Margo Harkin, Ireland

Margo Harkin is Ireland's one of the most versatile and respected film makers, having directed and produced fiction and documentary films for over 40 years. After graduating in fine art from the Ulster College of Art, Harkin worked as an art teacher and community worker before joining Field Day theater Company in 1980 as an assist stage manager and went on to work as a stage designer for the same company. In 1984, she co founded the C4 franchise Derry Film and Video Workshop, delivering critical perspectives which ran counter to the censored narratives then broadcast by British and Irish TV. Margo's directorial debut, Hush-a-Bye-Baby in 1990 was a drama about teenage pregnancy, following the 1983 abortion referendum in Ireland. Harkin established Besom Productions in 1992, soon forging a reputation as an astute local documentarian of injustices through a series of highly regarded television documentaries and cinema films. Her portfolio includes the Hunger Strike, Bloody Sunday: A Derry Diary, 12 days in July and Waveriders and finally Stolen. Her approach involved thoroughly researched, compelling accounts of her subjects.
Margo has held many board positions including Vice Chair of the former Northern Ireland Film Council and board member of the Irish Film Institute. Her work has won countless awards and is widely taught to third level film and media students.