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The Belfast Media Festival is returning to The MAC, Belfast, for its seventeenth year on November 10th and 11th, 2026.

Now in our 17th edition, the festival continues to grow, year on year, in the number of attendees, sessions and the calibre of the speakers we have. Our reputation is becoming that of a destination festival – providing access to, and knowledge from, brilliant speakers, commissioners, developers, producers, writers and famous faces from the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond, for indies, freelancers, and students across Ireland.

Last year we had over 60 brilliant speakers, including Jimmy Nesbitt, The Insiders podcast hosts Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham, Sara Kozak, Ben Zand and Oscar-nominated producer Amanda Posner to name just a few. At past festivals we have also had the pleasure of hosting Kenneth Branagh, Jon Ronson, Tim Davie, Screenwriter Ronan Bennett, Rich Prepiatt, Ian Katz; Charlotte Moore; Sarah Greene; Kathryn Ferguson; Oscar winner Ross White; Director and writer Stacey Gregg; Wayne Garvie (Sony Chief Creative Officer) and Greg Spence (Game of Thrones producer) Derry Girls show-runner Lisa McKee and actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson, the team behind the multi award-winning Blue Lights, as well as commissioners and executives from Disney EMEA+, Amazon, Netflix, BBC, RTE, HBO, Channel 4, ITV, TG4, Virgin Media, TikTok and many more.

At its core, BMF is a hub for inspiration, imagination and innovation. It’s a place to make new partnerships, rekindle old connections and discover new outlets for creative ideas. Join us!

What to expect

Sessions & Events

Across 3 days, BMF offers access to an impressive lineup of speakers, creatives and decision makers across the screen industries. This is where you’ll meet the talent behind hugely successful productions as they share insights, identify trends and discuss issues facing the industry today.

Networking

From grass roots beginnings to transferable skills – BMF provides access to the bodies that will support you on your journey through the creative industries, from bursaries to unions to that (all important) work life balance.

SKILLS & SUPPORT

From grass roots beginnings to transferable skills – BMF provides access to the bodies that will support you on your journey through the creative industries, from bursaries to unions to work life balance.

Sessions & Events

Across 3 days, BMF offers access to an impressive lineup of speakers, creatives and decision makers across the screen industries. This is where you’ll meet the talent behind hugely successful productions as they share insights, identify trends and discuss issues facing the industry today.

NETWORKING

Connecting people is what we do at BMF. By bringing commissioners and talent executives from every industry to your doorstep, as well as providing opportunities for 1-1s and Q&As, we facilitate opportunities for both seasoned professionals and new industry entrants alike.

SKILLS & SUPPORT

From grass roots beginnings to transferable skills – BMF provides access to the bodies that will support you on your journey through the creative industries, from bursaries to unions to that (all important) work life balance.

Location

directions

The Mac,
Belfast.

Belfast Media festival will take place on the 11-13th of November at the Mac, Belfast.
For directions click here

COMMITTEE

Jennifer Johnston (Vice Chair)

Unscripted Content Manager, NI Screen

Zoe Robinson (Treasurer)

Business Partner, BBC Northern Ireland

Mary McKeagney (Chair)

Commissioning Editor, BBC NI

Kerry Flynn

Skills Cluster Executive at Northern Ireland Screen

Rachel Hooper

Creative Director, Walk on Air films

Connor Richmond

Development Coordinator, Two Cities

Vicky Potts

Co-Founder, Production & Dev at Whitepot Studios

Abigail Keyes

Development Producer, Rare TV

Patricia Moore

Head of Development at Below the Radar

Lucy Baxter

Filmmaker, Lecturer

James Jamison Mac Lochlainn

Irish Language Broadcast Fund Officer, NI Screen

Fiona McLaughlin

Development Producer, Flickerpix Animation

SUSTAINABILITY

At the Belfast Media Festival, we are committed to promoting and fostering sustainability and environmental consciousness. Our aim is to reduce our environmental impact and inspire positive change within our industry.
Sustainability Policy