harassment, change representation and pay parity to achieve long-term cultural change. She was previously Chair of CIISA, the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, currently in development. Heather began her career as a lawyer, then a government advisor and was the youngest CEO of a Local Authority. She was the first woman and person of colour on the board of the English FA in 150 years, served on the boards of the BBC, Bank of England, the Foreign Office and the Royal Opera House and commissioned award-winning content as a senior executive at Channel 4 Television.

Debbie Ging
Professor, Digital Media and Gender, DCU & Director, DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities

Debbie Ging is Professor of Digital Media and Gender in the School of Communications at Dublin City University and Director of the DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities. She teaches and researches on gender, sexuality and digital media, with a focus on digital hate, online anti-feminist men’s rights politics, the incel subculture and radicalisation of boys and men into male supremacist ideologies. Debbie’s research also addresses youth experiences of gender-based and sexual abuse online and educational interventions to tackle these issues.

Guneet Monga Kapoor
Academy Award-Winning Producer CEO, Sikyha Entertainment

Guneet Monga Kapoor is an acclaimed Indian film producer, a two-time Academy Award winner, and the first to bring home an Academy Award for an Indian production with The Elephant Whisperers (2023). She also served as Executive Producer for the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary short Period. End of Sentence. A BAFTA nominee, Guneet is among the first Indian producers invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Guneet is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a Mumbai-based production house. She has produced close to 40 feature films, including ground-breaking cinema such as Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), The Lunchbox (2013), Monsoon Shootout (2013), and Masaan (2015) all of which received critical acclaim at prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, TIFF, and Sundance.

Guneet is a recipient of the prestigious French Honour “Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”. In 2019, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded her the prestigious Sloan Science and Film grant. Guneet is passionate about issues of representation and diversity in the film industry and discovering, amplifying & distributing the work of Indian women filmmakers across the globe.

Her recent projects include groundbreaking actioner – KILL, which earned a spot among IMDb India’s top 10 films of 2024 and achieved mainstream international distribution in a first of it’s kind deal with International Studio Lionsgate. Other successes include the sci-fi thriller web series Gyaarah Gyaarah (ranked No. 4 by IMDb India), Gutar Gu on Amazon MX Player, a first-of-its-kind Netflix documentary film on globally celebrated Hip Hop Artist – Yo Yo Honey Singh, and the 2025 Oscar-shortlisted live-action short film Anuja.

Iris Zappe-Heller
Deputy Director, Austrian Film Institute

Iris Zappe-Heller joined the Austrian Film Institute in 1993.

She took over the Austrian representation at the Board of Eurimages from 1997 to 2021.

In 2011 she became deputy to the Director of the Film Institute.

In 2013 she installed the department for Gender*Diversity*Inclusion within the Film Institute, taking a package of measures as Gender Incentive, Gender Budgeting, Gender Reports, ProPro, Script competition… In this function she represents Austria in Eurimages’ Gender Equality Working Group that she has chaired from 2016 to 2021. She joined the EFAD’s Gender Inclusion Working Group in 2018, where she took over the chair in 2021. In 2015 she has been the Austrian expert of the Sarajevo Conference Declaration and therefore actively involved in the drawing up of the European Council’s Recommendation on Gender Equality. Since 2024 she is member of the board of European Women’s Audiovisiual network, EWA.

In 2023 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Film Institute and is member of the board of Filmarchiv Austria since.

Liselott Forsman
CEO, Nordisk Film & TV Fond

Liselott Forsman is the CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond since 2019. As Yle’s International Drama Executive and EBU’s Head of Fiction Group, her focus was on international collaboration and media strategies. When Head of Fiction at Swedish Yle, she commissioned and co-produced feature films, drama series and content for young audiences. Her MA combines film, drama, and media studies. Liselott has been a speaker at forums on five continents, lectured at European master educations, produced drama and documentaries, and written for TV, radio and stage. She co-founded and headed the international event Helsinki Script.

Get your ticket today and we’ll see you in Limerick!

Additional speakers revealed!

Jan 14, 2026 | News, Event

With February fast approaching, we’re excited to share another announcement as new speakers join the growing international programme for WIFTI Summit 2026.

The WIFTI Summit 2026 takes place 4–7 February 2026 in Adare, Co. Limerick, bringing together women working across film, television and the wider screen industries.

We’re delighted to announce a new round of speakers, including Niamh Fagan (Project Manager Feature Film, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland) and May Leung (Visual Effects Supervisor: Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Bohemian Rhapsody). 

The full Summit programme will be announced very soon!

🎟 Secure your ticket today!

Scroll below to discover our newly announced speakers:

May Leung

Visual Effects Supervisor: Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Bohemian Rhapsody

May Leung is a Visual Effects Supervisor with over 25 years of experience in Film and HETV, with credits in Oscar Award winning films such as Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Bohemian Rhapsody in which she obtained a Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature from the Visual Effects Society.

May Leung is an experienced visual effects (VFX) supervisor and emerging producer with over 25 years in the film and television industry. Based in London, she has worked on a wide range of high-profile and critically acclaimed productions. Her notable credits include Spy Kids: Armageddon, where she served as VFX Supervisor as well as  Bohemian Rhapsody both vendor side VFX Supervisor and onset 2nd Unit VFX Supervisor. She also worked as Production VFX Supervisor on The Witcher: Blood Origin as well as Horizon Line. Earlier in her career, she contributed to major films such as Inception, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Dark Knight Rises, and several Harry Potter titles in lead roles. May has recently completed work in several projects, including Fountain of Youth and The Magic Faraway Tree, 100% Organic (short film in post-production) as well with several projects in development:  Cold Enough for Snow (Feature, Producer), Alice, An Immersive Experience (Producer), A Light In The Dark (Feature, Producer) and Sutter’s Point (Feature, Producer). Her consistent contributions to major studio productions underline her industry recognition and credibility. She is also featured on professional platforms like ScreenSkills and Primetime, reflecting her leadership in the VFX field and her expanding role as a producer.

Niamh Fagan

Project Manager Feature Film, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland

With almost 30 years’ experience in the film and television industry, Niamh Fagan started out working in feature film cutting rooms in Dublin, London & Los Angeles, learning the craft of storytelling and filmmaking from Oscar winning editors and directors. From being an accomplished editor, Niamh gravitated toward developing and producing award-winning TV comedy and drama series for RTÉ, BBC & TG4.

 In 2019, Niamh produced international multi-award-winning feature documentary Shooting the Mafia, which had its World Premiere at the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival and had its European Premiere in the Panorama section at the Berlinale Film festival. Niamh is currently working for Screen Ireland, Ireland’s National Screen Agency as Project Manager across a busy slate of Film, Documentary and TV Drama.

Revisit our previously announced lineup further down the page to see the breadth of voices already confirmed.

Domizia De Rosa

Founding member & President of Women in Film, Television & Media Italy; Vice President, WIFT International

Domizia De Rosa is a founding member and President of Women in Film, Television & Media Italy and Vice President of WIFT International. She teaches as an adjunct professor at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) in Milan and at NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (New Academy of Fine Arts) in Rome. Previously she held several roles including Executive Director, Television at Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia, a company she joined in 1995. Her research interests are: gender media studies, visual cultures and production studies.

Kelly Luegenbiehl

Co-Founder, Shorties Studios (Ex Netflix, Disney, NBCU)

Kelly Luegenbiehl is a trailblazing media leader who has had a defining impact on the global entertainment industry. At Netflix, as Vice President of Franchise and Spectacle Series, she was the guiding force behind the global phenomenon The Witcher, propelling it into one of the top 10 most-watched shows globally. As Vice President of International Originals and Vice President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Netflix, she spearheaded the company’s groundbreaking push into international markets and local-language originals, a strategic initiative that revolutionized the way content was created and consumed globally. Under her leadership, viewership of non-English programming on Netflix surged by 50% in the U.S. alone between 2017 and 2021. Kelly was responsible for hit series including “The Witcher”, “DARK” (Germany), “Lupin” (France), “Suburra” (Italy), “Kingdom” (South Korea), “Sacred Games” (India), “The Rain” (Denmark), “The Protector” (Turkey), “Baby’ (Italy), “Cable Girls” (Spain), “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father” (UK), “Ingobernable” (Mexico), “3%” (Brazil), “Elite” (Spain), “The English Game” (UK), “Casa de las Flores” (Mexico), “Unorthodox” (Germany), and “Sintonia” (Brazil). Her keen eye for quality storytelling and ability to tap into diverse cultural perspectives have been instrumental in Netflix’s success in captivating audiences across the globe. Previously at ABC, she developed acclaimed shows like “The Goldbergs”, “The Middle” and “Fresh Off the Boat”, earning recognition on prestigious industry lists. At Bravo, Luegenbiehl won an Emmy award for her work on “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List”. A leader in elevating voices from around the world, Kelly has been honored by Variety’s International Women’s Impact Report, AFI, and received an International Emmy nomination. Her innate ability to discover talent, lead teams with a strategic vision, commitment to authentic storytelling, and deep global relationships have cemented her as an influential force transforming the content landscape today. 

Kissy Dugan

Writer & Producer, WIFTI Executive Board Member

Kissy Dugan is an American/Irish writer/producer based in Rome, Italy. Recent writing credits include: Twisted (animated feature currently in production with Mediawan France) and the Italian black comedy I Cassamortari (Amazon Studios Italy). Producing credits include the UK/ Italian feature The Habit of Beauty (Rome Film Festival) and doc features Botero (Palm Springs International Film Festival, Barcelona Doc Fest) and I Want My MTV for A&E Network. Kissy worked as both a classically trained actor and stand-up comic across the US (Caroline’s on Broadway, Gotham, Stand Up NY, The Improv, The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store) and Europe. She has worked in casting (20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures) and has produced short films, live stage shows, industrial films and commercials. Kissy also provides concierge production services for foreign productions in Italy. She is a founding member of Women in Film, TV and Media Italia and a current board member of Women in Film International.

Michelle Martin

VFX Executive Producer

Michelle Martin is a senior VFX executive with extensive experience building trusted creative partnerships with studios, producers, and show teams to deliver premium episodic and feature content. Currently working in partnership with Elephant Goldfish, she has held senior leadership roles at Pixomondo, Milk VFX and Framestore. Her credits include The Crown, The Witcher, The Boys, and Doctor Who. Michelle is recognised for her ability to balance creative ambition with commercial and scheduling realities, guiding productions through an increasingly complex and innovative VFX landscape while delivering sustainable, high-quality outcomes for clients and facilities alike. 

Teresa Mc Grane

Chief Operating Officer, Wild Atlantic Pictures

In 2023, Teresa took up a new post with Wild Atlantic Pictures in Dublin, as Chief Operating Officer.
Previously she was Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland for over 2 decades. Screen Ireland is Irelands
Screen agency fostering Irish artistic vision and Ireland’s diverse creative and production talent,
growing audiences, and attracting filmmakers and investment into the country.
During the time she spent at Screen Ireland she was across the commercial and financial aspects
of projects that the Board invested in, to the marketing and promotion of Irish films and the
Irish film sector, domestically and internationally. She was also across the Boards strategy with
regard to the development of the industry and the development of skills to increase the creative
and business capacity of the sector.
She represented the Screen sector at a European level being Irelands representative on EFAD
(European Film Agency Directors) and was recently a member of the European OMC working
group on European co-production.
Prior to Screen Ireland, she was an independent producer and also a production accountant on
many large-scale feature films that shot in Ireland. She also worked for many years in the UK
television sector ad production accountant.
She is a qualified Certified Accountant and has a Masters in Business Administration from Dublin
City University.

Dearbhla Walsh

EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA award-winning director

Dearbhla Walsh is a renowned, international director whose work has been recognised with multiple awards wins and nominations including EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA awards.  Dearbhla’s newest show is MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES for Apple TV/ A24, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman.

Dearbhla was lead director and EP for both series of the BAD SISTERS. She has directed multiple episodes of FARGO, and the award-winning Washington DC episode of THE HANDMAID’S TALE. Dearbhla’s work has also ranged from LITTLE DORRIT (winning her a Best Director Emmy) to Roald Dahl’s ESIO TROT with Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman, TALES FROM THE LOOP, and SHAMELESS.

Eranka Weerasuriya

Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd

Eranka Weerasuriya is the Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd, a £72 million next-generation virtual production studio and creative technology firm based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With more than two decades of experience spanning Virtual Production, Visual Effects, Animation, and Live Action, Eranka has an unwavering passion and commitment to advancing immersive storytelling and driving technological innovation. She has been integral in delivering high-profile film, television, commercial, and branded entertainment projects for international clients.

Most recently, Eranka served as Head of Production (VP) at Eyeline Studios, Powered by Netflix, where she managed over 65 virtual production shoots and led cross-functional teams comprising up to 150 members worldwide. Previously, she held key roles at Industrial Light & Magic in both London and Singapore, where she contributed to the strategic bidding, planning and execution of VFX productions and effectively managed client relationships on major projects.

WIFTI SUMMIT 2026 SPEAKERS

Anna Serner
Former CEO, Swedish Film Institute and 50/50 by 2020 Champion

Anna is a lawyer but has spent her professional life as a CEO at three major organisations; The Swedish Advertising Association (Komm), The Swedish Media Publishing Association (TU) and The Swedish Film Institute (SFI) where she was CEO 2011-2021.

In all her positions Anna has worked with equality and inclusion in order to make sure the highest possible quality and freedom of expressions. 

During her period at Komm she published a book ”A Man Called Rolf, And Other Stories”, written by female copy writers. It was a book about being a copy writer in the advertising world. The book led to a leadership educations for women in creative works, an education that she offered in the film world (called ”Moviement”) at SFI, as a strategy to get more women behind the camera in big budget films. ”Moviement” was a part of the action plan to reach equity behind the camera, a strategy that became ”50/50by2020 which was released by SFI in Cannes 2016. That inspired the big festival movement for equality with the same name.

Anna is now starting an organisation called ”The Swedish Center for Investigative Journalism” to support a diversity of investigative reports to ensure an open democratic society.

Dame Heather Rabbatts
Chair, Time’s Up UK

Dame Heather Rabbatts’ career spans law, government, media and sport. She is currently Chair of Saatchi PLC, Associated British Foods PLC (where she is also Senior Independent Director) and Soho Theatre and until recently was MD of film & TV production company Cove Pictures where she produced The Drifters and The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu. In 2018, Heather became Chair of TIME’S UP UK and in 2019 joined TIME’S UP global board. Born out of the revelations of #MeToo, TIME’S UP advocates to end sexual harassment, change representation and pay parity to achieve long-term cultural change. She was previously Chair of CIISA, the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, currently in development. Heather began her career as a lawyer, then a government advisor and was the youngest CEO of a Local Authority. She was the first woman and person of colour on the board of the English FA in 150 years, served on the boards of the BBC, Bank of England, the Foreign Office and the Royal Opera House and commissioned award-winning content as a senior executive at Channel 4 Television.

Debbie Ging
Professor, Digital Media and Gender, DCU & Director, DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities

Debbie Ging is Professor of Digital Media and Gender in the School of Communications at Dublin City University and Director of the DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities. She teaches and researches on gender, sexuality and digital media, with a focus on digital hate, online anti-feminist men’s rights politics, the incel subculture and radicalisation of boys and men into male supremacist ideologies. Debbie’s research also addresses youth experiences of gender-based and sexual abuse online and educational interventions to tackle these issues.

Guneet Monga Kapoor
Academy Award-Winning Producer CEO, Sikyha Entertainment

Guneet Monga Kapoor is an acclaimed Indian film producer, a two-time Academy Award winner, and the first to bring home an Academy Award for an Indian production with The Elephant Whisperers (2023). She also served as Executive Producer for the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary short Period. End of Sentence. A BAFTA nominee, Guneet is among the first Indian producers invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Guneet is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a Mumbai-based production house. She has produced close to 40 feature films, including ground-breaking cinema such as Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), The Lunchbox (2013), Monsoon Shootout (2013), and Masaan (2015) all of which received critical acclaim at prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, TIFF, and Sundance.

Guneet is a recipient of the prestigious French Honour “Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”. In 2019, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded her the prestigious Sloan Science and Film grant. Guneet is passionate about issues of representation and diversity in the film industry and discovering, amplifying & distributing the work of Indian women filmmakers across the globe.

Her recent projects include groundbreaking actioner – KILL, which earned a spot among IMDb India’s top 10 films of 2024 and achieved mainstream international distribution in a first of it’s kind deal with International Studio Lionsgate. Other successes include the sci-fi thriller web series Gyaarah Gyaarah (ranked No. 4 by IMDb India), Gutar Gu on Amazon MX Player, a first-of-its-kind Netflix documentary film on globally celebrated Hip Hop Artist – Yo Yo Honey Singh, and the 2025 Oscar-shortlisted live-action short film Anuja.

Iris Zappe-Heller
Deputy Director, Austrian Film Institute

Iris Zappe-Heller joined the Austrian Film Institute in 1993.

She took over the Austrian representation at the Board of Eurimages from 1997 to 2021.

In 2011 she became deputy to the Director of the Film Institute.

In 2013 she installed the department for Gender*Diversity*Inclusion within the Film Institute, taking a package of measures as Gender Incentive, Gender Budgeting, Gender Reports, ProPro, Script competition… In this function she represents Austria in Eurimages’ Gender Equality Working Group that she has chaired from 2016 to 2021. She joined the EFAD’s Gender Inclusion Working Group in 2018, where she took over the chair in 2021. In 2015 she has been the Austrian expert of the Sarajevo Conference Declaration and therefore actively involved in the drawing up of the European Council’s Recommendation on Gender Equality. Since 2024 she is member of the board of European Women’s Audiovisiual network, EWA.

In 2023 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Film Institute and is member of the board of Filmarchiv Austria since.

Liselott Forsman
CEO, Nordisk Film & TV Fond

Liselott Forsman is the CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond since 2019. As Yle’s International Drama Executive and EBU’s Head of Fiction Group, her focus was on international collaboration and media strategies. When Head of Fiction at Swedish Yle, she commissioned and co-produced feature films, drama series and content for young audiences. Her MA combines film, drama, and media studies. Liselott has been a speaker at forums on five continents, lectured at European master educations, produced drama and documentaries, and written for TV, radio and stage. She co-founded and headed the international event Helsinki Script.

Get your ticket today and we’ll see you in Limerick!

Further Inspiring Speakers at the WIFTI Summit 2026

Jan 16, 2026 | News, Event

As we continue counting down to the 2026 WIFTI Summit, we’re excited to share another round of speakers joining our expanding international programme.

From 4–7 February 2026, the Summit will welcome inspiring women working across film, television and the wider screen industries for several days of meaningful exchange, collaboration and connection.

Following our previous announcements, we are delighted to now welcome four further speakers whose work spans storytelling, leadership, production, policy and creative innovation.

The full Summit programme will be announced very soon!

🎟 Secure your ticket today!

Scroll below to discover our newly announced speakers:

Domizia De Rosa

Founding member & President of Women in Film, Television & Media Italy; Vice President, WIFT International

Domizia De Rosa is a founding member and President of Women in Film, Television & Media Italy and Vice President of WIFT International. She teaches as an adjunct professor at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) in Milan and at NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (New Academy of Fine Arts) in Rome. Previously she held several roles including Executive Director, Television at Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia, a company she joined in 1995. Her research interests are: gender media studies, visual cultures and production studies.

Kelly Luegenbiehl

Co-Founder, Shorties Studios (Ex Netflix, Disney, NBCU)

Kelly Luegenbiehl is a trailblazing media leader who has had a defining impact on the global entertainment industry. At Netflix, as Vice President of Franchise and Spectacle Series, she was the guiding force behind the global phenomenon The Witcher, propelling it into one of the top 10 most-watched shows globally. As Vice President of International Originals and Vice President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Netflix, she spearheaded the company’s groundbreaking push into international markets and local-language originals, a strategic initiative that revolutionized the way content was created and consumed globally. Under her leadership, viewership of non-English programming on Netflix surged by 50% in the U.S. alone between 2017 and 2021. Kelly was responsible for hit series including “The Witcher”, “DARK” (Germany), “Lupin” (France), “Suburra” (Italy), “Kingdom” (South Korea), “Sacred Games” (India), “The Rain” (Denmark), “The Protector” (Turkey), “Baby’ (Italy), “Cable Girls” (Spain), “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father” (UK), “Ingobernable” (Mexico), “3%” (Brazil), “Elite” (Spain), “The English Game” (UK), “Casa de las Flores” (Mexico), “Unorthodox” (Germany), and “Sintonia” (Brazil). Her keen eye for quality storytelling and ability to tap into diverse cultural perspectives have been instrumental in Netflix’s success in captivating audiences across the globe. Previously at ABC, she developed acclaimed shows like “The Goldbergs”, “The Middle” and “Fresh Off the Boat”, earning recognition on prestigious industry lists. At Bravo, Luegenbiehl won an Emmy award for her work on “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List”. A leader in elevating voices from around the world, Kelly has been honored by Variety’s International Women’s Impact Report, AFI, and received an International Emmy nomination. Her innate ability to discover talent, lead teams with a strategic vision, commitment to authentic storytelling, and deep global relationships have cemented her as an influential force transforming the content landscape today. 

Kissy Dugan

Writer & Producer, WIFTI Executive Board Member

Kissy Dugan is an American/Irish writer/producer based in Rome, Italy. Recent writing credits include: Twisted (animated feature currently in production with Mediawan France) and the Italian black comedy I Cassamortari (Amazon Studios Italy). Producing credits include the UK/ Italian feature The Habit of Beauty (Rome Film Festival) and doc features Botero (Palm Springs International Film Festival, Barcelona Doc Fest) and I Want My MTV for A&E Network. Kissy worked as both a classically trained actor and stand-up comic across the US (Caroline’s on Broadway, Gotham, Stand Up NY, The Improv, The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store) and Europe. She has worked in casting (20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures) and has produced short films, live stage shows, industrial films and commercials. Kissy also provides concierge production services for foreign productions in Italy. She is a founding member of Women in Film, TV and Media Italia and a current board member of Women in Film International.

Michelle Martin

VFX Executive Producer

Michelle Martin is a senior VFX executive with extensive experience building trusted creative partnerships with studios, producers, and show teams to deliver premium episodic and feature content. Currently working in partnership with Elephant Goldfish, she has held senior leadership roles at Pixomondo, Milk VFX and Framestore. Her credits include The Crown, The Witcher, The Boys, and Doctor Who. Michelle is recognised for her ability to balance creative ambition with commercial and scheduling realities, guiding productions through an increasingly complex and innovative VFX landscape while delivering sustainable, high-quality outcomes for clients and facilities alike. 

Revisit our previously announced lineup further down the page to see the breadth of voices already confirmed.

Teresa Mc Grane

Chief Operating Officer, Wild Atlantic Pictures

In 2023, Teresa took up a new post with Wild Atlantic Pictures in Dublin, as Chief Operating Officer.
Previously she was Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland for over 2 decades. Screen Ireland is Irelands
Screen agency fostering Irish artistic vision and Ireland’s diverse creative and production talent,
growing audiences, and attracting filmmakers and investment into the country.
During the time she spent at Screen Ireland she was across the commercial and financial aspects
of projects that the Board invested in, to the marketing and promotion of Irish films and the
Irish film sector, domestically and internationally. She was also across the Boards strategy with
regard to the development of the industry and the development of skills to increase the creative
and business capacity of the sector.
She represented the Screen sector at a European level being Irelands representative on EFAD
(European Film Agency Directors) and was recently a member of the European OMC working
group on European co-production.
Prior to Screen Ireland, she was an independent producer and also a production accountant on
many large-scale feature films that shot in Ireland. She also worked for many years in the UK
television sector ad production accountant.
She is a qualified Certified Accountant and has a Masters in Business Administration from Dublin
City University.

Dearbhla Walsh

EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA award-winning director

Dearbhla Walsh is a renowned, international director whose work has been recognised with multiple awards wins and nominations including EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA awards.  Dearbhla’s newest show is MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES for Apple TV/ A24, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman.

Dearbhla was lead director and EP for both series of the BAD SISTERS. She has directed multiple episodes of FARGO, and the award-winning Washington DC episode of THE HANDMAID’S TALE. Dearbhla’s work has also ranged from LITTLE DORRIT (winning her a Best Director Emmy) to Roald Dahl’s ESIO TROT with Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman, TALES FROM THE LOOP, and SHAMELESS.

Eranka Weerasuriya

Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd

Eranka Weerasuriya is the Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd, a £72 million next-generation virtual production studio and creative technology firm based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With more than two decades of experience spanning Virtual Production, Visual Effects, Animation, and Live Action, Eranka has an unwavering passion and commitment to advancing immersive storytelling and driving technological innovation. She has been integral in delivering high-profile film, television, commercial, and branded entertainment projects for international clients.

Most recently, Eranka served as Head of Production (VP) at Eyeline Studios, Powered by Netflix, where she managed over 65 virtual production shoots and led cross-functional teams comprising up to 150 members worldwide. Previously, she held key roles at Industrial Light & Magic in both London and Singapore, where she contributed to the strategic bidding, planning and execution of VFX productions and effectively managed client relationships on major projects.

WIFTI SUMMIT 2026 SPEAKERS

Anna Serner
Former CEO, Swedish Film Institute and 50/50 by 2020 Champion

Anna is a lawyer but has spent her professional life as a CEO at three major organisations; The Swedish Advertising Association (Komm), The Swedish Media Publishing Association (TU) and The Swedish Film Institute (SFI) where she was CEO 2011-2021.

In all her positions Anna has worked with equality and inclusion in order to make sure the highest possible quality and freedom of expressions. 

During her period at Komm she published a book ”A Man Called Rolf, And Other Stories”, written by female copy writers. It was a book about being a copy writer in the advertising world. The book led to a leadership educations for women in creative works, an education that she offered in the film world (called ”Moviement”) at SFI, as a strategy to get more women behind the camera in big budget films. ”Moviement” was a part of the action plan to reach equity behind the camera, a strategy that became ”50/50by2020 which was released by SFI in Cannes 2016. That inspired the big festival movement for equality with the same name.

Anna is now starting an organisation called ”The Swedish Center for Investigative Journalism” to support a diversity of investigative reports to ensure an open democratic society.

Dame Heather Rabbatts
Chair, Time’s Up UK

Dame Heather Rabbatts’ career spans law, government, media and sport. She is currently Chair of Saatchi PLC, Associated British Foods PLC (where she is also Senior Independent Director) and Soho Theatre and until recently was MD of film & TV production company Cove Pictures where she produced The Drifters and The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu. In 2018, Heather became Chair of TIME’S UP UK and in 2019 joined TIME’S UP global board. Born out of the revelations of #MeToo, TIME’S UP advocates to end sexual harassment, change representation and pay parity to achieve long-term cultural change. She was previously Chair of CIISA, the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, currently in development. Heather began her career as a lawyer, then a government advisor and was the youngest CEO of a Local Authority. She was the first woman and person of colour on the board of the English FA in 150 years, served on the boards of the BBC, Bank of England, the Foreign Office and the Royal Opera House and commissioned award-winning content as a senior executive at Channel 4 Television.

Debbie Ging
Professor, Digital Media and Gender, DCU & Director, DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities

Debbie Ging is Professor of Digital Media and Gender in the School of Communications at Dublin City University and Director of the DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities. She teaches and researches on gender, sexuality and digital media, with a focus on digital hate, online anti-feminist men’s rights politics, the incel subculture and radicalisation of boys and men into male supremacist ideologies. Debbie’s research also addresses youth experiences of gender-based and sexual abuse online and educational interventions to tackle these issues.

Guneet Monga Kapoor
Academy Award-Winning Producer CEO, Sikyha Entertainment

Guneet Monga Kapoor is an acclaimed Indian film producer, a two-time Academy Award winner, and the first to bring home an Academy Award for an Indian production with The Elephant Whisperers (2023). She also served as Executive Producer for the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary short Period. End of Sentence. A BAFTA nominee, Guneet is among the first Indian producers invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Guneet is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a Mumbai-based production house. She has produced close to 40 feature films, including ground-breaking cinema such as Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), The Lunchbox (2013), Monsoon Shootout (2013), and Masaan (2015) all of which received critical acclaim at prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, TIFF, and Sundance.

Guneet is a recipient of the prestigious French Honour “Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”. In 2019, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded her the prestigious Sloan Science and Film grant. Guneet is passionate about issues of representation and diversity in the film industry and discovering, amplifying & distributing the work of Indian women filmmakers across the globe.

Her recent projects include groundbreaking actioner – KILL, which earned a spot among IMDb India’s top 10 films of 2024 and achieved mainstream international distribution in a first of it’s kind deal with International Studio Lionsgate. Other successes include the sci-fi thriller web series Gyaarah Gyaarah (ranked No. 4 by IMDb India), Gutar Gu on Amazon MX Player, a first-of-its-kind Netflix documentary film on globally celebrated Hip Hop Artist – Yo Yo Honey Singh, and the 2025 Oscar-shortlisted live-action short film Anuja.

Iris Zappe-Heller
Deputy Director, Austrian Film Institute

Iris Zappe-Heller joined the Austrian Film Institute in 1993.

She took over the Austrian representation at the Board of Eurimages from 1997 to 2021.

In 2011 she became deputy to the Director of the Film Institute.

In 2013 she installed the department for Gender*Diversity*Inclusion within the Film Institute, taking a package of measures as Gender Incentive, Gender Budgeting, Gender Reports, ProPro, Script competition… In this function she represents Austria in Eurimages’ Gender Equality Working Group that she has chaired from 2016 to 2021. She joined the EFAD’s Gender Inclusion Working Group in 2018, where she took over the chair in 2021. In 2015 she has been the Austrian expert of the Sarajevo Conference Declaration and therefore actively involved in the drawing up of the European Council’s Recommendation on Gender Equality. Since 2024 she is member of the board of European Women’s Audiovisiual network, EWA.

In 2023 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Film Institute and is member of the board of Filmarchiv Austria since.

Liselott Forsman
CEO, Nordisk Film & TV Fond

Liselott Forsman is the CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond since 2019. As Yle’s International Drama Executive and EBU’s Head of Fiction Group, her focus was on international collaboration and media strategies. When Head of Fiction at Swedish Yle, she commissioned and co-produced feature films, drama series and content for young audiences. Her MA combines film, drama, and media studies. Liselott has been a speaker at forums on five continents, lectured at European master educations, produced drama and documentaries, and written for TV, radio and stage. She co-founded and headed the international event Helsinki Script.

Get your ticket today and we’ll see you in Limerick!

WIFTI Summit 2026 Update: More Speakers Announced

Jan 9, 2026 | News, Event

With just weeks to go until the 2026 WIFTI Summit, we’re delighted to announce another round of speakers joining our growing international lineup.

Taking place from 4–7 February 2026 in Adare, Co. Limerick, the Summit will bring together women working across film, television and the wider screen industries for several days of conversation, collaboration and connection.

Following our first speaker announcement last month, we’re excited to now welcome additional voices shaping the future of screen, storytelling and creative leadership, including Teresa Mc Grane, Dearbhla Walsh and Eranka Weerasuriya.

More speakers and the full Summit programme will be released very soon!

🎟 Secure your ticket today!

Scroll below to discover our newly announced speakers, with further announcements coming in the weeks ahead:

Teresa Mc Grane

Chief Operating Officer, Wild Atlantic Pictures

In 2023, Teresa took up a new post with Wild Atlantic Pictures in Dublin, as Chief Operating Officer.
Previously she was Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland for over 2 decades. Screen Ireland is Irelands
Screen agency fostering Irish artistic vision and Ireland’s diverse creative and production talent,
growing audiences, and attracting filmmakers and investment into the country.
During the time she spent at Screen Ireland she was across the commercial and financial aspects
of projects that the Board invested in, to the marketing and promotion of Irish films and the
Irish film sector, domestically and internationally. She was also across the Boards strategy with
regard to the development of the industry and the development of skills to increase the creative
and business capacity of the sector.
She represented the Screen sector at a European level being Irelands representative on EFAD
(European Film Agency Directors) and was recently a member of the European OMC working
group on European co-production.
Prior to Screen Ireland, she was an independent producer and also a production accountant on
many large-scale feature films that shot in Ireland. She also worked for many years in the UK
television sector ad production accountant.
She is a qualified Certified Accountant and has a Masters in Business Administration from Dublin
City University.

Dearbhla Walsh

EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA award-winning director

Dearbhla Walsh is a renowned, international director whose work has been recognised with multiple awards wins and nominations including EMMY, BAFTA and IFTA awards.  Dearbhla’s newest show is MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES for Apple TV/ A24, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman.

Dearbhla was lead director and EP for both series of the BAD SISTERS. She has directed multiple episodes of FARGO, and the award-winning Washington DC episode of THE HANDMAID’S TALE. Dearbhla’s work has also ranged from LITTLE DORRIT (winning her a Best Director Emmy) to Roald Dahl’s ESIO TROT with Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman, TALES FROM THE LOOP, and SHAMELESS.

Eranka Weerasuriya

Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd

Eranka Weerasuriya is the Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster Ltd, a £72 million next-generation virtual production studio and creative technology firm based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With more than two decades of experience spanning Virtual Production, Visual Effects, Animation, and Live Action, Eranka has an unwavering passion and commitment to advancing immersive storytelling and driving technological innovation. She has been integral in delivering high-profile film, television, commercial, and branded entertainment projects for international clients.

Most recently, Eranka served as Head of Production (VP) at Eyeline Studios, Powered by Netflix, where she managed over 65 virtual production shoots and led cross-functional teams comprising up to 150 members worldwide. Previously, she held key roles at Industrial Light & Magic in both London and Singapore, where she contributed to the strategic bidding, planning and execution of VFX productions and effectively managed client relationships on major projects.

These speakers join an already inspiring group of practitioners, leaders and changemakers from across Ireland and around the world.

Have a glimpse below at the previously announced speakers:

WIFTI SUMMIT 2026 SPEAKERS

Anna Serner
Former CEO, Swedish Film Institute and 50/50 by 2020 Champion

Anna is a lawyer but has spent her professional life as a CEO at three major organisations; The Swedish Advertising Association (Komm), The Swedish Media Publishing Association (TU) and The Swedish Film Institute (SFI) where she was CEO 2011-2021.

In all her positions Anna has worked with equality and inclusion in order to make sure the highest possible quality and freedom of expressions. 

During her period at Komm she published a book ”A Man Called Rolf, And Other Stories”, written by female copy writers. It was a book about being a copy writer in the advertising world. The book led to a leadership educations for women in creative works, an education that she offered in the film world (called ”Moviement”) at SFI, as a strategy to get more women behind the camera in big budget films. ”Moviement” was a part of the action plan to reach equity behind the camera, a strategy that became ”50/50by2020 which was released by SFI in Cannes 2016. That inspired the big festival movement for equality with the same name.

Anna is now starting an organisation called ”The Swedish Center for Investigative Journalism” to support a diversity of investigative reports to ensure an open democratic society.

Dame Heather Rabbatts
Chair, Time’s Up UK

Dame Heather Rabbatts’ career spans law, government, media and sport. She is currently Chair of Saatchi PLC, Associated British Foods PLC (where she is also Senior Independent Director) and Soho Theatre and until recently was MD of film & TV production company Cove Pictures where she produced The Drifters and The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu. In 2018, Heather became Chair of TIME’S UP UK and in 2019 joined TIME’S UP global board. Born out of the revelations of #MeToo, TIME’S UP advocates to end sexual harassment, change representation and pay parity to achieve long-term cultural change. She was previously Chair of CIISA, the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, currently in development. Heather began her career as a lawyer, then a government advisor and was the youngest CEO of a Local Authority. She was the first woman and person of colour on the board of the English FA in 150 years, served on the boards of the BBC, Bank of England, the Foreign Office and the Royal Opera House and commissioned award-winning content as a senior executive at Channel 4 Television.

Debbie Ging
Professor, Digital Media and Gender, DCU & Director, DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities

Debbie Ging is Professor of Digital Media and Gender in the School of Communications at Dublin City University and Director of the DCU Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities. She teaches and researches on gender, sexuality and digital media, with a focus on digital hate, online anti-feminist men’s rights politics, the incel subculture and radicalisation of boys and men into male supremacist ideologies. Debbie’s research also addresses youth experiences of gender-based and sexual abuse online and educational interventions to tackle these issues.

Guneet Monga Kapoor
Academy Award-Winning Producer CEO, Sikyha Entertainment

Guneet Monga Kapoor is an acclaimed Indian film producer, a two-time Academy Award winner, and the first to bring home an Academy Award for an Indian production with The Elephant Whisperers (2023). She also served as Executive Producer for the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary short Period. End of Sentence. A BAFTA nominee, Guneet is among the first Indian producers invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Guneet is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a Mumbai-based production house. She has produced close to 40 feature films, including ground-breaking cinema such as Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), The Lunchbox (2013), Monsoon Shootout (2013), and Masaan (2015) all of which received critical acclaim at prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, TIFF, and Sundance.

Guneet is a recipient of the prestigious French Honour “Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”. In 2019, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded her the prestigious Sloan Science and Film grant. Guneet is passionate about issues of representation and diversity in the film industry and discovering, amplifying & distributing the work of Indian women filmmakers across the globe.

Her recent projects include groundbreaking actioner – KILL, which earned a spot among IMDb India’s top 10 films of 2024 and achieved mainstream international distribution in a first of it’s kind deal with International Studio Lionsgate. Other successes include the sci-fi thriller web series Gyaarah Gyaarah (ranked No. 4 by IMDb India), Gutar Gu on Amazon MX Player, a first-of-its-kind Netflix documentary film on globally celebrated Hip Hop Artist – Yo Yo Honey Singh, and the 2025 Oscar-shortlisted live-action short film Anuja.

Iris Zappe-Heller
Deputy Director, Austrian Film Institute

Iris Zappe-Heller joined the Austrian Film Institute in 1993.

She took over the Austrian representation at the Board of Eurimages from 1997 to 2021.

In 2011 she became deputy to the Director of the Film Institute.

In 2013 she installed the department for Gender*Diversity*Inclusion within the Film Institute, taking a package of measures as Gender Incentive, Gender Budgeting, Gender Reports, ProPro, Script competition… In this function she represents Austria in Eurimages’ Gender Equality Working Group that she has chaired from 2016 to 2021. She joined the EFAD’s Gender Inclusion Working Group in 2018, where she took over the chair in 2021. In 2015 she has been the Austrian expert of the Sarajevo Conference Declaration and therefore actively involved in the drawing up of the European Council’s Recommendation on Gender Equality. Since 2024 she is member of the board of European Women’s Audiovisiual network, EWA.

In 2023 she was appointed Deputy Director of the Film Institute and is member of the board of Filmarchiv Austria since.

Liselott Forsman
CEO, Nordisk Film & TV Fond

Liselott Forsman is the CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond since 2019. As Yle’s International Drama Executive and EBU’s Head of Fiction Group, her focus was on international collaboration and media strategies. When Head of Fiction at Swedish Yle, she commissioned and co-produced feature films, drama series and content for young audiences. Her MA combines film, drama, and media studies. Liselott has been a speaker at forums on five continents, lectured at European master educations, produced drama and documentaries, and written for TV, radio and stage. She co-founded and headed the international event Helsinki Script.

Get your ticket today and we’ll see you in Limerick!