In this Film Ireland feature, we meet three filmmakers whose films are screening at the 2026 Cork International Film Festival: Liadán Roche (Hostile Architecture), Shannon Haly (Show Pony) and Aaron Chalke (The Dead House).
These talented creatives discuss their work, the stories behind their films and bringing new stories and perspectives to the screen.
CIFF runs until 22nd November 2026.
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Grace & Billy, two trans lovers in precarious housing situations, create an extra-dimensional room to hook up in. With a space of their own, their casual hookup can bloom into something more vulnerable, sensual, and intimate. But as the pressures of the outside world weigh on them, their escape comes under threat. Just like the city outside, the room itself wants to swallow them whole.
Liadán is a trans filmmaker and playwright from Cork, based in Dublin, best known for her award-winning short film debut, Terratoma (2024). She received the SDCC Individual Artist Bursary & participated in both Fishamble’s Cruising the Boards workshop series and the Abbey’s Box of Tricks to develop her first full-length play, Broodmare.
Mid Drag Performance at a Queer bar in Cork, Claire is shocked when she spots her traditional Catholic Nana in the crowd. A conversation unfolds between them backstage where they realise they both have a lot more in common than they ever could have imagined.
Shannon is a writer/director from Cork. She recently created the online series Fruity, which grew from a viral teaser that reached over 7 million people online. Her short film Show Pony, a Screen Ireland Focus Short, is premiering at Cork International Film Festival. She was also selected for Storyhouse Lab 2026 with Element Pictures and Screen Ireland, where she developed the feature film adaptation of Show Pony. Shannon is also a recent mentee of the StarGAZE programme 2026. In 2025, she directed two short films: Breakfast Roll, developed through the Actor as Creator scheme with Screen Ireland and Bow Street Academy, which premiered at Cork International Film Festival and won Best Cork Short; and Dollar Baby’s, which generated over 1.5 million online engagements following its festival run.
Patrick has survived his whole life by keeping his head down. At his grandfather’s wake, surrounded by family, tradition and judgement, that survival finally catches up with him. Patrick is pushed into the one place he can’t hide; a turf shed where his father, Paddy, waits, along with the past they’ve both avoided naming.What follows is a conversation neither of them planned, about shame, protection, love and the quiet bargains made to keep a family intact. When an old barrel top Traveller wagon is uncovered—a reminder of who they were before they were forced to settle—Patrick must decide what he is willing to leave behind and what he needs to carry forward.
Aaron is an Oscar 2027-qualified writer, director, and producer from Mayo, Ireland. After starting his career in advertising, he founded his own production company, Foe, producing multi-award-winning short films, including Shadowban and Flutter. He made his directorial debut with The Death Notice of Eamonn McCarty, starring Michael McElhatton and Hannah Mamalis. After premiering at the Rhode Island Film Festival in 2025, with support from Culture Ireland, it went on to win Best Irish Short in the Light In Motion Competition at Foyle Film Festival 2025, qualifying it for consideration at the 2027 Academy Awards.
In 2024, he completed the Screen Ireland / TUD Advanced Producing for TV and Film postgraduate diploma, graduating with distinction.
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