In this Film Ireland podcast, we focus on GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival and chat to filmmakers Julia Dahmen (Somewhere Between You & Me) and Sarah Beeby (Gardening), whose shorts are screening at the festival.
Ahead of that, we introduce Alba Fernandez to talk about the Queer Talent Database, which will be launched at the festival on 4th August.
https://soundcloud.com/film-ireland/gaze-international-lgbtqia
Somewhere Between You & Me (DIR: Julia Dahmen • WRI: Markéta Ní Eithir)
A young queer German-Chinese woman is in for a shock when her date night is interrupted by the unannounced visit of her recently-divorced mother. Over the course of a weekend, cultures clash as she struggles to balance her mother’s demands and her new relationship.
Somewhere Between You & Me screens as part of Our Messy People on Sunday, August 3rd 2025 • 4:45pm at Light House Cinema • Screen 3
Gardening (DIR: Sarah Beeby • WRI: Louisa Wood)
In the aftermath of sexual assault, a woman retreats into the garden of her mind. Searching for answers and struggling to do 'the right thing', she realises that she must regain her voice and find new paths to healing, before she and her garden are destroyed completely.
Gardening screens as part of Animated Lives on Saturday, August 2nd 2025 • 4:45pm at Light House Cinema • Screen 3
GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival runs from 29th July - 4th August 2025
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Alba Fernandez
Alba Fernandez is a cinematographer based in Dublin. Having graduated from the National Film School of Ireland in 2017 she has quickly become one of Ireland’s most prolific female cinematographers with over 60 shorts in the past 5 years. In 2021, she won the Best Cinematography award at the Galway Film Fleadh for her work in FAITÍOS and has since garnered recognition at the European Cinematography Awards for her work on ANIMAL (2023), STABLE (2023), CALLUS (2023) and GILLYFISH (2024). Alba is currently being mentored by Irish cinematographer Kate McCullough (The Quiet Girl, 2022) and is the founder of Queer Talent Ireland, a directory that aims to spotlight Irish queer talent above and below the line.
Julia Dahmen
Julia Dahmen, a German-Chinese director, comes from a background in editing and documentary filmmaking, where she learned to shape raw moments into meaningful stories. Her work is rooted in personal experience, guided by the belief that specificity can be the most powerful way to connect with others.
Sarah Beeby
Sarah Beeby is an animation artist with over a decade of experience in the animation industry. Her independent films often explore communication breakdowns, and our relationship to the natural world. In 2024 she finished a new short titled Gardening, which is funded by the British Film Institute and produced by Jo Lewis, with support from Rooftop Films Short Film Grant and The Animation Workshop’s International Artist Residency.
Sarah became an established commercial director by creating animated fashion and art films. Receiving commissions from brands such as Chanel, COS, and AnOther Magazine. In 2013 she was approached by the legendary fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa to create an animation for his first feminine fragrance. Following the success of the film, Sarah went on to define what is now the signature animated style of Alaïa Parfum.
In addition, Sarah has also worked as a background painter on TV on shows such as Julia Pott’s Summer Camp Island on Cartoon Network and Pen Ward and Duncan Trussell’s Midnight Gospel on Netflix.
Sarah received a First Class Degree in Fine Art from Wimbledon College of Art in 2009, and a Masters Degree in Animation from the Royal College of Art in 2011.
