Written by Kianna Best on Jan 27, 2023. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Belfast’s RENDR Festival to bring blockbuster lineup of film and tv talent

RENDR, the new creative industries festival set to take place next month in Belfast revealed its lineup of speakers on 25 January. Those in attendance include professionals whose credits span The Mandalorian, The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and more. Taking place from 23-24 February, the event will be held at Portview Trade Centre in Belfast.

A still from The Mandalorian. © Industrial Light & Magic.

“RENDR is delighted to welcome such a prestigious lineup of speakers from the film and TV industry to Belfast,” commented festival director Michael Weir. “The festival is an opportunity to hear from world-class talent whose expertise and experience encompasses some of the most culturally significant film and TV franchises of all time. We hope RENDR can inspire audiences while celebrating the work of some of the industry’s most prominent and influential creatives.”

Behind the scenes look at a group of Stormtroopers. Image by motion stills photographer David James.

Supported by NI Screen, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council, RENDR will welcome a host of creatives across the global film, gaming, animation and immersive tech industries. Those in attendance will learn from the experiences of the up to 30 speakers who have carved out their space in the industry.

American film director, writer and producer Steven Spielberg. Image by motion stills photographer David James.

Mike Reiss, the longest-serving writer and producer of The Simpsons will be included amongst the event’s speakers. The co-writer of The Simpsons Movie will discuss his longstanding career on the animated sitcom as well as discussing what it has taken to creating such a cultural phenomenon. In addition, speaking at the event will also be still photographer and longtime collaborator of Steven Spielberg David James. James is credited on blockbuster projects such as Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan and Minority Report, as well as recent releases like Top Gun: Maverick, Mission Impossible- Fallout and Star Wars:Episode VIII- The Last Jedi. Alongside them will also be Ramsey Avery, who has worked on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as well as House of the Dragon set designer Claire Richards.

Behind the scenes still of Númenour Harbour from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brought to life on screen by production designer Ramsey Avery. © Amazon.

Other speakers include Lucasfilm visual effects artist Eoghan Cunneen whose recent work is credited to Star Wars series The Book of Boba Fett and The Madalorian, Charmaine Chan, a virtual production artist for Industrial Light & Magic who has worked on The Batman, Black Panther and Jurassic World, and Gary Marshall, virtua; production lead at Nantstudios, LA based full service production company providing state of the art virtual stage and home to Epic Games LA innovation lab.

Tom Hanks, right, and Tom Sizemore, left, in Saving Private Ryan (1998). Image by motion stills photographer David James.