Catalyst International Film Festival

When I chose to write my dissertation as a film script (an option offered by the Media Department of Mary Immaculate College) I went in with admittedly little knowledge on just how exactly I would pull it off. While I had always been a writer and had some documentary experience, my dissertation project would be a major leap of faith both for the school and myself. Despite my enthusiasm, the reality was that my lack of practical experience meant that the odds were stacked against me.

Enter Dr. Susan Liddy.

(Dr. Susan Liddy)

Acting as current president of Women in Film and Television International, she also serves on the board of the Irish Film Institute, the Writers Guild of Ireland, and Raising Films Ireland. She lectures in the Department of Media and Communication Studies at Mary Immaculate College. Finally, she also the founder and director of Catalyst International Film Festival of Limerick. And just happened to be my supervisor/instructor/mentor/life saver at MIC.

Through my work in Susan’s class, me and a few colleagues were permitted to become screeners and aids for Catalyst 2023. Through this process I got to meet so many different filmmakers throughout Ireland and abroad, all massively talented and telling stories worth telling.

My experience with Catalyst International Film Festival served as the start in what has now turned into a bit of a career assisting festival organizers in creating fantastic events that help cultivate both indie and big budget filmmaking throughout Ireland and the US. This year, Catalyst is scheduled to premiere on April 3rd to the 5th, and is poised to be keep continuing to grow.

Catalyst Website: https://catalystinternationalfilmfestival.com/

Link to Catalyst Instagram 2023: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqqj6OnMHjN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==