Irish Film & TV UK (IFTUK), the organisation dedicated to showcasing and promoting Irish film, television and animation in the UK, has announced the appointment of two new Industry Patrons: highly respected film and executive producer Michael Ryan, and BAFTA-nominated Irish-Libyan producer, writer and founder of Rocliffe Productions, Farah Abushwesha.
The appointments come as IFTUK marks its 15th year of championing Irish screen talent and strengthening connections between the Irish and UK film and television industries,” the organisation says.
London-based, “and proudly connected to his Tipperary roots,” Michael Ryan has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning production, financing, international sales and industry leadership. He co-founded the sales and financing company J&M Entertainment, whose credits included Kiss of the Spider Woman, Highlander and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
Following the company’s sale after 20 successful years, Ryan continued to produce, finance and sell films including The General, starring Brendan Gleeson and Adrian Dunbar; The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, starring Matthew Rhys and Jonathan Pryce. Ryan served as Chair of the Independent Film & Television Alliance from 2015 to 2022 and is a regular contributor and guest speaker at major international film festivals and industry events, including the Galway Film Fleadh, Animation Dingle, the American Film Market and the Cannes Film Festival.
Joining him as an IFTUK Patron is Farah Abushwesha, the BAFTA-nominated Irish-Libyan producer, writer and founder of Rocliffe Productions, who works across film and television in both the UK and Ireland. Abushwesha’s feature credits include Lemonade, starring Barry Keoghan; the multi-award-winning documentary Testimony, winner of Best Feature Documentary at Irish Film Festival London 2025, and the Netflix Original Irreplaceable You.
Her television credits include Stags for Paramount+, No Return for ITV, Christopher Hampton’s The Singapore Grip, and Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders.
Abushwesha is also the founder of the BAFTA Rocliffe New writing Showcase and Initiative, which champions emerging screenwriting talent and connects writers with leading figures from across the film and television industries. She is a former recipient of the BFI Vision Award and an American Academy Gold Fellowship finalist.
IFTUK’s Chair, Carey Fitzgerald, comments on the appointments: “The Board of IFTUK are delighted to welcome such significant industry figures as Michael & Farah as industry Patrons. IFTUK is dedicated to developing and encouraging new talent, as well as promoting established Irish talent, and having such eminent experts as Patrons from all areas of the global film & tv business will help us to achieve this. They join our equally prominent industry Patrons; Lenny Abrahamson, David Freyne and Ros Hubbard, as well as international Irish stars; Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Fiona Shaw, Niamh McCormack & Moe Dunford.”
Michael Ryan adds: ”I am delighted to have been asked to become a patron of IFTUK. The work they do in the promotion and support of Irish productions worldwide is crucial to the continued industry success across Film and Television and I am pleased to play whatever part I can to showcase the breadth of talent found in Ireland.”
Farah Abushwesha adds: “It’s such an honour to become a patron of Irish Film & TV UK. So much of my life and work has been shaped by moving between Ireland and the UK, and I know how valuable it is to find people who understand both worlds. It’s a place to meet, watch films from Ireland, talk about the work and perhaps make something together. I’m so proud to be asked to be part of it. My God, the fresh-off-the-boat me would be wide-eyed!”
