Louis Theroux, the acclaimed documentary maker and journalist, has hosted an IFTA masterclass in Dublin city centre.
Mr Theroux is a three-time BAFTA winner and an Emmy nominee and is renowned for his unique style and approach to his subject matter.
He immerses himself in the lives of people and communities, shining a light on intriguing beliefs, behaviours and institutions using a gentle questioning style and an informal approach.
Mr Theroux's work is recognised and enjoyed by his fans for offering rounded portraits of the people involved in complex social issues and human dilemmas and his work has taken him around the world.
He is known for his immersive documentaries tackling complex issues, including My Scientology Movie and this year's acclaimed The Settlers.
He has been making groundbreaking documentaries for decades now, beginning his television career more than 30 years ago, when he was taken under the wing of Michael Moore, who first hired him as a writer and correspondent on TV Nation in 1994.
Louis Theroux then went on to make the BAFTA-winning series Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends, When Louis Met… and a series of award-winning specials including The Most Hated Family in America, Miami Mega Jail, Altered States, his regular podcast and the feature-length documentary My Scientology Movie.
In his films he has addressed hotly debated topics and confronted controversial figures, including in The City Addicted to Crystal Meth, African Hunting Holiday, Under The Knife, Louis and the Nazis, When Louis Met Jimmy Savile, Louis and the Brothel, Shooting Joe Exotic and Choosing Death.
He is also host of Spotify’s The Louis Theroux Podcast which has seen him interview high profile figures including Ed Sheeran, Sean Penn, Baz Luhrmann, Sharon Horgan, Sharon Stone and many more.
At this special IFTA Masterclass, Mr Theroux discussed his unique approach to tackling complex subject matter, the human connections that allow him access into unusual lives, his advice for up-and-coming filmmakers, collaborating with broadcasters to bring his often-controversial programmes to screens, and much more.
IFTA CEO Áine Moriarty said that IFTA was "delighted" to have Louis Theroux facilitating the masterclass as he is "such a unique and hugely influential" film maker.
She said that the audience tonight are "excited" to hear "first hand about his work and his process in making such compelling films."
The sold-out event this evening was hosted by IFTA, in conjunction with Screen Ireland and was moderated by RTÉ's Miriam O'Callaghan.
Watch: Louis Theroux: The Settlers
