FP Talks / Aisling Malone and Clare Monnelly from Raising Films

At Fishpond, we always want to help you to continuously learn and grow as an artist, and every month, we invite you to listen in (and contribute) to inspiring and enlightening industry conversations. You can always choose to attend live, or watch back afterwards in your Video Library.  

Date: Tuesday 15th October
Time: 12pm
Duration: Approx 40 mins

Raising Films Ireland
This month, our founder Ali Coffey will be talking to Aisling Malone and Clare Monnelly from Raising Films Ireland. Raising Films is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to make the film industry more inclusive and accessible for parents and carers. Both Aisling and Clare care deeply about support for parents and carers in the arts so we can't wait to find out more about Raising Films and the stellar work they do.


Aisling Malone

Aisling is the Project Manager for Raising Films Ireland (RFI), where she leads initiatives and collaborations to create a more inclusive and sustainable screen industry for carers and parents. Most recently, RFI is a recipient of Screen Ireland’s Screen Stakeholders Award for a project entitled "The Flexible Working Programme”, an evolution of their "Return to Work Programme". This project phase is focused on Job Sharing, aiming to embed it as a viable and beneficial work practice across the screen sector. 

In addition to her role at Raising Films Ireland, Aisling is embarking on a four-year PhD with TU Dublin, where she will examine the benefits for companies in the screen sector that prioritize support for a caring and diverse workforce. Aisling is also an emerging Creative Producer with her most recent project selected for Screen Ireland’s Focus Short Scheme, the second time for her to receive this award in 2 years. 

Aisling was nominated in the Producer category at the 2023 Emerging Directors Award, she was a guest of Screen Ireland at the Visitor’s Co-production Programme in Berlinale 2024, and she was a participant of X-Pollinator 2024. Aisling also has a background working in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Education with a Masters in Gender Studies. 


Clare Monnelly

Clare is a mother, an actor, a writer and a board member of Raising Films. Her first play 'Charlie’s a Clepto' was nominated for two Irish Times Theatre Awards (Best New Play, Best Actress) and the Stewart Parker New Playwright Bursary. Her second play 'Minefield' premiered at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2019 and was nominated for three Fringe Awards (Best Design, Fishamble New Writing Award, First Fortnight Award). Last year she premiered three new plays - 'The Hare' with Once Off Productions and Cairde Arts Festival, 'The Local' with Asylum Productions and Kilkenny Arts Festival and 'Super-Bogger' with Livin’ Dred Theatre Company. 

Clare’s debut short film 'Departure' was made as part of Screen Ireland and Bow Street’s Actor as Creator scheme and premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh 2022. Her second short 'Cat & Mouse' was funded by Screen Ireland through the Focus Shorts scheme, premiered at Galway Film Fleadh 2024 and is currently on the festival circuit.

As an actor Clare has worked with Druid, the Gate, the Abbey and Decadent amongst others, and was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Actress in her self-penned 'Charlie’s a Clepto' and Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Mary in Livin Dred’s production of Tom Murphy’s 'Bailegangaire'. On screen she has worked with RTÉ, Sky One, Deadpan Pictures, Element and many more. She plays Anita Fallon in 'The Gone' for Keeper Pictures. She plays the lead in the Cine4 feature 'Fréamhacha' for DoubleBand Films, Wildcard and TG4 which premiered at Locarno this August.

Q&A
This talk will be followed by a short Q&A, so be sure to tune in and have your questions at the ready. We're always rooting for you and we're here to help you stay in control of your career.

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