In today’s episode of the Film Ireland Podcast, we’re delighted to be partnering with the Roscommon International Film Festival (RIFF) to discuss a very important topic.
As part of Dyslexia Awareness Month, RIFF is teaming up with Dyslexia Ireland to showcase films created by dyslexic filmmakers and raise awareness of dyslexia.
We’re delighted to welcome Christine (CC) Braithwait, a BAFTA-winning filmmaker, writer, director and producer, and co-founder of the Roscommon International Film Festival; and Keith Dunphy, an award-winning RADA-trained actor working across theatre, film and television. His screen credits include Star Wars: Rogue One, Children of Men and The Wind That Shakes the Barley. He is currently touring with his one-man play, Word Against the Word.
In this episode, we discuss filmmaking, dyslexia, representation, and the importance of creating space for diverse voices within the film industry.
Roscommon International Film Festival (RIFF) takes place from 22–24 October 2026 at Roscommon Arts Centre. Check out the full programme and get your tickets now at roscommonfilm.com.
Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch the original recording here:
During the festival, RIFF will be celebrating dyslexia month, showing films made and written by dyslexic creatives, alongside films highlighting Dyslexia.
The festival starts on Thursday 22nd October, 2pm-5:30pm- workshop by Lee Moss, followed by networking event.
Friday 23rd October 3pm-10:30pm Film Screenings followed by Q&A from Dublin based writer/director Lee Moss and their film Fry Day,
Saturday 24th October 10:30-12pm- Starts with Kids & Teens screenings showing animation film What is Dyslexia? starring Jeremy Irons and Liv Tyler along with Independant films and films made by local theatre groups in the West of Ireland.
Main Screenings start at 1pm-10:30pm- with Q&As from writer/director Shane J Collins from film Percheron and Hilary Bowen-Walsh with her film Splanctha.
Keith Dunphy
Keith is an actor with over 25 years’ experience across theatre, film and television, working extensively in London and Ireland. His recent work includes the feature film Improper Bastards for Fire in the Whole Productions and his critically and publicly well-received Irish tour of his acclaimed one-man play Word Against the Word, written and performed by Keith.
His extensive theatre credits include Fighting Irish (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry), The Lovely Bones (Birmingham Rep/Royal & Derngate/Northern Stage), Easter Rising and Thereafter (Jermyn Street Theatre), The Rivals (Bristol Old Vic), The Birthday Party (Royal Exchange Theatre), One for the Road and Victoria Station (Young Vic/Print Room), Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), Romeo and Juliet (Red Kettle Theatre), The Grapes of Wrath (Mercury Theatre, Colchester), Treasure Island (Rose Theatre, Kingston), and extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Television credits include The Winter King, Rebellion, No Offence, Beowulf, The Hollow Crown, Peaky Blinders, Life Begins, Ultimate Force and Professor T. Film credits include Improper Bastards, The Banishing, Star Wars: Rogue One, The Spoiler, Les Misérables, Black Death, Children of Men, The Wind That Shakes the Barley and Inside I’m Dancing. Keith trained at RADA and brings extensive experience in classical and contemporary theatre, as well as film and television.
Christine “CC” Braithwaite
Christine is a writer, director, producer, festival director and workshop facilitator with over 30 years of experience across television, film, theatre, radio and creative writing. She delivers film and creative workshops for children and adults and also conducts specialised sessions for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Her work uses interactive and imaginative techniques, including puppetry and shadow puppetry, to encourage creativity, storytelling and participation. In 2026, Christine directed for Channel 5’s Milkshake! on the children’s documentary series Love Nature. She has also delivered workshops for Screen Yorkshire, Leeds Film Festival, Roscommon International Film Festival, Foróige and Foxford Youth Drama. Christine is currently developing several exciting projects, including the feature drama documentary The Angela Morley Story and Guardians of the Illusion, an Irish documentary exploring puppetry and its rich creative heritage.
For the past four years, Christine has been Festival Director of Roscommon International Film Festival, hosted annually at Roscommon Arts Centre each October. Through her work as Festival Director, she continues to support independent filmmakers and promote cinema, creativity and storytelling. Christine has also received recognition for her work as a director, winning Best Female Director for the short film Skylark, alongside Sonya Maccari and Damien Lumsden. Her career in the screen industry began in 1997 on the feature film Divorcing Jack, where she worked as a Third Assistant Director. She subsequently worked as a freelance camera assistant for the BBC, Channel 4 and a range of independent production companies. Christine went on to build an extensive career in television, progressing from camera assistant to camera operator. She worked with ITV for 13 years, including 10 years as a staff member, and contributed to major productions including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, My Parents Are Aliens and many others.
Over the past decade, Christine has developed an increasing passion for directing, writing and producing. She has written, directed and produced a number of short films while continuing to develop her own original projects. Having discovered in her late twenties that she was dyslexic, Christine has never allowed this to limit her creativity or ambitions. Instead, her experience has strengthened her determination to tell stories and pursue a successful career across the creative industries. One of the most significant moments in her filmmaking journey came when a script she had written more than 20 years earlier, originally titled Whizz Kid, was finally brought to the screen. The project was renamed Circuit L.
Roscommon International Film Festival (RIFF)
The Roscommon International Film Festival returns for its fourth year with two days of exceptional independent cinema from Ireland and around the world. Experience specially curated screening blocks featuring drama, comedy, horror, thriller, documentary, animation, children’s films and much more. Alongside exciting new voices in filmmaking, the festival showcases work from established talent, creating a programme that celebrates creativity, imagination and powerful storytelling. Whether you’re a lifelong film lover or simply looking to discover something new, the festival offers an unforgettable weekend of cinema, conversation and celebration in the heart of Roscommon. The festival takes place at the Roscommon Arts Centre, Circular Road, Ballypheasan, Roscommon, Ireland, with tickets and further information available through the venue’s box office and the official Roscommon International Film Festival website.
