In today’s episode, we’re delighted to partner with the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival and the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama to celebrate this year’s StarGAZE programme participants
We’re joined by producer Billy Buckley, writer-director Eleanor Rogers, and producer-director Lewis Doherty to discuss their creative journeys, the projects they’re working on, and the impact StarGAZE has had on their careers so far.
Listen now on SoundCloud, Apple, Spotify, Acast and Amazon, or subscribe to Film Ireland wherever you get your podcasts.
Billy Buckley
Billy is an emerging queer producer from Galway, dedicated to fostering a new wave of Irish cinema and creating queer films that reflect contemporary Ireland. With a strong background in live-action drama, his work explores themes of identity and morality. Billy was casting director and production manager for the DLR First Frames-funded short Soulmate Wanted with Heritage, which premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2023. He also served as production manager on Medicinal, directed by Eoghan Hand and starring Peter Coonan, which had its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh 2024 and won “Best of Kerry” at the Kerry International Film Festival.
His previous short film, Where Will We Go?, addressed the defective concrete crisis in the North West of Ireland. It premiered at the Disappear Here Film Festival in 2023 and was later broadcast on Virgin Media as part of the Inheritance Festival in the UK. In 2024, Billy was selected for the National Talent Academies’ First Credit funding scheme for emerging filmmaking talent in Ireland, where he was mentored by producer Maggie Ryan from Escape Pod Media. Billy’s latest short film, Over the Moon, follows Jay, a young trans man confronting his childhood in the Burren while on a journey to see the stars. Shot on location in the Burren and Galway, the film premiered at the 2025 Dublin International Film Festival as part of the National Talent Academies showcase. Beyond film, Billy has produced music videos for queer Irish artists such as Sarah Crean and Pillow Queens. He is currently part of the production team at Tiny Ark, working on a range of commercial, documentary, and live content for international agencies and brands. His ability to craft deeply immersive narratives continues to set him apart as a filmmaker to watch.
Eleanor Rogers
Eleanor is a queer writer, director, and photographer from rural Co. Louth, Ireland. In 2018, she graduated from the National Film School at IADT with a First-Class Honours degree in Film & Television Production, majoring in Directing and minoring in sound. That same year, she wrote and directed her first short film, Breastfriends, which premiered at the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival in Dublin and won Best Irish Short. Following its success, Breastfriends was selected for several national and international film festivals, including the Newport Beach Film Festival (LA), Cork Film Festival, NewFest (New York), and Inside Out LGBT (Toronto, Canada).
In 2019, she was nominated for Best Under 25 Director at the Underwire Film Festival and was runner-up at the Emerging Director Awards for her directorial debut. Since then, Eleanor has directed music videos for various queer artists, including Elkae, Jack Rua, GIF, and PureGrand. In 2022, Eleanor was one of 14 writers selected for Screen Ireland’s Spotlight TV Comedy screenwriting scheme. In 2024, she was filmmaker-in-residence at An Táin in Dundalk, Co. Louth, where she developed her first feature film, Going Somewhere, focusing on research and the first draft of the screenplay.
Lewis Doherty
Lewis Doherty is a queer Irish producer/director with a dynamic career spanning independent film, television, and documentary. Beginning their career in the camera department, they amassed over 20 film credits, progressing from camera trainee to director of photography on indie films and major features such as Dungeons and Dragons. As a producer/director, their credits include the satire-comedy series Pastor Ed, which garnered significant media attention and 20K views in its first month.
They have also worked on a slate of impactful documentaries that reflect a deep commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, exploring themes of conflict, refugees, and the queer community. These include the Northern Ireland Screen-funded It Takes a Village and When It Rains (winner of the Docs Ireland Marilyn Hyndman Award), the Northern Heart Films-funded Viet-Glish, the Freelands Foundation-funded Artist-Teacher, and the BBC Northern Ireland-commissioned documentary Outlasting for Two Minute Masterpiece Season 10. Pending release on iPlayer, Outlasting received official selection for premiere at Docs Ireland 2025 and GAZE 2025. They also have a variety of credits in unscripted television productions such as Britain’s Got Talent, Jeopardy!, and Wheel of Fortune. Their talent has been recognised through selection for the Edinburgh TV Festival’s The Network, alongside participation in prestigious development programmes for their debut feature film Saving Sodomy From Ulster, including the Sheffield DocFest Queer Realities Director’s Lab and the Cork International Film Festival IGNITE Docs Programme.
They were runner-up at the 2024 Docs Ireland x Northern Ireland Screen Feature Pitch and have been selected as a finalist for the 2025 International Pitching Forum at the Celtic Media Festival. In addition to production, Lewis is passionate about education and mentorship, guest speaking and mentoring emerging talent at The Factory International, and previously working as Assistant Producer coordinating the North West of England BFI Film Academy consortium. Follow Lewis on instagram here.
National Talent Academy for Film & Television Drama
Established in 2021, the National Talent Academy for Film & Television Drama, an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland managed by Ardán, supports emerging talent across Ireland. Recognising a wealth of underutilised ability, often hindered by barriers to access and unclear career pathways, the NTA aims to unlock this potential and strengthen Ireland’s global reputation for creative excellence.
The Academy actively supports diverse and regional talent, offering training, experience, and clear routes into sustainable careers in film and television. Through its programmes, it creates tangible opportunities for writers, directors, producers, and development professionals, while fostering collaboration and building a connected, nationwide talent network.
The NTA is committed to breaking down barriers to entry and progression. It welcomes participants from all backgrounds, across regions, identities, and experiences, and is dedicated to ensuring that Ireland’s screen industries reflect the full diversity of its people. Read more about the work they do here.
For over three decades, GAZE has stood as a cultural cornerstone of Ireland’s LGBTQIA community. Founded in 1992, before homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland, the festival has grown into an internationally recognised platform championing bold, unapologetically queer and trans storytelling—from compelling narratives and insightful documentaries to innovative DIY filmmaking. Each year, across seven days, GAZE presents more than 100 Irish and international films, ranging from grassroots gems to cinematic standouts, alongside panels, workshops, and networking events that connect filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals.
At its core, GAZE celebrates the full spectrum of LGBTQIA experience - tender, camp, radical, hilarious, heartbreaking, and everything in between. Its audiences are engaged and loyal, with regular sell-out screenings, while its filmmakers form part of an alumni that has helped shape the queer film landscape both in Ireland and internationally. Read more about the festival here.
Steven
Steven
