DIFF Final Draft

FILM FESTIVAL

19 FEB – 01 MAR 2026

PRESENTS PAUL RUDD WITH BILL NIGHY AND ELLEN MIROJNICK

FEATURING ALICE KRIGE DIRECTORS LIONEL BAIER AND ALICE WINOCOUR WITH COLIN FARRELL

YOUR FRONT ROW SEAT TO WORLD-CLASS IRISH AND INTERNATIONAL CINEMA.

For eleven extraordinary days this February, the Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) transforms the city into a global stage, bringing together over 23,000 film fans to celebrate the very best in cinema.

From red carpet premieres to groundbreaking shorts, from legendary filmmakers to rising stars, DIFF is where the magic of storytelling comes alive.

CHAIRPERSON’S INTRO

Trish Long Chairperson

Cinema is more than just moving pictures; it “sets hope in motion.”

This is an idea that deeply resonates with me, as does the belief that cinema’s greatest contribution to humanity is its ability to help “audiences consider their own lives, look at the complexity of their experiences with new eyes and examine the world as if for the first time.”

The source of these words is not a celebrated filmmaker, but — to my surprise — Pope Leo XIV. They perfectly capture why cinema, and festivals like ours, matter.

Since 2002, the Dublin International Film Festival has been a place to gather and celebrate all things film. As we move towards our 25th anniversary in 2027, we know that coming together matters more than ever. For almost a quarter of a century, DIFF has offered a precious moment for audiences to collectively encounter new stories, voices, and perspectives. Carefully curated and programmed, the festival continues to grow because it belongs to this community, which has expanded far beyond our wildest dreams.

That community extends from our audiences to our filmmakers, volunteers, staff, patrons and partners. I see it every day in the work of the DIFF team, whose commitment ensures the festival remains welcoming, ambitious, creative and inclusive. DIFF is both a celebration and a platform — supporting emerging talent, connecting creators with audiences, and helping launch films and careers. I, and the board, are deeply grateful to everyone involved, especially our inspired leader, Gráinne Humphreys.

Our patrons and partners are acknowledged throughout the programme, but I would like to give special thanks to several key supporters: our Global Partner Avolon; Renault, with their all-electric fleet; our inaugural Education Partner IADT; and The Irish Times, whose two-year commitment to the DIFF Film Club supports meaningful, year-round engagement with audiences.

Our thanks to our innovative industry partner Screen Ireland, whose support strengthens the Irish film industry and champions new work. On behalf of the executive team and board, I express particular gratitude to our principal funding partner, The Arts Council, whose long-standing and increased support has been instrumental in enabling DIFF to grow.

Finally, thank you to the passionate DIFF board, especially our empowering deputy chair, Elaine Gill. To you — our audiences, at the heart of everything we do — thank you for your trust and belief in this festival.

A Commitments quote, to finish: “Sure, we’ve come a long way together” — and we’re only getting started.

DIRECTOR’S INTRO

Gráinne Humphreys

Executive Director

Welcome to the Dublin International Film Festival.

Irish people are among Europe’s most frequent cinemagoers, averaging around three visits per year (more than the EU average). However, the big screen exhibition of world and independent cinema continues to decline year on year. DIFF exists to support cultural cinema and to create opportunities to experience international art and artists. Our opening night film, David Gleeson’s Once Upon a Time in a Cinema is a glorious celebration of the role cinemas play in our lives, in case we needed a reminder.

We are proud of the range and diversity of this year’s programme and look forward to welcoming new audiences while reconnecting with our loyal attendees. As part of our ongoing commitment to Irish film culture, we are also launching the DIFF Media Hub, providing access and support to emerging film writers.

Our international programme is led by the Avolon World Cinema Competition, showcasing the best of contemporary global cinema, and many films will be introduced by their creators. Our Country in Focus is Switzerland, with acclaimed filmmaker Lionel Baier at the centre of our Retrospective. Meanwhile, our Silent Cinema and Be Kind Rewind strands celebrate classic titles, introduced by our young programming team. This year’s programme has been carefully developed over many months by our dedicated programme team led by Peggy Mac Hale, and will be delivered by our outstanding Festival team.

We are honoured to celebrate the continued growth of Irish cinema, with our record number of Irish features and documentaries, many world premiering at DIFF. Our short film programme also continues to expand. Meanwhile, with the support of our industry partner Screen Ireland, we are proud to champion Irish talent at home and internationally, including through our Discovery Awards.

Our closing night marks a new chapter with a gala screening of John Carney’s new film Power Ballad at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and we are delighted to welcome the film’s lead actors Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. Alongside screenings, our Public Events and Industry Programme will feature invigorating interviews, panels, masterclasses, and our annual awards ceremony.

The festival continues to grow thanks to the filmmakers, guests, juries, audiences, patrons, partners and the DIFF team. Especially our executive team, Sam Javid for leading development and partnerships and to thank our outgoing General Manager, Karen English, for her immense contribution to our organisation over the past 5 years. I also extend my thanks to our brilliant DIFF Board of Directors, led by Trish Long and Elaine Gill.

I look forward to seeing you at the festival.

THE IRISH TIMES

Programme Supporters

Embassies & Cultural Partners

Festival Venues

SCREENING SCHEDULE

THURSDAY 19 FEB

18:15 Once Upon A Time In A Cinema 1h 30m + Q&A Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:15 Once Upon A Time In A Cinema 1h 30m Light House Cinema Screen 2

21:00 Once Upon A Time In A Cinema 1h 30m Light House Cinema Screen 1

Times shown are film durations. All Q&As will run for 15 additional minutes unless otherwise specified.

SATURDAY 21 FEB

10:30 Anniversary & Remnant + Q&A 2h 5m Light House Cinema Screen 1 11:00 Ballymun Filmmakers: 20m New Voices on Screen + Q&A Light House Cinema Screen 2

2

FRIDAY 20 FEB

12:00 Value for Many + Q&A

46m Light House Cinema Screen 2

14:00 NTA Shorts + Q&A 52m Light House Cinema Screen 1

14:15 Roberto Rossellini: Living Without 1h 36m a Script Light House Cinema Screen 2

16:00 Erupcja

1h 17m Light House Cinema Screen 1

16:15 Birthright 1h 30m Light House Cinema Screen 2

18:00 Lomu + Q&A 1h 47m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:15 Out of Love + Q&A

1h 51m Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:30 VM Discovers + Q&A

48m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:45 Lady

1h 35m Light House Cinema Screen 2

22:20 The Exit 8

1h 35m Light House Cinema Screen 1

Super Nature + Q&A 1h 22m Light House Cinema Screen 2 13:30 Screen Ireland Shorts 1 + Q&A 1h 34m Light House Cinema Screen 1 15:30 One Woman One Bra 1h 19m Light House Cinema Screen 2

16:00 Screen Ireland Shorts 2 + Q&A 1h 26m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:15 Everybody Digs Bill Evans + Q&A 1h 43m Light House Cinema Screen 1 18:20 The Good Boy + Q&A 1h 50m Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:40 The Lightkeeper + Q&A 1h 41m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:50 Ish + Q&A 1h 39m Light House Cinema Screen 2

SUNDAY 22 FEB

10:10 Resurrection 2h 36m Light House Cinema Screen 1 10:30 Primavera 1h 50m Light House Cinema Screen 2

13:00 The Inhuman Woman 2h 3m + Interval (15m)

Light House Cinema Screen 2

13:30 Displace: The Battle for Dublin 1h 30m + Q&A

Light House Cinema Screen 1

15:50 Maspalomas + Q&A 1h 49m Light House Cinema Screen 2

16:00 Hello Betty + Q&A 1h 48m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:30 No Ordinary Heist + Q&A 1h 39m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:45 Have You Never Heard of Bill 1h 22m Fuller? + Q&A

Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:50 Samanta Nobody + Q&A 1h 42m Light House Cinema Screen 1

21:00 Love Roulette + Q&A 1h 43m Light House Cinema Screen 2

MONDAY 23 FEB

12:00 Funeral Casino Blues 2h 33m Light House Cinema Screen 1

13:00 Kim Novak’s Vertigo 1hr 17m Light House Cinema Screen 2

15:00 The Arch

1hr 36m Light House Cinema Screen 2

15:15 Orphan 2h 12m Light House Cinema Screen 1

16:00 The Parade: Our History 1h 18m IFI Screen 2

17:30 Sound of Falling 2h 29m Light House Cinema Screen 2

18:00 Another Man 1h 30m IFI Screen 2

18:00 Rose of Nevada + Q&A 1h 54m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:05 Every Moon is Atrocious + Q&A 1h 38m IFI Screen 1

20:35 The Three Urns + Q&A 1h 36m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:40 Gays Against Guns + Q&A 1h 27m Light House Cinema Screen 2

TUESDAY 24 FEB

13:30 Pasa Faho 1h 26m Light House Cinema Screen 2

14:00 The Souffleur 1h 18m Light House Cinema Screen 1

16:00 Gavagai 1h 29m Light House Cinema Screen 1

16:00 First Name: Matthew 1h 1m IFI Screen 2

17:30 Queens of the Dead 1hr 38m Light House Cinema Screen 2

18:00 Father Mother Sister Brother 1hr 50m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:15 Safe House + Q&A 1hr 30m IFI Screen 1

20:30 The Charlie O’Leary Story + Q&A 1hr 37m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:30 The Charlie O’Leary Story 1hr 37m Light House Cinema Screen 2

SCREENING SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY 25 FEB

13:00 Don’t Let the Sun 1h 38m Light House Cinema Screen 2

14:00 Dreams

1h 35m Light House Cinema Screen 1

15:00 DIFF Shorts 1 + Q&A

2h 15m Light House Cinema Screen 2

16:00 Hen

1h 36m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:00 Broken English + Q&A

1h 39m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:15 Four Trails + Q&A 1h 41m Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:30 Midwinter Break + Q&A

1h 35m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:35 The Last One For The Road 1h 40m Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:45 Forever is Now + Q&A 1h 38m IFI Screen 1

THURSDAY 26 FEB

12:30 Landmarks

2h 2m Light House Cinema Screen 1

14:30 DIFF Shorts 2 + Q&A

2h 15m Light House Cinema Screen 2

15:00 Magellan

2h 40m Light House Cinema Screen 1

17:45 Wolves + Q&A

1h 40m Light House Cinema Screen 2

18:00 Guggi + Q&A 1h 17m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:00 Crazy Love + Q&A 1h 27m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:15 Whitetail + Q&A 1h 43m Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:45 Redress + Q&A 1h 44m IFI Screen 1

FRIDAY 27 FEB

10:50 Fresh Film Hothouse + Q&A 1h 37m Light House Cinema Screen 1

12:00 Auntie Mame 2h 23m Light House Cinema Screen 2 13:10 All That Glitters + Q&A 1h 40m Light House Cinema Screen 1

15:30 Behind the Candelabra 1h 58m Light House Cinema Screen 1

15:30 DIFF Shorts 3 + Q&A 2h 15m Light House Cinema Screen 2

18:00 500 Miles + Q&A 1h 38m Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:45 California Schemin’ 1h 41m Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:30 Couture + Q&A 1h 46m Light House Cinema Screen 1

20:45 The Mysterious Gaze of 1h 44m the Flamingo Light House Cinema Screen 2

SATURDAY 28 FEB

10:00 Everybody to Kenmure Street 1h 35m Light House Cinema Screen 1

11:30 Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts 2h Light House Cinema Screen 2

12:30 An Irish Atlantic Rainforest 1h 31m + Q&A

Light House Cinema Screen 1

14:00 The Garden of Eden 1h 20m Light House Cinema Screen 2

14:45 Gorky Resort + Q&A 1h 52m Light House Cinema Screen 1

16:00 Rebuilding 1h 35m Light House Cinema Screen 2

17:30 Heineken Gala: A Film by 40m Gar O’Rourke + Panel

Light House Cinema Screen 1

18:00 One Last Deal + Q&A 1h 29m Light House Cinema Screen 2

18:30 The Restoration at Grayson 1h 30m Manor + Q&A

Light House Cinema Screen 1

19:00 Irish Music Videos + Q&A 1h 14m Haymarket House

20:10 Don Bluth: Somewhere Out There 1h 23m + Q&A

Light House Cinema Screen 2

20:40 The Slightest Touch + Q&A 1h 42m Light House Cinema Screen 1

SUNDAY 01 MAR

10:40 The Last Viking 1h 56m Light House Cinema Screen 1

12:00 KOKUHO 2h 54m Light House Cinema Screen 2

13:00 When the Wind Blows 1h 24m Light House Cinema Screen 1

15:00 Silent Comedy Shorts 1h 5m Light House Cinema Screen 1

15:15 Dublin On Screen + Q&A 1h 10m Light House Cinema Screen 2

17:15 La Grazia 2h 13m Light House Cinema Screen 2

17:30 Surprise Film Light House Cinema Screen 1

19:45 Power Ballad 1h 39m Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

Times shown are film durations. All Q&As will run for 15 additional minutes unless otherwise specified.

CINEMA FOR EVERYONE

At Dublin International Film Festival, outreach is not separate from the festival; it is a vital part of how DIFF grows, evolves, and stays connected to the communities it serves. Through year-round creative programmes, we support emerging voices, open up access to cinema, and ensure the festival remains a living, responsive platform for new ideas and new talent.

This year, through our Irish Film Pioneers programme, we partnered with youth organisations to deliver handson filmmaking projects, professional workshops, and industry access. Participants developed original work from documentaries to music videos while gaining real-world experience with professional filmmakers, production teams, and post-production studios.

Our programmes extended beyond participation into skills development, with workshops hosted by leading industry partners including Outer Limits, Samson Films, and Screen Scene. These sessions offered insight into post-production, sound, editing, and creative career routes that are often hidden from view.

Alongside this, DIFF continued to champion inclusion through initiatives such as Next Gen Female Filmmakers, supporting early-career women with access to industry events, mentoring, and professional networks.

By embedding outreach at the heart of the festival, DIFF remains both a creative home and a launchpad: a place where ideas begin, voices are amplified, and new pathways into film are opened.

Find out more and donate at www.diff.ie

OUR PATRONS

Patrons have long been an essential thread in the fabric of art and culture. Their support is often crucial in ensuring the completion of creative work and, especially, in bringing that work to audiences. At a moment when the arts face unprecedented challenges, these partnerships are more vital than ever.

As we enter our fourth year as an independent festival, the impact of DIFF on the lives of audiences and filmmakers is more significant than ever. In addition to our annual festival, DIFF is proud to deliver transformative programmes that provide talented artists and storytellers with new skills. These initiatives also help some of the most under-represented communities find their place in the industry – whether as makers, producers, writers, directors, or passionate supporters.

Our Patrons’ support allows us to engage, listen to, and collaborate with socially and culturally under-represented communities. Together, we are building more accessible pathways into the cinema and screen industries, ensuring that the voices of all are heard and celebrated.

This invaluable support also helps us achieve even greater success in our mission to empower, educate, and enrich our society through cinema. Our Patrons and friends do more than make a financial contribution; they invest in the future of filmmaking, cultural and creative diversity, and the power of storytelling.

As we celebrate our 24th year, we are excited to further expand and develop our Patrons’ scheme. Patrons enjoy a range of privileges, including priority booking and gala invitations, as well as year-round events, private screenings, and much more.

We invite you to join us and help safeguard Ireland’s premier film festival. Your support is not only appreciated, but is also essential in sustaining the vibrant and independent spirit of Dublin International Film Festival.

PATRONS

ADAM MCKAY

KENNETH BRANAGH, IN MEMORY OF JOHN SESSIONS

TRISH LONG

JOHN CONNOLLY

ROBERT BYRNE TRUDIE STYLER

TICKETS

Experience world-class cinema your way! From single tickets to all-access passes.

Book online at www.diff.ie for the quickest and easiest way to secure your spot. Prefer to chat? Call us at 01 687 7974.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

All films are rated 18+ unless otherwise specified.

By purchasing a ticket, you automatically become a member of Dublin International Film Festival 2026 for the duration of the event, as required under Irish law for the temporary importation of films. The cost of membership is included in the ticket price.

All ticket sales are final, and refunds or exchanges are not permitted unless an event is cancelled. Programme content and schedules are correct at time of printing. Latecomers may only be admitted at the discretion of festival or venue staff.

Personal data collected during the ticketing process is processed in line with our Privacy Policy, which you can find along with full Terms and Conditions at www.diff.ie

SINGLE TICKETS

Evenings & Weekends:

Weekday (before 5 pm):

€14 / €12 (concession)

€10.50

Galas: from €30 / €25 (concession)

TICKET BUNDLES

Perfect as gifts or for film lovers looking to explore more of the festival lineup. A Ticket Bundle allows you to purchase multiple Single tickets at a discounted rate. Once you’ve purchased a bundle, you can either book all your tickets in one go or choose films from the programme at your convenience throughout the festival.

6-Ticket Bundle:

12-Ticket Bundle:

FESTIVAL PASSES

€67 (Save 20%)

€126 (Save 25%)

Your all-access key to DIFF 2026! Enjoy Irish and international films, special events, and unique cinematic experiences across the festival. The Festival Pass can be used to secure tickets across the full programme. A Pass includes priority booking and a ticket to one Gala.

Full Festival Pass:

INDUSTRY PASSES

€250 / €225

Designed for film professionals, the Industry Pass provides access to all events in the DIFF Industry Programme, alongside selected events from the public programme. For full details see diff.ie.

Industry Pass: €100

CONCESSIONS

We’re committed to making DIFF accessible to all. Concession pricing is available to: Under 24s, Seniors (65+), Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and those receiving Job Seekers Allowance or Benefit. Please bring valid ID to avail of concessions.

If you have any queries about booking visit www.diff.ie or contact us at boxoffice@diff.ie

ACCESS AT DIFF 2026

We are committed to ensuring that the Dublin International Film Festival 2026 is an accessible and inclusive experience for all of our attendees. Whether you are joining us for a screening, event or masterclass, we strive to accommodate a wide range of needs.

• Accessible Venues: All of our venues are fully accessible, with dedicated seating for wheelchair users.

• Subtitles & Captions: Non-English (foreign) language films will be subtitled. We work with filmmakers and distributors to offer SDH (Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing) where we can. These films will be clearly marked in the brochure and on the website.

• Volunteers & Support: Our volunteers are trained to assist with hidden disabilities, often denoted by the wearing of a sunflower lanyard. Volunteers are available throughout the festival to offer guidance and support, ensuring you feel comfortable and supported.

• Access Needs: If you have specific accessibility needs or require assistance with booking, please contact us in advance. We will do our best to ensure that your experience at DIFF is smooth and enjoyable.

For detailed information on accessibility at our venues or for any special requirements, please contact us at 01 687 7974 or email boxoffice@diff.ie.

THE ADAM MCKAY 5%

Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up, The Big Short, Anchorman) is a recipient of the prestigious DIFF Volta Award, and a Champion Patron of the festival.

Thanks to Adam’s support, DIFF is able to set aside up to 5% of festival tickets to be offered free or at a subsidised rate to students and young people for whom cost can be a barrier. The aim is simple: to help more people see more films, and to ensure the festival remains accessible to the next generation of audiences and filmmakers.

Adam McKay’s 5% directly supports this commitment, opening the doors of the festival to those who might otherwise miss out. To register for the scheme, visit www.diff.ie/adammckay. After completing a short registration form, you’ll be notified about when and how to access available tickets during the festival. The Adam McKay 5% is aimed at individual students and young people accessing the festival independently.

AVOLON ACCESS

As our Global Partner, Avolon is helping DIFF to celebrate the rich diversity of World Cinema presented across the 2026 programme.

The Avolon Access tickets initiative is designed to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent community groups and charities from experiencing global storytelling on the big screen, in particular the World Cinema programme.

Through a simple registration process, those interested can sign up at www.diff.ie/avolonaccess providing very basic details about the barriers they face in attending the festival. Once registered organisations will be contacted directly to receive free or subsidised tickets for selected screenings.

Avolon Access is designed for registered community groups and charities, enabling shared cultural experiences for those who might otherwise be excluded.

Light House Cinema

Port

Haymarket House

Irish Film Institute (IFI)

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

FESTIVAL MAP

1. Light House Cinema Smithfield

2. Haymarket House Smithfield

3. Irish Film Institute (IFI) Temple Bar

4. Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Grand Canal Square

5. Dublin Port Dublin Port

6. Pavilion Theatre Dún Laoghaire

7. IADT Dún Laoghaire

8. Droichead Arts Centre Drogheda, Co. Louth

9. ATU Galway Galway City

DÚN LAOGHAIRE

Dublin

Pavilion Theatre

VENUES

Staff

Gráinne Humphreys – Festival Director

Karen English – Festival Manager

Samuel Javid – Director of Commercial & Marketing

Genevieve Halbert – Marketing Manager

Mila Nikolic – Marketing Coordinator

Peggy Mac Hale – Programmer

Carole Lakes – Accounts Officer

Jack Quinn – Box Office Manager

Vanessa Byrne – Box Office Assistant

Keah Swann McFall – Box Office Assistant

April Hamblin – Hospitality Manager

Yelyzaveta Zvarych – Hospitality Coordinator

Emma White – Events Coordinator

Bryan Pepper – Production Manager

Simeon Costello – Technical Manager

Sarah Murphy – Festival Publicist

Rachel Rath – Press & PR Coordinator

Ellie Dowling – Volunteer Manager

Charlene Lydon – Brochure Editor

Aisha Bolaji; Penn Balint; Pia Kirby Roycroft –Shorts Programmers

Aoibh Foynes; Caragh Clarke; Gretta Caliri – Interns

Red & Grey – Brochure design

Board of Directors

Trish Long – Chairperson

Elaine Gill – Deputy Chair

Ruth Hunter

Ronan Murphy

Neasa Hardiman

Laurence Mackin

Neal Davies

Sian Redmond

Hylda Queally

Mark Byrne

Stan Nangle

Redmond Morris Screeners

Ali Ganley

Keelan Gallagher

Mia Samovich

Tatenda Jamera

Sara Sabatelli

Marta Pecak

Rosie Beattie

Khushi Jain

Ryan Dorrian

Mick Jordan

Dorothy Grace Laity

VOLUNTEERING

Being a volunteer at the Dublin International Film Festival is a unique opportunity to get involved in the inner workings of Ireland’s leading celebration of cinema. It’s an amazing way to meet others who share a passion for film and to network within the arts, festival and filmmaking industries. Volunteers also gain exclusive access to screenings and events, providing a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on the festival.

Each year, we are thrilled to welcome volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, spanning all ages, nationalities and walks of life. Their generosity and commitment are critical to the smooth delivery of our events, and without their energy, enthusiasm and dedication, the festival wouldn’t be possible.

On behalf of the entire festival team, we extend our deepest gratitude to all the incredible individuals who contribute their time and effort. Your warm smiles and engaging presence create unforgettable memories for our audiences, leaving an impact that lasts long after the festival wraps up.

OPENING GALA: ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA

Date: Thurs 19 Feb

18.15 - Light House 1 & 2

21.00 - Light House 1

1 hr 30 min

Director: David Gleeson

Writer: David Gleeson

Cast: Colin Morgan, Calam Lynch, India Mullen, Niamh Cusack, Clara Crichton

Filmed in Limerick and featuring an exciting Irish cast, our Opening Night Gala is the World Premiere of Once Upon a Time in a Cinema. In a small-town cinema in 1984, harassed owner and manager Earl Clancy (Colin Morgan) battles an escalating series of personal and professional disasters over the course of the Friday 8pm show from hell, while mulling over the sale of the cinema to a shady politician. Can he really walk away from his life’s passion? Acclaimed filmmaker David Gleeson (Cowboys and Angels, The Front Line) brings us a witty, light-hearted, sometimes frenetic night at the movies in this authentic-feeling drama.

This screening will open with an introduction by the filmmaker.

FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY

VALUE FOR MANY

12.00 - Light House 2 46min + Q&A

Director: Patrick Voigt

The importance of design in addressing our pressing national infrastructure deficit has arguably never been more critical. Because of this pressure, and the strains placed on the natural world, new forms of awareness are needed. The Office of Public Works has commissioned two new films to focus on two major publicly funded infrastructure projects 80km apart on Ireland’s southeastern coastline. Through the eyes of those whose lives they directly impact and through the voices of their local communities, themes of care, consideration and capacity, all from unexpected places to progress our national development plan with enduring outcomes, are explored. Architecture and the built environment are matters of public priority. The Office of Public Works and the Irish Architecture Foundation proudly bring these two original works to a wide audience, to debate their value for many. This is Ireland’s National Policy on Architecture in action.

CIRCLE:

ARKLOW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

After a 35-year wait, the town of Arklow finally got their longpromised wastewater treatment plant and amid the joy and international attention, Clancy Moore, an architectural practice, are celebrated by the existing and emerging communities for their role in its making.

THRESHOLD: ROSSLARE EUROPORT

Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, a major redesign of customs and border control at Rosslare Europort was a time bound imperative. The project, an ambitious overhaul of the 20-hectare port facility led by Architectural Services within the Office of Public Works, serves as a threshold between Ireland and a constantly changing world.

NTA SHORTS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

14.00 - Light House 1 52m + Q&A

Hosted by the Dublin International Film Festival, this special event presents the world premiere of live action works produced under the First Credit Short Film Scheme and the NTA Short Film Fund. This programme is proudly presented by the National Talent Academy for Film & Television Drama (NTAFT) and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.

4C

Director: Sodiq Ajibola Abiola

Anxious and excited to meet new people, Tobi, a Black man with mesmerising hair, is invited to a dinner party. There, he is swarmed by the party guests, who grab and pull his afro in search of a euphoric out-of-body experience.

BABYSITTER

Director: Clare Monnelly

Ray’s a single mam legging it between work, crèche, and whatever’s left of herself. Tonight’s the night she swears she’ll make it out. Babysitter is a sharp, tender look at motherhood where love and exhaustion are not mutually exclusive.

LET GO

Director: Louise Bruton

When ex-best friends Orla and Meghan run into each other as adults, they revisit their past and discover that the challenges of disability, adolescence, and teen friendship have profoundly informed their lives.

THE PARTING

Director: Marissa Aroy

Nine-year-old Abbey fixates on her classmate’s beautiful hair. At home, her mum and dad are floundering, and life is chaotic. When Abbey’s neglect draws attention in school, she doubles her resolve to achieve the perfect hair.

ROBERTO ROSSELLINI: LIVING WITHOUT A SCRIPT

14.15 - Light House 2 1hr 36min

Directors: Andrea Paolo

Massara, Raffaele Brunetti, Ilaria de Laurentiis

Italy

THE RACE

Director: Edelle Kenny

A family gathers at the home of their dying grandfather, Pat. But their motives are thrown into question as they compete to win Pat’s affection in the hope of securing his much talked about racehorse and an opportunity for a new life.

In 1956, legendary Neorealist filmmaker Roberto Rossellini is in the midst of a personal and artistic crisis. His recent films have failed, his marriage is unravelling and the press is relentless. Inspired by a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Nehru, Rossellini writes his will, packs 100 kilos of spaghetti and boards a plane to Bombay to document India’s recently gained independence. This journey would lead him to creative and emotional rebirth, inspired by a culture balancing tradition and modernity.

DRAMA

16.00 - Light House 1

1hr 17min

Director: Pete Ohs

Writer: Pete Ohs, Charli XCX, Lena Góra

Cast: Charli XCX, Lena Góra, Will Madden

United States, Poland

Nel (Lena Góra) lives in Warsaw where she works at a flower shop but her social world is up-ended when her free-spirited childhood friend Bethany (Charli XCX) comes to visit with her devoted boyfriend, causing a volcano of long pent-up emotions to finally erupt. Set in and filmed on location in Poland, Pete Ohs’ Erupcja follows two old friends who complicate their love lives in a whirl of parties, city walks and deep chats on the streets of Warsaw.

BIRTHRIGHT

COMEDY

16.15 - Light House 2

1 hr 30 min

Director: Zoe Pepper

Writer: Zoe Pepper

Cast: Maria Angelico, Travis Jeffery, Michael Hurst

Australia

Evicted and jobless, Cory and his pregnant wife are forced to stay with his parents. As the younger couple’s stay extends, the parents become worried that their disappointing son will never leave. Drawing battle lines between baby boomers and millennials, this pitch-black comedy offers a fresh slice of Australian Gothic. This biting satire about intergenerational wealth is a twisted take on privilege, the housing crisis and a disillusioned generation. Sharp and farcical, it hits very close to home.

AVOLON WORLD CINEMA NOMINEE

LOMU

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY

18.00 - Light House 1 1hr 47 min + Q&A

Directors: Gavin Fitzgerald, Vea Mafile’o

United Kingdom, New Zealand

From acclaimed Irish filmmaker Gavin Fitzgerald (Conor McGregor: Notorious), witness an intimate portrait of a oncein-a-generation athlete, “The Big Fella”, Jonah Lomu. An explosive, formidable athlete, Jonah quickly became a sporting legend, holding the record for the most tries scored in Rugby World Cup history. But despite his gentle giant persona, his life was marred by tragedy, often forcing him to battle adversity and confront his inner demons as the public watched on.

OUT OF LOVE

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DRAMA

18.15 - Light House 2 1hr 51min + Q&A

Director: Nathan Ambrosioni

Writer: Nathan Ambrosioni Cast: Camille Cottin, Monia Chokri

France

When Jeanne (Camille Cottin) receives a surprise visit from her estranged sister, Suzanne (Monia Chokri) and her two children, she is unsettled, noticing a stark change in her sister. The next morning, Jeanne discovers Suzanne is gone, leaving behind her two children, and a note. Writer-director Nathan Ambrosioni brings his signature humanity to this intriguing French melodrama about loyalty, grief and the ways in which families piece themselves together under the darkest circumstances, against all the odds.

STREAM THE BEST IRISH CONTENT ON

VIRGIN MEDIA DISCOVERS

SHORTS

20.30 - Light House 1

48min + Q&A

SUB5

Director: Laura Kavanagh

Angus, a reclusive teen, catfishes his own mother to stop her from dating. When a radical incel hijacks the plan, Angus must race to save her.

SAMHAIN

Director: Seán Branigan

When her autistic son goes missing from his preschool, a worn-out mother must delve into his imagination to follow his tracks in the hope of finding him.

Virgin Media Discovers in association with Screen Ireland is a competition that helps new and established filmmakers and content creators get their stories heard. This prestigious annual presentation at DIFF showcases the winners and their work before it hits TV screens and available on Virgin Media Play.

EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION

Director: Kate Haley

Joe, a homeless man, finds himself in a miserably congested emergency department under garda custody. After a series of lucky breaks, he manages to escape within the hospital, using the chaos of the Irish healthcare system as the perfect cover.

LYDIA

Director: Caleb J. Roberts

Trapped in a bureaucratic maze not built to see her, one transgender woman sparks a historic battle against the Irish State to be recognised as female, in this dramatisation of real events.

20.45 - Light House 2 1hr 35min

Director: Samuel Abrahams

Writer: Samuel Abrahams

Cast: Sian Clifford, Laurie Kynaston

United Kingdom

Samuel Abrahams’ satirical mockumentary, Lady, brings us into the world of deluded aristocrat Lady Isabella (Sian Clifford) who hires struggling director Sam (Laurie Kynaston) to document her life. When he discovers that the promise of a Netflix commission was a lie, and that Isabella wants him to film her performance in a low-stakes regional talent show held at her home, he’s ready to quit – until he realises the narcissistic Lady is, quite literally, turning invisible!

CREATIVE EUROPE MEDIA

Images: Sanatorium (2025); Venom Films (Ireland) and 2332 (Ukraine)

LATE NIGHT SCREENING: THE EXIT 8

22.20 - Light House 1

Director: Genki Kawamura

Writers: Kotake Create, Kentaro Hirase, Genki Kawamura Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kôchi, Naru Asanuma

This Japanese psychological thriller, based on the gripping indie videogame of the same name, follows an unnamed man trapped in an endless sterile subway passageway. The rules are simple: do not overlook anything out of the ordinary. If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately. If you don’t, then carry on, then leave via Exit 8. But even a single oversight will send him back to the beginning. Will he ever reach his goal and escape this infinite corridor?

SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY

10.30 Light House 1 2hr 5min + Q&A

Director: Jan Komasa

Writer: Lori Rosene-Gambino

Cast: Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Madeleine Brewer, Zoey Deutch, Phoebe Dynevor, Dylan O’Brien, Daryl McCormack, Mckenna Grace. United States, Ireland

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: ANNIVERSARY REMNANT

In this gripping thriller from Jan Komasa, a close-knit family is caught in the turmoil of a controversial rising movement known as “The Change.” Ellen and Paul witness their lives fall apart when Ellen’s former student Liz reappears and starts dating their son. As Liz becomes a part of the Taylor family, tensions rise and loyalties are tested. Liz’s role in “The Change” brings simmering conflicts to the surface, unraveling the fabric of the family just as the nation itself stands on edge during an alarming and challenging time of uncertainty.

This film will be preceded by Peter Vaughan’s short film Remnant.

Director: Peter Vaughan Ireland

Driving home from the pub, Kevin opportunistically seeks refuge with an eccentric couple after meeting a police checkpoint. While Kevin narrowly escapes a damning encounter with the police, his safety is not guaranteed after the couple unexpectedly invite him into their home.

BALLYMUN FILMMAKERS: NEW VOICES ON SCREEN

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

11.00 - Light House 2 20mins + Q&A

This special screening brings together two original films created by young filmmakers from Ballymun, offering an honest, energetic and deeply local perspective on community, creativity and place.

The programme opens with a short documentary by the Little Rascals group from Poppintree Youth Project. Playful and observant, the film captures Ballymun through the eyes of its youngest storytellers, from everyday moments to the people and spaces that shape their world.

The screening also features an original music video devised and made by teenage boys from Poppintree Youth Project. Developed through creative workshops with filmmaker Brendan Canty (Christy, 2025) and shot with director and producer Liam Hall Walshe, the project saw participants take full creative control from concept and performance to camera work and edit. The result is bold, confident and unmistakably their own.

Alongside the films, this programme reflects the wider creative journey behind the work, including hands-on workshops in editing, sound and post-production with professional studios. Together, these films are a celebration of emerging talent, collaboration and the power of young voices on the big screen.

SHORTS

COMMUNITY SHORTS

12.00 - Light House 2

As part of the Festival’s commitment to celebrating the work of community filmmakers across the city, we are delighted to present a series of shorts from young Dublin filmmakers, with thanks to Shireen Shortt.

NOKEMONO-TACHI: KEN NO YOBU

Director: Hestaine

A boy reaches for the sky and he notices something pulling him down. A chain from behind is firmly locking his leg as if it is one with the ground. The boy must struggle to find a way to removes his shackles.

THE BADNESS BEHIND

Director: Evan Casey

Emma becomes obsessed with a derelict building after her brother, Nigel, shares an urban legend... but is it true?

POV

Director: Josh Carthy

A short documentary about how sports can have a profoundly positive impact on a young person’s mental health.

IRL

Director: Kyle Hogan Bennett

IRL is a series of interviews from Kyle Hogan Bennett with teenagers/young adults about the effect they think social media has on today’s kids and future generations. The format is in direct contrast to the concept of social media’s purpose - it takes place in person rather than digitally. Who else would know better but the generation that grew up with the miracle or curse that social media is?

THE HEIST

Director: Leighton Costello, Senan Donnelly, Oliver Collier, Leroy Ward

When the leader of the biggest gang in town allows a new member to join, they finally have the perfect team to pull off his dream revenge heist.

SUPER NATURE

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DOCUMENTARY

13.20 - Light House 2 1hr 23 min + Q&A

Director: Ed Sayers

United Kingdom

A global love letter to nature, Super Nature is an immersive exploration of our world today, filmed exclusively on the original home movie format, Super 8. Shot by people all over the world, the universal and the local combine in this intimate gaze on nature, with a transcendent score and sound design. Led by filmmaker Ed Sayers, 40 collaborators in 25 countries across 5 continents, create a wondrous and diverse tapestry of footage of the natural world. Embracing all we have, and all we have to lose, Super Nature takes us on a spellbinding journey of discovery and togetherness with our fellow dwellers on earth, both human and non-human.

SCREEN IRELAND SHORTS 1

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

13:30 – Light House 1 1hr 34 min + Q&A

The Screen Ireland Shorts showcase a diverse collection of innovative and compelling short films, highlighting emerging talent and unique storytelling. These films offer a fresh perspective on contemporary issues, showcasing the creativity and passion driving Irish cinema.

PUNT

Director: Nicky Larkin

During the 1994 World Cup, a heartbroken woman decides to end her life. But when her pay-as-you-go meter runs out, a coin hunt leads to an unlikely bet: Ireland to qualify.

SHORTS

No Ordinary Heist Whitetail

Gays Against Guns Gorky Resort

Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Father, Mother, Sister, Brother

One Last Deal

Crazy Love

Focus Shorts

Have You Never Heard of Bill Fuller

Frameworks Shorts

The Restoration at Grayson Manor

The Three Urns

500 Miles

Power Ballad

VIOLENT VOLITION

Director: Graham Holbrook

MOUSE

Director: Rosie Barrett

MAGIC MARKERS

Director: Jason Branagan

This existential animated short explores free will through the eyes of two warriors inside a fighting game. Do they have the power of choice, or are they just puppets? Can they change their destiny, or are they condemned to kill?

A headstrong single mother, struggling in her complicated relationship with her teenage daughter, gets caught up in a game of cat-and-mouse with some intimidating local teenagers as her maternal anxieties lead her down a dangerous path.

When he comes across magical markers that bring his drawings to life, a lonely boy creates a big brother to protect him from bullies –but when the magic fades, he must find strength to stand on his own.

METEORIC

Director: Paul Ó Muiris

A SONG

Director: Ellius Grace

BAD PERSON

Director: Hildegard Ryan

When an artist is hit by a meteor, the result is a “painting” that captivates the world. But the people want more. This incisive animated short explores art as commodity and the cult of celebrity with a unique, thought-provoking edge.

When music teacher Noel forms a connection with James, their growing intimacy begins to stir long-suppressed memories of Noel’s estranged mother, a celebrated singer who abandoned her family. Now, Noel must finally confront the emotional distance that defined his life.

Cáit has always heard she’s a bad drunk. When she kisses her best friend Roe’s elderly dad at her wedding, Cáit proves she’s not just a bad drunk – she’s a bad person. Or maybe it’s more complicated than that.

ONE WOMAN ONE BRA

15.30 - Light House 2 1hr 19min

Director: Vincho Nchogu

Writer: Vincho Nchogu

Cast: Sarah Karei, Norngaruani Kipuker, Davina Leonard

Kenya, Nigeria

SCREEN IRELAND SHORTS 2

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

16:00 – Light House 1 1hr 26mins + Q&A

Winner of the esteemed Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival, Vincho Nchogu’s vibrant drama is the story of Star, a nomadic woman facing eviction from her ancestral land. The deeds are based on kinship ties, and since she doesn’t know her parents, and is unmarried, her situation is precarious. Determined to maintain her claim to the land, Star embarks on a quest that forces her to choose between her roots and a new beginning.

THE AFTERS

Director: Jamie O’Rourke

Over the course of one hazy, nightmarish evening, Kevin’s anxiety reaches fever pitch as he tries to navigate the surreal afters of an elitist wedding, which opens up a world of judgment, doubt, and unease.

FORGET ME NOT

Director: Ethan O’ Donoghue

After a sudden loss, a young couple develops an unlikely friendship with a lonely kid and her horse.

MINDING

Director: Emily Foran

This tender drama follows a rural mother as she drops her tempestuous college student daughter, now finished up with her weekend job at home, off at the bus heading to the city – and to life without her.

THE CLOUD HERDER

Director: Aidan McAteer

Creating a fantasy world entirely of itself, the visually stunning The Cloud Herder follows an ageing but committed herder protecting her flock of sheep-like clouds from a ferocious storm of her own accidental making.

LIKE ME

Director: Ais Brady

Alor is a 20-something beast-like monster who drifts through life wearing a humanistic mask. When she reluctantly attends a grungy gaff party, Alor meets a seductive stranger who fascinates and challenges her wavering spirit.

BREEDERS

Director: Suri Grennell

After a sweaty night at a local disco, Richard wakes up struggling to fill in the blank spots of a late-night hook-up he can’t remember. This is a morning after he’ll never forget – his body, their choice.

HIS HOUSE, HOME

Director: Aisling O’Regan Sargent

A young, closeted man struggles to care for his dad, who suffers from MS. When his dad is homophobic towards a new queer healthcare assistant, Luke must confront coming out and his relationship with his father.

EVERYBODY DIGS BILL

EVANS

18.15 - Light House 1 1hr 43mins + Q&A

Director: Grant Gee

Writers: Mark O’Halloran, Owen Martell

Cast: Bill Pullman, Laurie Metcalf, Katie McGrath, Anders Danielsen Lie, Barry Ward

United States, Ireland, United Kingdom

THE GOOD BOY

18.20 - Light House 2 1hr 50min + Q&A

Director: Jan Komasa

Writers: Bartek Bartosik, Naqqash Khalid

Cast: Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Anson Boon

In 1961, jazz pianist Bill Evans creates two of the greatest live jazz records of all time in one night. Ten days later, tragedy strikes his band, and Bill is overcome with grief. Everybody Digs Bill Evans is the story of what happened next for one of the most influential and gifted figures in 20th-century music. Filmed in Ireland, Everybody Digs Bill Evans features a strong Irish and international cast and a screenplay by award-winning Irish screenwriter Mark O’Halloran.

Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough headline this wickedly dark comedy-thriller about an out-of-control nineteen-year-old criminal, Tommy (Anson Boon), who is kidnapped and forced into a rehabilitation process by a dysfunctional couple, Chris and Kathryn, in a misguided attempt to make him a “good boy”. With an absurdist edge and a dark soul, The Good Boy is a prime example of Polish writer-director Jan Komasa’s sharp wit and keen eye for social commentary.

Q&A WITH

Q&A

THE LIGHTKEEPER

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

20.40 - Light House 1 1 hr 41 min + Q&A

Director: Vic Sarin

Writer: Ciarán Creagh

Cast: Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Aidan

Quinn, Sarah Bolger

Ireland

Ireland, 1924. Seamus Óg McGrinna (Dominic Cooper) is a lighthouse keeper whose elaborate rituals keep him at a distance from the outside world as he awaits the fabled EachUisce (Water-Horse) to take him. His carefully constructed prison is blown open by three people who change the course of his life: an American war widow whose quest for closure ignites something in him; a housekeeper who fiercely protects him; and the hard-line priest who starts a battle of wills.

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

AVOLON WORLD CINEMA NOMINEE

20.50 - Light House 2 1hr 39mins + Q&A

Director: Imran Perretta

Writers: Imran Perretta, Enda Walsh

Cast: Zubin Varla, Robert Ryan, Sudha Bhuchar

United Kingdom

This feature debut from Imran Perretta, co-written by Irish screenwriter, Enda Walsh, follows Ish and Maram, two best friends navigating childhood against a backdrop of cultural and political tension in Luton. The two friends struggle with impending adulthood as the world around them begins to intrude on their carefree lives. When a traumatic encounter with the police tears their friendship apart, the boys must navigate new friendship groups and the grief of losing each other.

SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: RESURRECTION

Director: Bi Gan

In a future where humanity has surrendered its ability to dream in exchange for immortality, an outcast finds illusion, nightmarish visions and beauty in an intoxicating world of his own making. A work of staggering imagination from visionary Chinese director Bi Gan (Long Day’s Journey Into Night), this visually breathtaking film conjures vast and ever-shifting worlds on the brink of collapse in an era-spanning journey through our deepest and most human desires.

Writer: Bi Gan

Jackson Yee, Shu Qi, Mark Chao

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: PRIMAVERA

Director: Damiano Michieletto

Writer: Damiano Michieletto, Tiziano Scarpa, Ludovica Rampoldi

Cast: Michele Riondino, Tecla Insolia, Fabrizia Sacchi

Set in Venice in the early 18th century, a talented young violinist, Cecilia, who lives in an orphanage run by strict nuns, finds an opportunity for self-expression and a place in the world when she meets the new music teacher, Antonio Vivaldi. Under his mentorship and through his music, she gains the courage to break free from the life she was destined for and pursue her passion.

10.30 - Light House 2

1 hr 50 min

THE INHUMAN WOMAN

13.00 - Light House 2 2hr 3 min + Interval (15 min)

Director: Marcel L’Herbier

Writers: Marcel L’Herbier, Pierre Mac Orlan, Georgette Leblanc

Cast: Georgette Leblanc, Jaque Catelain, Philippe Hériat

France

DISPLACE: THE BATTLE FOR DUBLIN

13.30 - Light House 1 1hr 30min + Q&A

Director: James Redmond

Ireland

Marcel L’Herbier’s technically innovative fantasy-romance is the story of opera singer Claire Lescot, who has always put her art before everything, even love – until tragedy forces her to confront what’s in her heart. This brand new restoration is accompanied by a live score from composer Meg Morley, one of the UK’s pre-eminent silent film accompanists.

Meg will also accompany a screening of the film in the Droichead Arts Centre on Saturday, February 21 at 20.00. Tickets available on diff.ie and also from the venue.

Filmed over four years across kitchen tables, protests and public meetings, Displace: The Battle for Dublin depicts a city fighting for itself as a broken property market ruthlessly chews up its citizens for profit – pushing out communities of every kind and leaving a generation trapped in their parents’ box rooms. From evicted tenants to artists without studios, from market traders to mothers living in overcrowded accommodation, the film follows an emerging movement demanding justice, housing and dignity.

MASPALOMAS

15.50 - Light House 2

1hr 49min + Q&A

Directors: Jose Mari

Goenaga, Aitor Arregi

Writer: Jose Mari

Goenaga

Cast: José Ramón Soroiz

Spain

HELLO BETTY

Beloved Spanish actor José Ramón Soroiz plays Vicente, an elderly gay man, who left his wife and daughter when he came out of the closet in his fifties and has spent the last twentyfive years living it up with his partner in sunny Maspalomas. But when Vicente suffers a stroke, he is moved back to a nursing home in Donostia, the city he abandoned. Suddenly faced with a crisis of identity, Vicente must find a way back to himself while confronting the past he left behind.

16.00 - Light House 1

1hr 48mins + Q&A

Director: Pierre Monnard

Writer: André Küttel

Cast: Sarah Spale, Martin Vischer

Switzerland

Set in 1956, Hello Betty follows Emmi Creola, a talented copywriter who defies a male dominated workplace by inventing “Betty Bossi”, a fictional housewife who becomes Switzerland’s culinary icon. As Betty’s popularity skyrockets, Emmi struggles to balance the expectations of her public persona with her role as a wife, mother and professional. A warm and humorous portrait of the 1950s, Hello Betty explores female ambition, identity and the timeless tension between public image and private life.

DRAMA

DRAMA

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS COUNTRY IN FOCUS

NO ORDINARY HEIST

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

DRAMA

18.30 - Light House 1 1hr 39min + Q&A

Director: Colin McIvor

Writers: Aisling

Corristine, Colin McIvor

Cast: Eddie Marsan, Éanna Hardwicke

Ireland

HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD OF BILL FULLER?

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY

18.45 - Light House 2 1 hr 22 min + Q&A

Director: David Burke

Ireland

Éanna Hardwicke and Eddie Marsan lead an outstanding cast in Colin McIvor’s breathless thriller, No Ordinary Heist. Inspired by true events in Belfast in December 2004, this gripping fictional tale follows two bank employees who are reluctantly forced to orchestrate an ambitious £26.5 million robbery on behalf of a notorious criminal gang to save their families’ lives, and they must execute the crime without the gang ever stepping foot inside the bank.

Bill Fuller is one of the most mysterious yet influential figures in popular music. Popping up in every happening scene from the 1930s until the 1970s, Fuller promoted legends like Nina Simone, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, Billie Holiday, and Johnny Cash. The hidden story of this Kerry-born ballroom impresario will astonish and surprise audiences until the very end.

SAMANTA NOBODY

20.50 - Light House 1 1 hr 42 min + Q&A

Director: Ciaran Creagh

Writer: Ciaran Creagh

Cast: Ruby Jean Lennon, Brendan Conroy, Maggie Hannon

Ireland

LOVE ROULETTE

From writer-director Ciaran Creagh (Ann) and starring Discovery nominee Ruby Jean Lennon, Samanta Nobody follows a 16-year-old homeless girl on the streets of Sligo town. For Samanta, reaching out for help has only ever ended in closed doors, but she has a hidden gift for songwriting and performance. When a music shop owner spots her talent, she has a chance to finally accept that music could be the open door she’s been waiting for.

21.00 - Light House 2 1hr 43min + Q&A

Director: Chris Niemeyer

Writer: Yvonne Eisenring

Cast: Yvonne Eisenring, Max Hubacher

Switzerland

Childhood sweethearts, Charlie and Tom, have been a couple for fifteen years. Now in their thirties, they want to get married – but they’re getting cold feet. What if they later regret never having lived life to the fullest before settling down forever and starting a family? Love Roulette is a modern, humorous story about the challenges of long-term love in a world where a swipe is enough to reshuffle the deck.

MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY

FUNERAL CASINO BLUES

12.00 - Light House 1

2hr 33min

Director: Roderick Warich

Writer: Roderick Warich

Cast: Jutamat Lamoon, Wason Dokkathum, Jutarat Burinok

Germany

When Jen disappears without a trace, her new boyfriend Wason and her flatmate Pim start looking for her – first in Bangkok’s shadowy underworld and then all the way to the Cambodian border. Drifting through empty alleyways and humid nights, this search for answers becomes a journey through their own haunted pasts – and a city that misses noone. Roderick Warich’s neon-tinged noir is gritty and intriguing, but with high emotional stakes.

KIM NOVAK’S VERTIGO

13.00 - Light House 2

1hr 17min

Director: Alexandre O.

Philippe

United States

Kim Novak’s Vertigo from Alexandre O. Phillippe (Chain Reactions, 78/52, Lynch/Oz) is a lyrical and intimate portrait, blending rare archival footage with deeply personal reflections and vivid glimpses into Kim’s reclusive life. While Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo remains her most iconic role, the film explores how that performance - and the duality it captured - mirrors the ongoing tension between image and identity that shaped Kim’s life and led her to walk away from fame to remain true to herself.

THE ARCH

15.00 - Light House 2

1hr 36min

Director: T’ang Shushuen

Writers: Yutang Lin, T’ang Shushuen

Cast: Lisa Lu, Hilda Chow Hsuan, Roy Chiao

Hong Kong

From trailblazing female filmmaker, T’ang Shushuen, The Arch was one of the earliest arthouse films from Hong Kong. Adapted from a Chinese folktale about a widow torn between her amorous desires and moral obligations, Madam Tung (Lisa Lu), a widow and devoted mother, finds herself developing feelings for Captain Yang (Roy Chiao), who is staying in her study, until she discovers that her daughter (Hilda Chow Hsuan) has also developed feelings for the older but honourable man.

ORPHAN

DRAMA

15.15 - Light House 1 2hr 12min

Director: László Nemes

Writer: László Nemes, Clara Royer

Cast: Bojtorján Barabas, Grégory Gadebois, Andrea Waskovics

Hungary, United Kingdom, Germany, France

Set in Budapest, after the uprising against the Communist regime, a young Jewish boy, Andor, raised by his mother with idealised tales of his deceased father, has his world turned upside down when a man appears, claiming to be his true father. Academy Award-winning filmmaker László Nemes (Son of Saul, Sunset) returns with this historical drama about a young boy searching for his identity in the aftermath of huge political upheaval.

THE PARADE: OUR HISTORY

COUNTRY IN FOCUS

BE KIND REWIND

DOCUMENTARY

16.00 - IFI 2 1hr 18min

Director: Lionel Baier

Switzerland

Lionel Baier’s insightful documentary follows Marianne Bruchez and a small group of fellow activists as they attempt to organise the first Pride parade in their small provincial town in 2001. Amid refused permits, local protesters associating “queers” with “devils”, and the gay community itself accusing them of being “too timid”, Marianne, a thirty-year-old woman with no previous experience as a gay activist, suddenly finds herself making front-page news and unwelcome high-profile media visibility.

SOUND OF FALLING

17.30 - Light House 2 2hr 29min

Director: Mascha Schilinski

Writers: Mascha Schilinski, Louise Peter Cast: Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Laeni Geiseler, Susanne Wuest, Luise Heyer, Lea Drinda

Germany

ROSE OF NEVADA

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DRAMA

Mascha Schilinski’s extraordinary Cannes Jury Prize winner, Sound of Falling, follows four girls, Alma (1910s), Erika (1940s), Angelika (1980s) and Lenka (2020s) who each spend their youth on the same farm in northern Germany. As the home evolves over a century, echoes of the past linger in its walls. Though separated by time, their lives begin to mirror each other, revealing shared secrets that have been kept hidden.

18.00 - Light House 1 1hr 54min + Q&A

Director: Mark Jenkin

Writer: Mark Jenkin

Cast: Callum Turner, George MacKay

United Kingdom

When a Cornish fishing boat, lost 30 years ago, mysteriously reappears, the superstitious locals decide the boat must go out to sea again to bring prosperity to the village. Young father Nick (George MacKay) and enigmatic newcomer Liam (Callum Turner) join Captain Murgey, and they head out to sea. But when they return, something is amiss – they’ve slipped back in time. Mark Jenkin (Bait, Enys Men) brings his signature style to this vivid 16mm film.

There will be a subsequent screening in the Pavilion Theatre at 20.00 on February 24th, accompanied by I Saw the Face of God in the Jet Wash, a new short film by Mark Jenkin. Tickets available on diff.ie and also from the venue.

ANOTHER MAN

COUNTRY IN FOCUS BE KIND REWIND

DRAMA

18.00 - IFI 2

1hr 30min

Director: Lionel Baier

Writer: Lionel Baier

Cast: Robin Harsch, Natacha Koutchoumov

Switzerland

With little knowledge of cinema, François writes reviews for a small local weekly in the Vallée de Joux. Rosa is a well-known critic working for a benchmark-setting daily newspaper. When an unlikely kinky relationship develops between the two of them, it leads François to discover the inner workings of desire: desire of a woman, of a critic, and ultimately of his own. Lionel Baier’s erotic, psychological romance examines sexual power dynamics through the lens of film criticism.

EVERY MOON IS ATROCIOUS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY

18.05 - IFI 1

1 hr 38 min + Q&A

Director: Yvonne McDevitt

Ireland

Every Moon Is Atrocious is a psychogeographic voyage by artist and filmmaker Yvonne McDevitt. Using the poetry of Niall McDevitt, the film traces the cinematic journey of a poet who realises his life has been a mirage. McDevitt explores the connection between poetic storytelling and cinematic storytelling in this visually stunning odyssey through the words of an emotionally fractured poet. Presented and supported through the Arts Council’s Reel Art fund, Every Moon Is Atrocious pushes boundaries and presents us with something truly unique.

THE THREE URNS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

COMEDY

20.35 - Light House 1 1hr 36min + Q&A

Directors: Stephen Warbeck, John-Paul Davidson

Writers: Stephen Warbeck, John-Paul Davidson

Cast: Ciarán Hinds, Stephen Dillane, Olga Kurylenko

Ireland

After years living in France, Mr O’Connor (Ciarán Hinds) sets out on a pilgrimage to his former home in Ireland after the death of his wife. Equal parts picturesque and picaresque, his journey is full of serendipitous encounters with a cohort of colourful characters including a Lithuanian painter, an itinerant priest, horse traders and horse whisperers, a Choctaw native commemorating the Great Famine, and a group of mystic women worshipping at the ancient Beltany Stone Circle. Charming, joyful and with a touch of whimsy, Stephen Warbeck and John-Paul Davidson’s, The Three Urns is a funny and often moving look at reconnection and exploration.

GAYS AGAINST GUNS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY

20.40 - Light House 2 1hr 27min + Q&A

Director: Paul Rowley

Ireland

Gays Against Guns is a gripping documentary which looks at the American gun violence epidemic through the eyes of queer Irish immigrant, Paul Rowley, who went to the US looking for the gay American dream, but found something shockingly different. Paul left Ireland when it was still illegal to be gay and he interweaves his reflections on recent history, highlights the fearless activism of GAG, and tops it off with contributions from legendary filmmaker John Waters.

TUESDAY

24 FEBRUARY

PASA FAHO

13.30 - Light House 2 1hr 26min

Director: Kalu Oji

Writer: Kalu Oji

Cast: Okey Bakassi, Tyson Palmer

Australia

The first Igbo-English film to be produced in Australia, Kalu Oji’s moving father-son drama is a journey of self-acceptance and growing up. When Azubuike’s 12-year-old son moves in with him, the struggling shoe salesman finds himself balancing fatherhood and the slow collapse of his small shop. As the pair navigate their estrangement, the unspoken becomes a language of its own; one shaped by pride, duty and the quiet weight of expectation.

DRAMA

THE SOUFFLEUR

COMEDY

14.00 - Light House 1 1hr 18min

Director: Gastón Solnicki

Writers: Julia Niemann, Guido Segal, Gastón Solnicki

Cast: Willem Dafoe, Lilly Lindner, Stéphanie Argerich, Gastón Solnicki, Imona Mirrakhimova, Claus Philipp, Camille Clair, Han-Gyeol Lie

Austria, Argentina

This dark comedy from Gastón Solnicki is the story of Lucius, an exquisite Willem Dafoe, who learns the once iconic hotel he has managed for thirty years has been sold to a developer intent on demolishing and reimagining it. With the help of his daughter and a handful of loyal employees, he brings us on a crusade of detours, espionage and a paranoid struggle to preserve a vanishing world – and the only home he’s ever known.

GAVAGAI

16.00 - Light House 1 1 hr 29 min

Director: Ulrich Köhler

Writer: Ulrich Köhler

Cast: Alice Krige, Chris Colfer, Daniel Adegboyega, Declan Reynolds, Gabriela Garcia Vargas

Germany, France

Norwegian writer-director Ulrich Köhler brings his signature social commentary to his brand new film, Gavagai. On the set of a turbulent shoot of a Medea adaptation in Senegal, Maja seeks solace in a love affair with her co-star Nourou. Sparks ignite again when they meet at the film’s premiere in Berlin, but tensions rise as a racist incident threatens to unravel their relationship.

DRAMA

FIRST NAME: MATTHEW

16.00 - IFI 2

1hr 1 min

Director: Lionel Baier

Writers: Lionel Baier, Julien Bouissoux

Cast: Maxime Gorbatchevsky, Ursina Ladi, Michel Vuillermoz

Switzerland

Mathieu, age seventeen, is the only survivor of an infamous serial killer. Injured and traumatised, he tries to get on with his life, but despite everyone’s support, Mathieu is unable to find peace in his everyday life and attempts to relive the trauma by assisting a detective in finding the killer. Originally aired as part of the Shock Waves anthology series – four television dramas based on real-life crime cases - this remarkable film stands alone as one of Baier’s most thrilling works.

QUEENS OF THE DEAD

17.30 - Light House 2 1hr 38min

Director: Tina Romero

Writer: Erin Judge

Cast: Katy O’Brian, Margaret Cho, Jaquel Spivey

United States

It’s Saturday night in Brooklyn, NY. People are out, parties are poppin’, but ominous signs suggest that chaotic evil is on the rise around New York City. As the night begins, a ragtag crew of party promoters and drag queens are immersed in petty conflict, but once the dead start rising, everyone gets slapped with a dose of perspective and our queens must decide whether to follow the instructions of the authorities or go out there and slay!

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER

18.00 - Light House 1 1hr 50min

Director: Jim Jarmusch

Writer: Jim Jarmusch

Cast: Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Sarah Greene, Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat, Françoise Lebrun

United States, Ireland, France

Partially filmed in Ireland, and recent winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Father Mother Sister Brother is the eagerly awaited new film from iconic filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. Told in the form of a triptych, the film is divided into three chapters, each concerning the relationship between adult children, their somewhat distant parent (or parents) and each other. The terrific ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Tom Waits, Adam Driver and Vicky Krieps.

SAFE HOUSE

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS COUNTRY IN FOCUS

DRAMA

18.15 - IFI 1 1 hr 30 min + Q&A

Director: Lionel Baier

Writers: Lionel Baier, Catherine Charrier

Cast: Ethan Chimienti, Adrien Barazzone, Larisa Faber

Switzerland

Paris, May ‘68: A 9-year-old boy is thrilled to stay a few extra days with his grandparents in their apartment, joined by two lively uncles— a visual artist and an aspiring intellectual—and a colourful great grandmother from Odessa, while his parents join the historical student protests. A buoyant comedy exploring the free-spirited dynamics of an eccentric family, adapted from a novel written by one of its members, Christophe Boltanski, nephew of the renowned artist Christian Boltanski.

LORD MAYOR’S GALA: THE CHARLIE O’LEARY STORY - FROM JOHNNY CULLEN’S HILL TO THE OLYMPIC STADIUM ROME

20.30 - Light House 1 & 2 1 hr 37 min + Q&A

Director: Joe Lee Ireland

In 1945, inner city teenager Charlie O’Leary founded the Dublin football “Street Leagues” in East Wall which would spread across Dublin and beyond, leading to young participants becoming professionals at home and internationally, creating legends such as Touhy, Brady, Dunne and Giles. Through the leagues, Charlie became a referee, climbing through the ranks to become one of the first Irish referees to be FIFA affiliated. In 1986, Jack Charlton appointed Charlie as the Irish Football Kit-Man, making him part of the greatest era of Irish football. Today Charlie O’Leary is 101 years of age. This is his story, from Johnny Cullen’s Hill to the Olympic Stadium, Rome.

WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY

DON’T LET THE SUN

COUNTRY IN FOCUS

DRAMA

13.00 - Light House 2 1hr 38min

Director: Jacqueline Zünd

Writers: Jacqueline Zünd, Arne Kohlweyer

Cast: Levan Gelbakhiani, Maria Pia Pepe, Agnese Claisse, Karidja Touré

Switzerland, Italy

Set in an atmospheric not-too-distant future, Jacqueline Zünd’s feature debut, Don’t Let the Sun, is a delicate drama about alienation in times of climate change. The heat keeps rising, forcing people to live their lives at night, creating a curious kind of solitude. Jonah provides comfort for strangers in a time where it’s harder and harder to find community. But when he finds himself in the role of the father for nine-yearold Nika, his life starts to unravel.

DREAMS

DIFF SHORTS 1THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

SHORTS

15:00 – Light House 2 2 hr 15 min + Q&A

An exploration of youth through an Irish and global lens.

TYMEK

Director: Patryk Łukaszewski

Ireland

After relocating to rural Ireland, a defiant Polish teen finds himself at odds with everything around him – especially his father. Stuck in a place that feels nothing like home, their clashes simmer until the fallout becomes impossible to ignore.

ANATOMY OF AN IRISH DISCO

Director: Lucille Carolan

Ireland

This observational documentary follows the exciting times and quieter moments of 15-year-old Freya and her friends, Aoife and Kayla, as they prepare for one of the great coming-of-age rituals in Irish girlhood – their local farmyard teen disco.

AGÁTA

Director: Benedetta Fiore Czech Republic

Agáta, a 16-year-old outcast in her Czech village, harbours a secret wish during the annual spring festival. She crafts a crown and ties her wish to it with a ribbon, in the hope that it will bring her everything she desires.

WHAT YOU WILL

Director: Jonathan Heed

Ireland

On an ordinary day that slowly turns unforgettable, What You Will follows four young friends as they enjoy a day out. The group shares jokes and stories, but beneath the surface, something far more complicated is unfolding.

BUKRA

Director: Alex Aljouni

United States

When 11-year-old refugee Amal wins an official World Cup football, she sets out on a journey to the city to claim her prize, in the hope of achieving her dream of playing real football with her best friend, Fouad.

DRIVING LESSON

Director: Anastassya

Angelova

Bulgaria

In a Bulgarian village, Angel faces a dilemma: accept his grandfather’s offer to teach him to drive and conform to patriarchal norms, or refuse and risk embarrassment but stay true to himself and his close bond with his sister.

MOTI

Director: Yash Saraf

India

When a dog named Moti turns into a boy, his shocked and confused masters try to uncover what’s happened. Meanwhile, in the process of becoming human Moti loses something vital along the way: his doggy sense of smell.

NEWTOWN BOYS

Director: Niamh Bryson

Ireland

After being fostered from a Catholic-run orphanage, a young boy discovers the joy of being part of the Rafferty family during midterm break. Newtown Boys conveys the thrill of youthful adventure and the irrepressible undercurrent of a shameful history.

WONDERWALL

Director: Róisín Burns United Kingdom, France Liverpool, 1995. The dockers are on strike. But Siobhan and her big brother Rory have more important things on their minds – will their heroes Oasis beat Blur in tonight’s Battle of Britpop?

COMEDY

16.00 - Light House 1 1 hr 36 min

Director: György Pálfi

Writers: György Pálfi, Zsófia Ruttkay

Cast: Argyris Pantazaras, Eleni Apostolopoulou, Maria Diakopanagioti, Yiannis Kokiasmenos

Greece, Germany, Hungary

This utterly unique and thought-provoking drama follows a plucky hen (played by eight astonishingly talented hens) as she faces all the trials and tribulations of life. After escaping from a chicken farm, she finds refuge in the courtyard of a crumbling restaurant. There, she discovers love, confronts the pecking order, and fights to protect her eggs from a greedy owner. Her droll yet touching quest for motherhood mirrors the messy compromises and silent struggles of human lives.

BROKEN ENGLISH

DOCUMENTARY

18.00, Light House 1 1hr 39min + Q&A

Directors: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard

Writers: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard, Ian Martin

Cast: Marianne Faithfull, Courtney Love, Suki Waterhouse

United Kingdom

From Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, the BAFTA-nominated directors of the Sundance award-winning 20,000 Days on Earth, comes Broken English, a bold documentary portrait of the inimitable singer, songwriter, survivor, provocateur and icon: Marianne Faithfull. Featuring contributions from friends and collaborators including Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Courtney Love and Suki Waterhouse, Broken English is a genre defying act of resilience and rebellion. This is Marianne Faithfull’s final fearless declaration – her defiant swan song.

FOUR TRAILS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DOCUMENTARY

18.15 - Light House 2

1hr 41min + Q&A

Director: Robin Lee

Hong Kong

Robin Lee’s box office phenomenon Four Trails takes place over 72 hours, 298 kilometres, and more than 14,500 metres of elevation. A handful of ultra runners attempt Hong Kong’s most punishing feat: conquering all four of its legendary hiking trails in a single push. The rules are brutal – no trekking poles, no music and no sleep – only the raw test of body and will. With a success rate of barely 6%, every finisher becomes part of local legend.

MIDWINTER BREAK

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

WORLD PREMIERE

DRAMA

20.30 - Light House 1 1hr 35min + Q&A

Director: Polly Findlay

Writers: Nick Payne, Bernard MacLaverty Cast: Ciarán Hinds, Lesley Manville

United Kingdom

Credit: Mark de Blok/Focus Features © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

Based on the beloved novel by Northern Irish author Bernard MacLaverty, Midwinter Break brings us on a journey with an ageing empty nest couple who take a life-changing trip to Amsterdam that highlights a widening rupture and longheld secrets in their lifelong relationship. Led by Ciarán Hinds and Lesley Manville as the couple navigating through an unavoidable simmering friction, Polly Findlay’s tender adaptation is a poignant look at the reality of sharing a life with another person.

THE LAST ONE FOR THE ROAD

COMEDY

20.35 - Light House 2 1hr 40min

Director: Francesco Sossai

Writers: Adriano Candiago, Francesco Sossai

Cast: Filippo Scotti, Sergio Romano, Pierpaolo Capovilla

Italy, Germany

Francesco Sossai’s boozy road movie brings us on a journey with two broke fifty-somethings with a ‘never skip the last drink’ philosophy who meet a shy architecture student adrift in life. This chance encounter turns into a chaotic road trip through the Venetian plains – where bad advice, hangovers and unexpected friendship redraw their plans for life, as the mismatched trio explore male friendship, ageing and what it means to live a good life.

FOREVER IS NOW

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY

20.45 – IFI 1 1hr 38 min + Q&A

Director: Neasa Ní Chianáin

Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium

This insightful documentary follows Irish Green Party leader, and Minister, Eamon Ryan through his final 18 months in government as he drives climate justice for the Global South and Ireland’s most ambitious climate plan, facing public resistance, abuse and far-right pushback. Interwoven is his tender relationship with his autistic son, Tommy, reflecting his persistence, empathy and belief that lasting change – whether in politics or family – requires patience and hope.

FEBRUARY

LANDMARKS

12.30 -

Director: Lucrecia Martel Argentina, United Kingdom

Awarded Best Film at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival, Lucrecia Martel’s powerful documentary interrogates the 2009 killing of Javier Chocobar, a member of the indigenous Chuchagasta community in Argentina, as he tried to defend himself and his people from being forcibly evicted from their land by a local landowner and two former police officers. This brave and poignant film is a deeply human look at the ongoing struggles of indigenous people in the face of colonialism.

DIFF SHORTS 2 - HOW YOU SEE ME SHORTS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

14:30 - Light House 2 2 hr 15 min + Q&A

How You See Me explores how seeing yourself through another’s eyes can steady you, shatter you, or make you reclaim yourself.

PICK-ME-UP

Director: Guro Ekornholmen

Norway

At a school reunion, Annelise flirts with her classmate, but is interrupted when her elderly mother arrives to pick her up. She is forced to confront the fact that her mother will be gone soon, but she still has a life to live.

ON BELONGING

Director: Areeba Naveed Ireland

A struggling young Tamil immigrant and a lonely Irish widow clash over a stolen bicycle, only to discover a tender friendship in their shared loss and a quiet chance at human connection and belonging.

WHEN YIN MEETS YANG

Director: Young-Ju Yoo

The Netherlands

A South Korean woman questions whether love is enough to overcome the differences she shares with her Dutch partner. Moving between conflict and harmony, they clash over physical appearance, language, and culture, yet somehow find closeness within their differences.

LIKE OTHER PEOPLE

Director: Leo Dzhyshyashvili, Luisa Nöllke

Germany

When a condom breaks one night, Nina and Danil set out to find an open pharmacy. But as they discuss a possible pregnancy, another question emerges: is family something you choose, or something reserved for people whose lives are already sorted?

INTERNAL BLEEDING

Director: Zoe Nolan

Ireland

A disaffected woman feels trapped and alienated from herself until she meets a stranger who simply listens to her. The encounter helps her reconnect with herself and opens up the possibility that she is not as lost as she feels.

MATES

Director: Rory Pearson

Australia

When Blake “Prick” Daniels, a delivery rider, encounters his old mate Roy, an impromptu visit draws him inside Roy’s home. What follows is a tense, darkly funny study of male friendship, and the resentments and abandonments that shape it.

PARTING

Director: Olivia McLaughlin

Ireland

Katie’s departure day for Australia brings unspoken feelings to the surface. As they navigate their final morning together, Katie’s older sister Laura wrestles with guilt over missed connections and the weight of being left behind.

REE’S DESTINY

Director: Steven Mosley United States

Ree is a single mother pursuing her lifelong dream of being a rapper despite backlash from her teenage daughter, Destiny. Over the course of a long day, she must win her daughter over before she steps up to the mic.

NOSTALGIE

Director: Kathryn Ferguson United Kingdom

Drew Lord Haig, a faded ’80s pop star from England, is invited to perform at an event in Northern Ireland.

Hoping to recapture his glory days, he instead encounters a disturbing truth that changes everything.

Every year, RTÉ supports more than 160 arts events nationwide. Apply Now: www.rte.ie/supportingthearts

MAGELLAN

15.00 - Light House 1

2 hr 40 min

Director: Lav Diaz

Writer: Lav Diaz

Cast: Gael García Bernal, Ângela Azevedo, Amado Arjay Babon

Portugal, Spain, France, the Philippines, Taiwan

Acclaimed Filipino filmmaker, Lav Diaz, directs Gael García Bernal as the gifted Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, who rebels against the King of Portugal and instead persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold expedition. The voyage is exhausting, pushing his crew to their limits, and when he arrives in the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan becomes obsessed with conquest and conversion, sparking violent uprisings. This is not the myth of Magellan, but the truth of his journey.

WOLVES

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS COUNTRY IN FOCUS

17.45 - Light House 2

1hr 40min + Q&A

Director: Jonas Ulrich

Writer: Jonas Ulrich

Cast: Selma Kopp, Bartosz Bielenia

Switzerland DRAMA

Luana escapes her monotonous life when she joins black metal band WLVS on tour. Life on the road is raw: hard work, cheap hostels, endless rehearsals. But it’s empowering and addictive, and so is her growing bond with Wiktor, the band’s charismatic new frontman. But when controversial photos of Wiktor surface, accusations of extremism push the band to the brink of collapse, forcing her to confront her feelings: how much does she really know about him?

DRAMA

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DOCUMENTARY

18.00 - Light House 1 1 hr 17 min + Q&A

Director: Ian Thuillier

Ireland

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

Internationally acclaimed artist, Guggi, rose from the anarchic post-punk energy of Dublin’s late 1970s music scene, but abandoned performance to pursue a solitary artistic path. Filmed over multiple years with unprecedented access, the documentary follows Guggi through the quiet rituals of creation. Long-time friends Bono and Gavin Friday offer intimate recollections of their shared upbringing in a city shaped by religion, poverty, and creativity, while other artists contextualise his immense influence on contemporary Irish art. More than a biography, the film meditates on the necessity of art, exploring how a life shaped by trauma finds meaning through discipline, quietness, and creation.

CRAZY LOVE

DRAMA

20.00 - Light House 1 1hr 27 min + Q&A

Directors: Jason Byrne, Kevin Treacy

Writers: Kevin Treacy, Dylan Stagno

Cast: John Connors, Jade Jordan, Graham Earley

Ireland

After a failed suicide attempt, a troubled young man, Clayton (John Connors) finds himself in a psychiatric care facility where he befriends a young woman, Anna (Jade Jordan) with severe schizophrenia. As their relationship deepens, questions arise about the nature of their friendship, and they must fight to explore their deep connection. This impressive Irish debut feature from Jason Byrne and Kevin Treacy is a heartfelt love story about two lost souls in a world that doesn’t understand them.

WHITETAIL

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DRAMA

20.15 - Light House 2

1hr 43min + Q&A

Director: Nanouk Leopold

Writer: Nanouk Leopold

Cast: Natasha O’Keeffe, Andrew Bennett, Aaron McCusker

Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium

Jen is a forest ranger in a remote part of Ireland who has carried the guilt of a tragic accident since her teens – now, when a person from her past comes back into her life she is forced to confront the past and find a way forward into a new future. This slow burn thriller from Nanouk Leopold, shot on location in Ireland, is full of secrets and intrigue set amid the rich, rural Irish landscape.

REDRESS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DRAMA

20.45 - IFI 1

1hr 44min + Q&A

Director: Régis Wargnier

Writers: Régis Wargnier, Manon Feuvray, Thomas Bidegain

Cast: Julia de Nunez, Clovis Cornillac, Julien De Saint Jean France, Taiwan

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland, Academy Award-winning French filmmaker Régis Wargnier (Indochine) directs Redress. The film begins with the disappearance of renowned chef Paskal Jankovski and his sous-chef during a hunting trip just a few hours before his restaurant was to be awarded its third star. At twenty, his daughter Clara finds herself alone at the helm of the restaurant. Two years later, she receives a mysterious invitation to a Taiwan gastronomic conference, and everything begins to unravel.

FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY

FRESH FILM HOTHOUSE

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

SHORTS

10.50 - Light House 1 1hr 37min + Q&A

Fresh Film is an Irish organisation (now in its 30th year) dedicated to nurturing and promoting the next generation of filmmakers. By offering resources, mentorship and unique opportunities, Fresh Film empowers young creators to succeed and share their voices on a global stage.

The Hothouse Programme, in collaboration with Screen Ireland, RTÉ and the Arts Council, is tailored to support advanced and award-winning young filmmakers. Through mentorship and guidance, young filmmakers are invited to pitch for microgrants and participate in a structured programme that helps them bring their short films to life. This year, Fresh Film is proud to support eight talented young filmmakers as they take the next step on their creative journeys.

TAYLOR FAYE

Director: Cian Conachy

After a failed fairytale romance, Taylor Fay struggles to get over her ex-boyfriend and embarks on an introspective odyssey, reevaluating their relationship, her attempts to move on and her understanding of true love.

WATCHING THE WASHING MACHINE

Director: Ellen McSweeney

Both meditative and playful, Ellen McSweeney’s thoughtfully visualised short film sees a young woman traverse her memory and time itself through the entrancing lull of her washing machine.

A BLANKET MADE OF STONE

Director: Liam Raymond

At her grandmother’s house, Charlotte uncovers a hidden Grogoch (household spirit) working on the old farm. Who is he and where does he come from? Liam Raymond balances youthful imagination and dark fantasy in this uniquely realised short film.

ANOTHER PERFECT DAY

Director: Devlin Murphy

Prompted by a series of mysterious warning notes, a confused young woman struggles against her coercive companion to free herself from her selfinflicted purgatory. Another Perfect Day is a sometimessurreal character study from emerging filmmaker Devlin Murphy.

WHAT STILL GLOWS

Director: Myah Sullivan

Two estranged sisters return to sell their childhood home. Finding the lights still burning, they encounter buried memories and a path to reconciliation. Myah Sullivan’s magical-realist reflection on sisterhood and nostalgia is both moving and wonderful.

FOG TOOTH

Director: Hugo Fearon

Hugo Fearon’s funny and heartfelt fable uses a combination of film and animation to tell the story of an aloof librarian who is “cursed” with perpetual good luck.

TRANSIT

Director: Adam Flannelly

Back from a short trip abroad, Ciarán finds himself battling a growing discomfort – one that leads him down a path of torment, faded memories and an unsettling truth he is unable to remember.

TRANSLATION

Director: Emma Whelan

When a young Gaeilgeoir moves from the remote west to the bustling east, her desperate attempts to restore what she once had hinders what could potentially be. A story of displacement and budding friendship from Emma Whelan.

AUNTIE MAME

COMEDY

12.00 - Light House 2 2 hr 23 min

Director: Morton DaCosta

Writers: Betty Comden, Adolph Green

Cast: Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker

United States

Rosalind Russell shines in this Technicolor comedy with glorious 1920s costumes by the great Orry-Kelly. After his father’s death, Patrick goes to live with his free-spirited Aunt Mame (Russell) in 1928 Manhattan. Conflict ensues when the executor of his father’s estate objects to the aunt’s outlandish lifestyle, but Patrick and Auntie Mame forge a path together through whatever life throws at them, even at the height of the Great Depression.

Introduction from costume designer Ellen Mirojnick.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

13.10 - Light House 1 1hr 40min + Q&A

Director: Peter Lavery

Writers: Peter Lavery

Cast: Paul Ready, Tim Downie, Elliot Grihault

United Kingdom

Peter Lavery’s All That Glitters is a heartfelt coming-of-age comedy about Ryan, a teenager struggling to find his place at school and at home with his father, who happens to be his English teacher. When Ryan accidentally conjures the ghost of Shakespeare, he can finally step into the spotlight, win the girl of his dreams, and finally be seen. This playful, fish-out-ofwater adventure becomes a story of love, loss, and the desire to belong.

BEHIND THE CANDELABRA

15.30 - Light House 1

1hr 58min

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Writer: Richard LaGravenese

Cast: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Rob Lowe

United States

Scott Thorson, a young bisexual man, finds himself in a romantic entanglement with flamboyant entertainer, Liberace. Swaddled in wealth and excess, Scott is isolated from the outside world by his deeply closeted partner and submits to extreme makeovers and even plastic surgery. When Liberace finds a new lover, Scott seeks legal redress for what he feels he has lost. A funny but also deeply empathetic portrait of the vulnerability hidden behind excess is immaculately visualised and wildly entertaining.

Introduced by costume designer Ellen Mirojnick.

DIFF SHORTS 3 - ISN’T IT FANTASTIC?

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

SHORTS

15:30 - Light House 2

2 hr 15 min + Q&A

A dive into the world of fantastic genre films, celebrating the best of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and thriller.

CHIMERA

Director: Eamonn Hearns

United Kingdom

A bookish lab technician uses her access to a DNA database to find the perfect date, but the ‘chance’ meetcute twists what could be a classic romcom set-up into a dark tale of body horror.

OUR FATHER

Director: Stuart Hill

Ireland

This stylish animated short follows a scruffy preacher who hatches a plan to lure souls away from a late night porno shop and preach the Lord’s word through seductive dance – that is, until the Priest Police shut down his unholy revival.

MOLLY AND THE ROBOT

Director: Táine King

Ireland

In a post-apocalyptic Ireland, Molly is struggling to survive on the last piece of unspoiled land in the country. Told without dialogue, this poetic sci-fi fable blends Irish mythology and reggae rhythms into a story about heritage, survival, and connection.

GROWING PAINS

Director: Conor Toner, Ellie Wildman

Ireland, United Kingdom

Bernie, a grumpy widower, finds unexpected companionship when he orders a bizarre “Grow Your Own Girlfriend” kit from a mysterious infomercial in this darkly whimsical exploration of the absurd beauty of finding friendship in a lonely world.

URINAL SITUATION

Director: David McCall

Ireland

A young man, after a few too many drinks, finds himself in a situation at the urinal of the local pub when a mysterious stranger takes a little too much interest in his toilet habits.

TUNA TARTARE

Director: Lena Greene

United States

In a karaoke bar in postapocalyptic Los Angeles, an expired tin of tuna and a fake Louis Vuitton purse encourage each other to believe in their artistic voices even if the world sees them as rubbish.

RENDEZVOUS

Director: Lydia Stone

Ireland

Dave wants nothing more than a peaceful night’s rest. Unfortunately, the rats in his walls are out for booze, tunes, and violence. If his day was bad, his night is about to be worse!

THE GNAWER OF ROCKS

Director: Louise Flaherty

Canada

Two young women are captured when they accidentally stumble upon the lair of the legendary Mangittatuarjuk, Gnawer of Rocks. As they assess their situation, they realise they must look to the past to outsmart the monster and save themselves.

WHISPER OF THE TRANQUIL WATER

Director: Jun Chong

Singapore

Xiao Qing is a young masseuse stuck in a bad situation with the mama-san of the massage parlour she works in. When a mysterious caller provides a source of comfort and validation, events soon spiral, resulting in chilling consequences.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Director: Aleksander Pakulski

Poland

Bogdan helps his wife to organise a birthday party for their deceased son, hoping that it will allow her to come to terms with the loss. Soon, his own unprocessed grief begins to rise to the surface.

PRAYING MANTIS

Director: Joe Hsieh

Taiwan

A mutant praying mantis must seduce and prey on men in a desperate attempt to save her child. As the story unfolds and she fails in her mission, dark secrets and revelations from her past begin to emerge.

500 MILES

18.00 - Light House 1 1hr 38 min + Q&A

Director: Morgan Matthews

Writer: Malcolm Campbell

Cast: Bill Nighy, Roman Griffin Davis, Dexter Sol Ansell, Clare Dunne, Michael Socha, Maisie Williams

Ireland, United Kingdom

This spirited, life-affirming road movie follows two intrepid young brothers (Dexter Sol Ansell, Roman Griffin Davis) who embark on a daring voyage when they run away from home in England to reach their estranged grandfather (Bill Nighy) on Ireland’s west coast. Directed by Morgan Matthews (X+Y) from a screenplay by Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did, Herself) and shot on the rugged landscape of Ireland, 500 Miles is an unforgettable journey featuring an incredible cast.

CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN’

18.45 - Light House 2 1 hr 41 min

Director: James McAvoy

Writers: Elaine Gracie, Archie Thomson

Cast: Séamus McLean

Ross, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Halliday, Rebekah Murrell

United Kingdom

Based on an outrageous true story, Scottish actor James McAvoy’s directorial debut, California Schemin’, is a wild ride through ambition, identity and musical make-believe. In the early 2000s, Dundee rappers Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, dismissed for sounding “too Scottish”, hatch an audacious plan: fake American identities, re-record their tracks with Californian accents, and hustle into the music industry. To their shock, the plan works. But can you live the dream when it’s built on a lie?

RENAULT GALA: COUTURE

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DRAMA

20.30 - Light House 1 1hr 46min + Q&A

France, United States

Director: Alice Winocour

Writer: Alice Winocour

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Louis Garrel

Writer-director Alice Winocour steps into the world of high fashion with Couture. American filmmaker Maxine (Angelina Jolie) arrives in Paris to create a promotional film for a Paris fashion house while trying to come to terms with a lifechanging diagnosis and facing both personal and professional challenges. A peek behind the curtain of Paris Fashion Week and a personal story of self-discovery driven by a powerful lead performance from Angelina Jolie.

Rooted in French culture, DIFF’s Official Car Partner - Renaultchampions contemporary aesthetics and the power of visual storytelling. Couture is the perfect cinematic expression of the brand.

RENAULT 4 E-TECH ELECTRIC

THE MYSTERIOUS GAZE OF THE FLAMINGO

20.45 - Light House 2 1hr 44min

Director: Diego Céspedes

Writer: Diego Céspedes

Cast: Tamara Cortes, Matías Catalán, Paula Dinamarca

Chile, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium

BOOK ONLINE

In the early 1980s, eleven-year-old Lidia belongs to a loving queer family on the edge of an unwelcoming dusty Chilean mining town. When they are blamed for a mysterious illness that’s starting to spread – said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another – Lidia is determined to learn the truth. This stunning debut from Diego Céspedes won the Un Certain Regard prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET

This gripping and inspiring documentary sees Glasgow residents abandon their daily routines to gather on Kenmure Street, in the centre of the city, after learning authorities plan to deport their neighbours, sparking an impromptu grassroots movement that led to a historic change that shaped their community forever. Everybody to Kenmure Street is an intense, ground-level and ultimately joyous account of a community’s stand-off with the police and the UK Home Office. 10.30 - Light House 1

Director: Felipe Bustos

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: WILD NIGHTS, TAMED BEASTS

11.30 - Light House 2 2hr

Director: Wang Tong

Writers: Yifan Shi, Wang Tong, Yao Rui

Cast: Wan Qian, Rao Xiaozhi

China

Wang Tong’s impressive debut feature, Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts centres on Ye Xiaolin, a carer whose elderly patients have a tendency to die shortly after coming into her care. When she meets a lonely zookeeper, their lives intertwine and Ye Xiaolin’s true intentions become clear. This romantic thriller explores respect and dignity in elder care, familial bonds, and behind the neon-tinged neo-noir style is a clear social commentary on a society lost in capitalistic desires.

DRAMA

AVOLON WORLD CINEMA NOMINEE

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

AN IRISH ATLANTIC RAINFOREST

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY

12.30 - Light House 1

1hr 31min + Q&A

Director: Gary Lennon

Ireland

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: THE GARDEN OF EDEN

BE KIND REWIND

LIVE MUSIC

14.00 - Light House 2 1hr 20min

Director: Lewis

Milestone

Writer: Hans Kräly

Cast: Corinne Griffith, Louise Dresser

United States

In 2009, Dublin sculptor Eoghan Daltun abandoned city life for a derelict 73-acre farm on the Beara Peninsula. The land is ecologically damaged: overgrazed and choking with invasive species. His radical solution? To step back and let nature heal itself. This immersive environmental documentary chronicles ecological resurrection as native woodlands surge from barren ground, rare species return and biodiversity explodes. The film poses urgent questions about humanity’s place in nature in an age of climate crisis and biodiversity loss.

Lewis Milestone’s innovative 1928 classic, The Garden of Eden, stars Corinne Griffith as Toni, an aspiring opera singer who travels to Budapest to pursue her dreams, but the shady Madame Bauer and her dodgy establishment, Palais de Paris, are far from what Toni envisioned. Luckily, wardrobe mistress Rosa comes to her rescue, and the two friends journey to Monte Carlo together where love and hijinks await them both. This rare screening of the recently restored classic comedy will be presented with a live accompaniment by world-renowned film accompanist, Stephen Horne and acclaimed percussionist Frank Bockius.

The film also screens in Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda on Sat 28 February at 20.00, accompanied by Michael Holohan. Tickets available on Diff.ie and also from the venue.

GORKY RESORT

14.45 - Light House 1 1hr 54min + Q&A

Director: Lukasz Palkowski

Writers: Dzamila

Ankiewicz, Agatha Dominik

Cast: Aidan Gillen, Jakub Gierszal, Julia Pietrucha

Poland, Ireland

Lukasz Palkowski’s thrilling new film, Gorky Resort, follows a young Polish pianist, Karol, who is captured by Stalin along with other university professors, priests, doctors, poets and musicians with plans to ideologically ‘convert’ these influential citizens to Communism, to create the nucleus of a new Russian intelligentsia. Karol must resist brainwashing in order to fight for his freedom and for the soul of his country. This Irish-Polish co-production features powerhouse performances from Aidan Gillen and Jakub Gierszal.

REBUILDING

16.00 - Light House 2 1hr 35min

Director: Max WalkerSilverman

Writer: Max WalkerSilverman

Cast: Josh O’Connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy

United States

Dusty (Josh O’Connor), a reserved, divorced father in Colorado whose ranch burned down in a wildfire, is living in a trailer community on a government-run campsite. He finds solace with his new neighbours who’ve also lost everything, quietly reassembles his life, and starts reconnecting with his ex-wife Ruby (Meghann Fahy) and young daughter Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre). A moving portrait of resilience and human connection in the wake of loss.

DRAMA

DRAMA

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

HEINEKEN GALA: A FILM BY GAR O’ROURKE

17:30 – Light House 1 40

Ireland

Director: Gar O’Rourke Cast: Noel O’Dea, Bosco Ryan, John O’Dea, Dr. Eddie O’Dea, Tommy O’Dea, Sean Hefferan, Paddy Fleming, Niall O’Dowd

A celebration of community and connection. This special event invites audiences, filmmakers and guests to gather for an evening that places collective experience at its heart, setting the tone for a night that is as much about the shared moment as the film itself.

This deeply human film, commissioned by Heineken, is about loss, resilience, and the strange things people do when something they love is under threat. Brought to life with director Gar O’Rourke’s trademark wit, this is the story of a small village facing an unsettling question: what happens when the last place to gather disappears?

ONE LAST DEAL

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

18.00 - Light House 2 1 hr 29 min + Q&A

Director: Brendan Muldowney

Writer: Peter Howlett

Cast: Danny Dyer, Elliott Rogers

The latest from eclectic Irish filmmaker Brendan Muldowney, One Last Deal follows Jimmy Banks (Danny Dyer) – an old school football agent who desperately needs to get his star footballer one last big payday before Jimmy’s life, and his player’s reputation, comes tumbling down. A fast-paced, pressure-cooker thriller, the film plunges into the seedy and exhilarating world of football agents who live for the big deals and will torch anything that gets in their way.

THE RESTORATION AT GRAYSON MANOR

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

18.30, Light House 1 1 hr 30 min + Q&A

Director: Glenn McQuaid

Writers: Glenn McQuaid, Clay McLeod Chapman

Cast: Alice Krige, Chris Colfer, Daniel Adegboyega, Declan Reynolds, Gabriela Garcia Vargas Ireland

Filmed in Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois, Irish writer-director Glenn McQuaid’s The Restoration of Grayson Manor follows Boyd Grayson (Chris Colfer), who delights in bringing men to his sprawling family estate for sex, taunting his legacy-obsessed mother (Alice Krige) that she’ll never have grandchildren. When a freak accident leaves him handless and helpless, Jacqueline decides to mould him into the heir she always wanted, using experimental prosthetics wired directly to his subconscious.

IRISH MUSIC VIDEOS

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

SHORTS

1 hr 14 min + Q&A

19.00 - Haymarket House

Euro-Country by CMAT, directed by Eilís Doherty

Descartes by Sprints, directed by Niamh Bryson

Fin. by Tebi Rex, directed by Aiesha Wong

Sense the Beer Bought by jarjarjr, directed By David Willis

Can’t Feel It by Chalk, directed by Colin Peppard & Benedict Goddard

Is That All There Is? by Mary Coughlan, directed by Josh O’Caoimh

Moved On by KhakiKid, directed by Iarla McKeon

Party Killer by Morgana, directed by Claire O’Reilly

Tell Me I’m Good by Curtisy, directed by Ashish Prasai

XII. November from Land of Winter by Donnacha Dennehy, performed by Alarm Will Sound, directed by Hugh O’Conor

It’s time to let the world see how Ireland sounds! This year, we’ve curated an entire programme of Irish music videos, with work from Ireland’s freshest filmmaking talent, celebrating the next generation of collaborative creators emerging on the Irish music and film scenes.

Swimming Pool by HousePlants, directed by Meghan O’Shaughnessy

See and Sleep by Barnburner, directed By Pippa Molony

Reverie by Amble, directed by Donnagh Fitzpatrick

Simple Love by Daughter Of A Drum, directed by Wolf James

You Say That I’m Crazy by EFÉ, directed by EFÉ & Adam Kelleher

Bronco Loko. by Ahmed, With Love. ft Curtisy & Kylté, directed by Ahmed Karim Tamu & Killian Taylor

Against All Certainty by Michael D. Higgins ft. Myles O’Reilly, directed by Ellius Grace

The Rollover by BIIRD, directed by Olivia McLaughlin

DON BLUTH: SOMEWHERE OUT THERE

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS

DOCUMENTARY

20.10 - Light House 2 1 hr 29 min + Q&A

Directors: Chad Walker, Dave LaMattina

United States

This compelling documentary explores filmmaker Don Bluth, the visionary behind the films An American Tail, The Land Before Time, The Secret of NIMH, Anastasia, and videogame Dragon’s Lair, who helped revolutionised the Irish animation industry by basing his studio in Dublin. Weaving intimate conversations amidst hundreds of hours of archive and home video, Don Bluth: Somewhere Out There draws a compelling portrait of an artist forced to contend with his own ego as he tries to strike a balance between commercial success and artistic integrity.

THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH

Q&A WITH FILMMAKERS WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY

20.40 - Light House 1 1 hr 42 min + Q&A

Director: Rachel Fleit

Ireland, United Kingdom, United States

As she turns forty - an age doctors once said she would never reach - Emma Fogarty, who lives with the rare and extremely painful condition Epidermolysis Bullosa, takes up an offer from longtime friend Colin Farrell; they agree to run the Dublin Marathon together, with Colin pushing Emma’s wheelchair for the final four kilometres. The Slightest Touch follows their lives and the enduring friendship that has sustained them through the years.

SUNDAY 1 MARCH

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: THE LAST VIKING

10.40 - Light House 1

Director: Anders Thomas

Jensen

Writer: Anders Thomas

Jensen

Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Nicolas Bro

Frequent collaborators Mads Mikkelsen and writer/director Anders Thomas Jensen return to the festival with The Last Viking, another darkly funny, chaotic story of outsiders, weirdos and hapless criminals. When Anker, a notorious bank robber, is released from jail, he must reconnect with his traumatised brother, Manfred (Mikkelsen) - whose belief that he is John Lennon is only one of his many quirks - and recover his memory to find his stolen loot. This crime caper is hilarious, frenetic and warmly empathetic.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: KOKUHO

Director: Sang-il Lee

Writers: Satoko Okudera, Shûichi Yoshida Cast: Ryô Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Ken Watanabe

Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, fourteen-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s son, Kikuo decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. Across decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – from acting school to the grandest stages – amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals, as each pushes to become the greatest living Kabuki master.

12.00 - Light House 2 2hr 54min Japan

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS40TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING

13.00 - Light House 1 1hr 24min

Director: Jimmy T. Murakami

Writers: Raymond Briggs (Script and Based on the 1982 graphic novel)

Cast: Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills

United Kingdom

As DIFF’s inaugural Education Partner, the National Film School at IADT celebrates the 40th Anniversary screening of anti-war classic When the Wind Blows, in honour of its director Jimmy T. Murakami, a foundational figure in the evolution of animation in Ireland.

Jim and Hilda Bloggs’ peaceful retirement in the English countryside is destroyed after a nuclear strike turns their home and its surroundings into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Cut off from the world, they soon discover that the government-issued pamphlets on which they rely offer little protection from the bomb’s deadly effects. Premiering in 1986, this bleak yet tenderly comedic work remains one of that decade’s most powerful representations of the futility of nuclear war. Based on Briggs’ 1982 graphic novel and featuring music by David Bowie and Roger Waters, the film showcases Murakami’s innovative style, which combines cel animation, newsreel footage, and model backgrounds.

As part of a series of events organised by IADT celebrating Murakami’s work throughout 2026 there will be a panel discussion in Haymarket House following this screening. Please see our Events Programme for further details and tickets.

SILENT COMEDY SHORTS

SHORTS

NEVER WEAKEN

When Harold Lloyd believes the woman he loves has fallen for someone else, he attempts suicide, which fails in a most spectacular manner, time and time again.

COPS

Cops sees our hapless hero, Buster Keaton, pursued by hundreds of police officers after an unfortunate mistake.

15.00 - Light House 1 1 hr 5 min

This lively programme of classic silent comedies for all the family will be accompanied by a live score from acclaimed composer Stephen Horne.

TWO TARS

Laurel and Hardy star as two sailors on shore leave who buy a car to take out the girls they’ve met and cause a massive traffic jam, amongst other missteps and mayhem.

DUBLIN ON SCREEN

SHORTS

THE WOMEN FLOWER SELLERS OF GRAFTON STREET

Director: Patricia McCann

Ireland

The Women Flower Sellers of Grafton Street is a short documentary filmed in Dublin, interviewing two Grafton Street flower sellers, Sabrina and Tina, describing how they were viewed and treated over the decades, both as street traders and as women.

LA GRAZIA

17.15 - Light House 2 2hr 13min

Director: Paolo

Sorrentino

Writer: Paolo Sorrentino

Cast: Toni Servillo, Anna Ferzetti

Italy

15.15 - Light House 2 1hr 10 min + Q&A

ROBIN IN THE HOOD

Director: Kristin Vollset

Ireland, Norway

In this musical retelling of the old story of Robin Hood, Robin is a Dublin horse owner and Marian a travelling busker. Both feel trapped by an unfair system, but with the help of Dublin’s urban horse tribe, they try to break free.

From Academy and BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, La Grazia is a sweeping exploration of love, duty and personal freedom. Mariano De Santis (Toni Servillo), the outgoing President of Italy, faces wrenching decisions – both political and deeply personal. Amid these moral quandaries, he must confront his own conscience and seek guidance from those closest to him, including his daughter, Dorotea (Anna Ferzetti). Together, they confront the timeless question: who owns our days?

SURPRISE FILM GALA

17:30 – Light House 1

Since its inception in 1985, the Dublin International Film Festival has delighted audiences with its bold programming and unforgettable cinematic moments. Among its most beloved traditions is the Surprise Film, a thrilling event born from a creative twist on a logistical hiccup. Festival founder Michael Dwyer, faced with a lastminute gap in the inaugural lineup, turned the challenge into an enduring highlight—one that has captivated audiences each year.

Now a hallmark of the festival, the Surprise Film offers an unrivalled experience of anticipation and excitement. No one—not even the projectionist—knows the title until the opening frames reveal its identity. Each year, the audiences buzzes with speculation, and every viewer becomes part of a shared moment of discovery.

Take your seat and prepare for the unknown — the Surprise Film awaits.

CLOSING GALA: POWER BALLAD

COMEDY

19.45 - Bord Gáis

Energy Theatre

1hr 39 min

United States, Ireland

Director: John Carney

Writers: John Carney, Peter McDonald

Cast: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Havana Rose Liu, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunket, Jack Reynor

DIFF 2026 closes in true Hollywood style with a landmark World Premiere from acclaimed Director John Carney (Sing Street, Once). For the first time, DIFF presents its Closing Night Gala from Dublin’s iconic Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. With the film’s stars Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas in attendance, this is a truly epic ending to Ireland’s premier film festival.

Filmed in Ireland and featuring an exciting cast of Irish and international talent, DIFF hosts the World Premiere of the latest musical-comedy from John Carney. When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boyband star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves - even if it means risking everything he cares about. Power Ballad is a rousing, feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition.

The filmmakers will be in attendance.

AWARDS

DIFF 2026 AWARDS

Each year, the Festival Awards champion excellence in filmmaking across the programme, including shorts, features, documentaries and new work from emerging artists and creatives. Previous winners include Colm Bairéad (An Cailín Ciúin), Luke McManus (North Circular), Cara Holmes (Welcome to a Bright White Limbo) and TJ O’Grady-Peyton (Room Taken).

Date: Saturday 1 March

Date: Sat Feb 28

Time: 12:00 – 13:30

Time: 12.00 - 14.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Venue: The Complex AWARDS

The DIFF Awards offer recognition for every type of film and every kind of filmmaker, at any stage of their career. They include:

• Discovery Awards

• Short Film Awards

• Documentary Award

• ICCL Human Rights Film Award

• Avolon World Cinema Award

Our Awards Ceremony is open to the public, so you too can be part of this prestigious annual event.

As part of the celebration, some of Ireland’s most exciting emerging filmmakers will engage in a live discussion about their work. Sign up to our mailing list at www.diff.ie to get programme announcements as they happen.

Limited tickets available. This year’s awards are kindly provided by Waterford Crystal.

VOLTA AWARD

AWARDS

The Festival’s most prestigious accolade is the Volta. Named after Ireland’s first dedicated cinema, the Volta Picture Theatre, founded by James Joyce, this prestigious accolade celebrates those whose work has captivated audiences and left a lasting legacy in the global film industry.

Previous recipients

• Adam McKay

• Al Pacino

• Andrew Stanton

• Angela Lansbury

• Brendan Gleeson

• Brendan Mc Caul

• Charlie Kaufman

• Ciaran Hinds

• Claudia Cardinale

• Consolata Boyle

• Costa-Gavras

• Daniel Day-Lewis

• Danny DeVito

• Ed Harris

• Emily Watson

• Ennio Morricone

• Francois Ozon

• Gabriel Byrne

• George Morrison

• Jeremy Thomas

• Jessica Lange

• Joss Whedon

• Julie Andrews

• Kenneth Branagh

• Kevin Brownlow

• Kristin Scott Thomas

• Laurent Cantet

• Leo Ward

• Marin Karmitz

• Martin Sheen

• Michael Dwyer

• Paolo Sorrentino

• Patricia Clarkson

• Paul Schrader

• Peter Morgan

• Ralph Fiennes

• Richard Dreyfuss

• Stanley Tucci

• Stellan Skarsgard

• Steve McQueen

• Terry Gilliam

• Thierry Fremaux

• Tim Roth

• Trine Dyrholm

We will be announcing this year’s recipient before the festival. Sign up to our mailing list at www.diff.ie to hear news, updates, and announcements as they happen.

DISCOVERY AWARDS

AWARDS

In Association with Screen Ireland

The Irish Film Industry has never been busier; productions, both large and small, are reaching wider audiences and there is an abundance of talent working in the sector today. The Discovery Awards aim to identify, champion, support and encourage new and emerging talent from both in front of, and behind, the camera.

Nominees

Jury

Grace Odumosu Minding

Olivia McLaughlin Parting

Ailbhe Keogan Screenwriter

Shannon Welby Minding

Joseph Ingersol Punt

Ellius Grace A Song

Táine King Molly & The Robot

Anna Carney Power Ballad

Ruby Jean Lennon Samanta Nobody

Niamh Bryson Newtown Boys

Peter Lavery All That Glitters

Juanita Wilson Filmmaker

Malcolm Campbell Screenwriter

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

AWARDS

Jury

Dray Morgan District Magazine

The DIFF Documentary Competition recognises excellence in the field of documentary making.

The following films will compete in this year’s Documentary Competition:

• An Irish Atlantic Rainforest

• Broken English

• Displace: The Battle for Dublin

• Don Bluth: Somewhere Out There

• The Charlie O’Leary Story - From Johnny Cullen’s Hill to The Olympic Stadium Rome

• Every Moon is Atrocious

• Everybody to Kenmure Street

• Forever is Now

• Gays Against Guns

• Guggi

• Have You Never Heard of Bill Fuller?

• Landmarks

• Lomu

• The Slightest Touch

• Kim Novak’s Vertigo

• Roberto Rossellini: Living Without a Script

Brian Walsh

Acquisitions/Executive Producer/Consultant

Teresa McGrane Wild Atlantic Pictures

ICCL HUMAN RIGHTS FILM AWARD

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) established the Human Rights Film Award in 2008 to recognise the role of film in raising awareness of human rights issues around the world. In 2019, the ICCL Human Rights Film Award was relaunched as an integral part of the DIFF programme.

AWARDS

EVENT

Jury

Farah Abushwesha

Farah is a BAFTA and European Film Academy nominated producer and Amazon bestselling author. She was a producer of Testimony, which won the 2025 ICCL Human Rights in Film Award at DIFF.

Liath Hannon

Liath is an Irish actress and writer based in Dublin. She made her debut feature lead in 2025’s award-winning film, Girls & Boys

The award celebrates films that enable audiences to explore human rights stories of all kinds and honours filmmakers whose work argues passionately for a better world. This recognition extends to work that courageously tackles a spectrum of human rights issues, showcasing the power of cinema as a medium to foster understanding, empathy and dialogue.

The films nominated for the 2026 ICCL Human Rights Film Award are:

• Landmarks

• Everybody to Kenmure Street

• Displace: The Battle for Dublin

• Gays Against Guns

• Maspalomas

• Samanta Nobody

Aoife Barry

Aoife is a freelance arts journalist, the author of the bestselling non-fiction book Social Capital and copresenter of the Get Around To It podcast.

John Mee

John works with Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre and has collaborated on cultural projects and films showcased at festivals including GAZE International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Queer Spectrum, Docs Ireland, and Prisma Queer Film Festival.

Sharon Dillon-Lyons

Sharon is a practising barrister and sits on the board of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

AVOLON WORLD CINEMA AWARD

AWARDS

Jury

The Avolon World Cinema Award returns for a second year in 2026, honouring compelling cinema from around the globe, made by first, second or third time directors. The inaugural 2025 prize was awarded to Santosh, the feature debut from director Sandhya Suri, which first premiered at Cannes in 2023 and went on to resonate with audiences and critics alike.

The Shortlisted Films are:

• The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo – Chile, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium

• Ish – United Kingdom

• Sound of Falling - Germany

• Funeral Casino Blues - Germany

• One Woman One Bra – Kenya, Nigeria

• Love Roulette – Switzerland, Austria

• Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts - China

• Birthright – Australia

• California Schemin’ - Scotland

Rebecca Miller Actor

Michael Doherty Movie Editor, RTE Guide

Ciara Ruane Chief People Officer, Avolon

Wendy Mitchell Journalist

Aidan Gillen Actor

AUDIENCE AWARDS

AWARDS

SHORTS AWARDS

AWARDS

Our passionate audiences play a key role in celebrating the films that move, inspire and entertain. We now use a digital voting system that makes it easier than ever to cast your vote. As part of our annual tradition, you’ll have the opportunity to vote for your favourite feature and short films of the festival.

Keep an eye out for the QR codes displayed before and after screenings, which will take you directly to a digital voting card. It’s a simple, seamless way to share your thoughts and help decide which titles will be honoured with the coveted Audience Award.

Last year’s winners were:

2025 Short: Naked Lights

2025 Feature: A Want in Her

Award Categories

Sue Bruce- Smith Best Irish Short Film

Best International Short Film

Best Animated Short Film

Jury

Jane Doolan Producer

Maureen O’ Connell Producer & Screenwriter

Derek Ugochukwu Filmmaker

PUBLIC EVENTS

DIFF’s world-class programme goes beyond the films! Our public and events programme is another chance to explore and engage with the world of cinema in all its forms.

These events have something for every level of interest, whether you’re a film enthusiast, a budding creator or someone looking for a unique cultural experience. From In Conversations with Oscar winners and panel discussions with industry experts to special screenings and exclusive gatherings, there’s no shortage of exciting opportunities to dive deeper into the world of cinema.

Become part of the festival’s vibrant community and join us for these unforgettable experiences!

DIFF FILM CLUB PRESENTED BY THE IRISH TIMES

Our Film Club partner, The Irish Times, is no stranger to big conversations. The news media publisher has always championed arts, culture, and creative life in Ireland, shaping national discourse and critical debate.

That relationship runs deep. Former Irish Times film critic and journalist Michael Dwyer was a co-founder of the festival, alongside film producer David McLoughlin, helping establish what would become one of Ireland’s most significant cultural events.

Since then, DIFF has welcomed thousands of filmmakers to Dublin, fostering dialogue between artists, audiences, and industry. The DIFF Film Club presented by The Irish Times continues this tradition by bringing audiences closer to some of the most talked-about guests of the festival.

This year’s filmmakers include Emmy Award-winning costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick. EVENT

THE IRISH TIMES PRESENTS THE DIFF FILM CLUB WITH ELLEN MIROJNICK

Date: Sat 28 Feb

Time: 14.30 - 15.30

Venue: Haymarket House

Ellen Mirojnick is an Oscar-nominated American costume designer responsible for some of the most eye-catching and ostentatiously dressed characters ever to grace the screen.

As costume designer for Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, Basic Instinct, A Perfect Murder, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and Behind the Candelabra she has created some of actor Michael Douglas’ most iconic looks. Her memorable work with director Paul Verhoeven on Basic Instinct, Showgirls, Starship Troopers and Hollow Man has had a lasting impact on pop culture.

She won an Emmy and a Costume Designers Guild Award in 2013 for her work on the Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra and received further acclaim for her work on The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman and more recently Christopher Nolan’s Oscar winning epic biographical thriller film Oppenheimer for which Mirojnick received a BAFTA for Best Costume Design.

IRISH SCREENWRITERS PANEL

Discover the art of modern Irish screenwriting from a selection of the talented writers whose stories are gracing our screens this year. Explore inspiration, idea development and the journey from multiple drafts to the final script. This unmissable panel is perfect for aspiring screenwriters, film enthusiasts or those passionate about storytelling. The panel will be recorded and distributed through the international Irish Embassies network.

Panelists to be Announced

Available to watch free on www.diff.ie from Mon 23 Feb. With thanks to IADT. PANEL

NCAD POSTER EXHIBITION: ALTERNATE TAKE

EXHIBITION

Date: Thu 19 Feb –Sun 2 March

Date: Thurs 19 Feb –Sun 1 Mar

Venue: Light House Cinema

Venue: Light House Cinema

This exhibition celebrates DIFF’s 2026 programme with inventive and dynamic film posters created by second year illustration students from the National College of Art and Design. Highlighting both national and international titles, this unique collaboration brings an exciting mix of styles and approaches to the art of the film poster, serving a fresh and compelling snapshot of the festival line-up.

Poster by Hanna Tobin

SILENT CINEMA: OUT OF THE PAST

Date: Fri 27 Feb

Time: 13.00 - 14.00

Venue: Haymarket House

DIFF is thrilled to be presenting this discussion on silent cinema with musicians Stephen Horne and Frank Bockius as part of our expanded programme on silent cinema.

Stephen Horne has long been internationally considered one of the leading silent film accompanists. Although principally a pianist, he often incorporates other instruments into his performances, sometimes simultaneously. Stephen has been a house pianist at London’s BFI Southbank for thirty-five years.

Versatile percussionist Frank Bockius specialises in jazz and is versed in medieval, flamenco and Latin music styles. He has performed for dance and theatre companies as well as in his own bands, including the jazz quintet Whisper Hot and the percussion ensemble Timpanicks. He joined Guenter Buchwald’s Silent Movie Music Company twenty years ago and has since performed for silent films at festivals in Kyoto, Pordenone, and Sodankylä, Finland.

Don’t miss this exhilarating panel or the beautiful silent films with live accompaniment as part of DIFF 2026:

The Garden of Eden

Sat 28 February, 14.00Light House 2

Sat 28 February, 20.00Droichead Arts Centre, accompanied by Michael Holohan.

Inhuman Woman

Sat February 21, 20.00Droichead Arts Centre Sun February 22, 13.00Light House 2

Sun March 1, 15.00Light House 1

The

Silent Shorts

SUSTAINABILITY: GREEN FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN

PANEL

Workshop

Date: Mon 20 Feb

Time: 9.30 - 11.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Panel Discussion

Date: Thurs 26 Feb

Time: 14.00 - 16.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Green from Script to Screen, an initiative founded by Elaine Walsh and Daragh Goan, presents two events as part of DIFF’s commitment to showcasing sustainable practice in filmmaking all the way through from concept to the closing credits.

The first – a dynamic world-building workshop aimed at writers in development – will be led by Elaine and Daragh on how to integrate climate conscious storytelling into your project, giving characters agency, and creating art that not only engages, but challenges perspectives and offers alternatives. This will also demonstrate how integrating sustainability principles at script development stage leads to greener filmmaking, using case studies from high end TV Drama and feature films made in Ireland. As this is a dynamic workshop, attendees are invited to apply learnings to their own Film/TV projects and to bring notebooks/ laptops along.

The panel discussion is designed to explore the practice of integrating eco-consciousness into screenwriting and storytelling from the beginning of the filmmaking journey, continuing this ethos all the way through production.

Hear from climate storytelling leaders like Climate Spring founder and producer Lucy Stone, writer/director/actor Elham Ehsas, Professor Quentin Crowley and novelist Caoillinn Hughes who will be speaking about what the future of the planet and the green turn within the industry might hold.

This event will also include a screening of Elham Ehsas’ short film, There Will Come Soft Rains.

YOUR HOME ON THE BIG SCREEN: A CASE STUDY

PANEL

Date: Fri 20 Feb

Time: 12.00 - 13.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see a Hollywood star in your home? Can your bricks and mortar bring in the big bucks when the production crews roll into town? Now’s the time to find out. Our panel of experts will tell you what productions are looking for and what it’s really like in practice. Panellists will include location managers, filmmakers and a homeowner who can tell you what it’s really like to see your home on the big screen.

MEET THE CAST: ONCE UPON A TIME IN A CINEMA

PANEL

Date: Thurs 19 Feb

Time: 18.15 & 21.00

Venue: Light House 1 & 2

This panel takes a sneak peek behind the scenes of the casting process! We will be joined by several cast members including Colin Morgan and Calam Lynch as well as their casting director Áine O’Sullivan.

The cast will tell us about their experiences of breaking onto the acting scene for the first time and shine some light on the realities of being an actor on set.

Be sure to catch Once Upon A Time In A Cinema in Light House before you come and meet the stars. Thurs 19 Feb, 21.30 - Light House 1.

MASTERPIECES IN A MINUTE: FILM CRAFT IN THE WORLD OF ADVERTISING

This event will explore why advertising should not be a dirty word and should instead be celebrated as a playground for film craft and creativity. After watching a curated programme of advertising films, there will be discussion around the craft and process of filmmaking in advertising and an exciting post-presentation panel with industry experts.

This 90-minute event is presented and curated by the team behind Banjoman, one of Ireland’s leading commercial production companies. Dermot Malone and Matt D’Arcy are also the team behind the IFTA-nominated King Frankie and last year launched BMAN Entertainment, the Film + TV arm of Banjoman, dedicated to creating original IP in the genre space.

Date: Tues 24 Feb

Time: 15.30

Venue: Light House 2

CHANGING THE LENS: DIVERSE VOICES ON SCREEN

PANEL

Date:Thurs 26 Feb

Time: 10.00 - 11.00

Venue: Haymarket House

This panel brings together accomplished filmmakers from around the world to explore film as a conduit for marginalised voices and navigating the international film industry as a minority filmmaker.

Together they will explore the challenges of sharing diverse cultures with a global audience.

Discussion will centre around different approaches to navigating language, context and storytelling whilst maintaining a strong cultural authenticity. With panellists to be announced, this discussion will explore how cinema helps shape, celebrate and appreciate storytelling from multiple cultures and perspectives on the global stage.

IFCO LECTURE SERIES

Date: Mon 23 Feb

Time: 17.00 - 18.00

Venue: Haymarket House PRESENTATION

Laura Cullen

Laura was born and raised in Laois. She holds a BA in Film and Screen Media from UCC and is a current master’s student in Journalism and International Affairs in UCD. Having lived in Canada from 2023–2025, she had the opportunity to work as a production assistant for a television show during her time there. Laura’s project for the IFCO Lecture Series 2026 will be a presentation focusing on the fascinating and transformative work of Sheamus Smith, Irish Film Censor for 17 years, making him Ireland’s longest-serving film censor.

Following the success of DIFF’s IFCO Centenary lecture series, the festival is once again partnering with the Irish Film Classification Office to give a public platform to three emerging film and media students and early career researchers.

In 2025, the remaining IFCO records from the censorship period were deposited in the National Archives. These records represent a fascinating insight into cinema exhibition in Ireland and the central role which censorship played in shaping Irish film culture.

For 2026, our participants will give vibrant and exciting presentations. The IFCO Collection in the National Archives is a rich information source in this regard. Contributors will present their findings on the research of their choice:

Letizia Delmastro

Letizia is a development producer, writer, director and script editor through her company, Panoplia Productions. Letizia believes in the power of art (especially comedy) to influence positive changes in society – and believes it is an artist’s duty to do so! In her lecture, Letizia will explore the role of vampire films as a safe haven of queer representation in times of political and social radicalisation.

Ezra Maloney

Ezra (he/they) is a writer whose debut play Pre-Ops was long-listed for the Theatre 503 Playwriting Prize in 2025 and was performed at festivals in Dublin and Galway. Ezra will present a lecture entitled ‘“I don’t tell the truth, I tell what ought to be the truth!”: Tennessee Williams, Sexuality, and the Irish State’ and will delve into heavy censorship or outright bans of American writer Tennessee Williams’ films for viewers in the Republic of Ireland in the 1950s and 60s. This presentation explores the cuts made to some of Williams’ best-known films, and what these cuts can tell us about the attitude of the Irish State towards sex and sexuality at the time.

SEANCHOÍCHE AT DIFF 2026

Date: Thurs 26 Feb

Time: 18.00

Venue: Haymarket House EVENT

Seanchoíche (pronounced Shanna-Key-Huh) is a storytelling platform founded in Dublin, with nights hosted across the globe in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Australia and America.

Seanchoíche is collaborating with DIFF to give writers, directors, filmmakers and other cinema creatives opportunities to share their stories. Stories may be personal anecdotes, other people’s experiences, monologues, poetry or anything considered a story.

These storytelling sessions celebrate the rich tradition of oral storytelling while exploring its deep connection to the art of cinema. Join us for an evening where voices and visions intertwine, bringing new dimensions to the stories that shape our world.

Unit 4, Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 11

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NEXT GENERATION (15 - 19) PROGRAMME ROADSHOW

NETWORKING

Date: Sat 21 Feb

Time: 13.30 - 15.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Hosted by the IFI’s Next Generation (15 -19) Programme, this special event is designed for young filmmakers aged 15 – 19 to meet and network with other young filmmakers, watch some short films, and hear from a panel featuring two Leinster-based young filmmaking groups, an award-winning young Dublin filmmaker and a special guest. Meet like-minded young filmmakers, learn about what is happening locally and how you can take your first steps towards working in film. The panel will include a Q&A. Spaces limited, tickets are free, and booking is essential.

The IFI Next Generation (15 – 19) Programme is supported by Screen Ireland

Industry Partner

STORYTELLING ON SCREENSADAPTING VIDEOGAMES TO FILM

PANEL

Date: Sun 22 Feb

Time: 17.00 - 18.00

Venue: Haymarket House

The art of adaptation has long been a part of filmmaking. Our screening of the Japanese film The Exit 8, based on the 2023 bestselling video game, begs the question: how does the craft of storytelling in videogames translate from the small to the very big screen?

This panel discussion brings together video game developers and enthusiasts as well as filmmakers to explore the nuances and challenges of adapting videogame storytelling for cinema audiences.

The Exit 8 will screen on Fri 20 February in Light House 1 at 22.15.

INDUSTRY PROGRAMME

DIFF’s Industry Programme is a dynamic platform where creativity, collaboration and innovation thrive. Thanks to the support of our industry partner, Screen Ireland, we bring you an exciting range of events that connect filmmakers, producers and industry professionals.

In collaboration with leading Irish and international experts, Academy Award-winning directors, global organisations, guilds and collectives, we’ve curated a programme designed to foster knowledge-sharing, spark new partnerships, and shape the future of the screen and cinema industries.

Whether you’re looking to network, enhance your skills or gain insights from industry leaders, our Industry Programme is the place to be for anyone shaping the future of film.

Unsure if the Industry Programme is right for you? Get in touch at hello@diff.ie.

Industry Partner

FIRST FRAME

EVENT

Date: February 17

Venue: Atlantic Technical University, Galway

Date: February 18

Venue: Light House Cinema, Dublin

The First Frame initiative brings together students from over fifty film courses, universities and further education institutions from around Ireland to view a curated selection of student films in competition. The screenings provide excellent opportunities for course leaders and students to network with their peers as part of an international film event. Students are invited to participate in industry workshops as part of the experience and awards will be given for Best Fiction Film, Best Documentary, Best Animated Film, Best Experimental Film, and Best Overall Film.

Now in its eighth year, First Frame will showcase two programmes of student films on two fully dedicated days: one in Galway in collaboration with ATU, and one in Dublin. Both screenings will include presentations from leading industry professionals in editing and we are excited to announce that the Irish Screen Editors will be sponsoring a new award this year for Best Editing.

The winners and runners-up of the First Frames competition at the Dublin International Film Festival will receive an invaluable set etiquette training course from the National Talent Academies. Delivered by experienced industry professionals, this practical course covers everything from crew roles and production documents to set culture and communication tools. Designed to provide participants with the confidence and skills to excel on their first day on a professional set, this is a unique opportunity to get industry expert training and insight into a career in film and TV production.

Jury

Mairéad McIvor Editor and ISE member

Jessica Whelehan National Talent Academies

Jack Wall O’Reilly Filmmaker and First Frame alumnus

DIRECTING MASTERCLASS WITH LIONEL BAIER

Date: Tues 24 Feb

Time: 11.00 - 12.00

Venue: Haymarket House EVENT EVENT

Lionel Baier is a Swiss film director known for his unique visual style and exploration of themes such as identity, sexuality and Europe’s changing borders. In this very special masterclass Lionel will talk about his work on numerous feature films and documentaries. Baier cofounded the production company Bande à Part Films in 2009 and has been teaching film at the École cantonale d’art de Lausanne since 2002.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

MASTERCLASS WITH PIOTR SOBOCIŃSKI JR

Date: Sat 28 Feb

Time: 17.30 - 18.30

Venue: Haymarket House EVENT EVENT

DIFF is delighted to welcome Piotr Sobociński Jr, one of Poland’s most acclaimed cinematographers, with a career marked by numerous national and international awards. He is a four-time winner of the Golden Eagle Award for Best Cinematography (seven nominations), a twotime winner of the Polish Society of Cinematographers Award (seven nominations) and a two-time winner at the Camerimage International Film Festival (seven nominations). His work has also been recognised at prestigious festivals worldwide. He is attending the festival this year with his film Gorky Resort and we’re honoured to have him discuss his craft in detail in this very special masterclass.

Credit: Photo by Ulysse del Drago

EVENT

Date: Sun 22 Feb

Time: 15.00 - 16.00

Venue: Haymarket House

ARTISTS AND EXPERIMENTAL FILM PRACTICES - IN CONVERSATION WITH EMILIE BUJÈS LOCATION,

LOCATION, LOCATION!

EVENT PANEL

Date: Fri 20 Feb

Time: 13.45 - 14.45

Venue: Haymarket House

For this edition of DIFF, aemi co-director Alice Butler will lead a conversation with Emilie Bujès, Artistic Director of Visions du Réel, Nyon about her background and interest in artists and experimental film practices

aemi is an Arts Council-funded organisation that supports and regularly exhibits moving image work by artists and experimental filmmakers. Since 2016, aemi has presented screenings in partnership with festivals and venues across Ireland and toured programmes of Irish and international work across the UK and Europe.

Our rugged and remote areas of natural beauty have long been favoured by international productions from Braveheart to Star Wars but also pose so many logistical challenges.

Some of Ireland’s leading location managers including Eoin Holohan will come together for a panel discussion on what the landscape is like both geographically and logistically for location filming on our beautiful island.

FOCUS ON THE COMPOSER

EVENT PANEL

Date: Wed 25 Feb

Time: 14.00 - 15.00

Venue: Haymarket House

INTERNATIONAL FILM PROGRAMMERS PANEL

EVENT PANEL

Date: Sat 21 Feb

Time: 10.00 - 11.30

Venue: Haymarket House

Screen Composers Panel and Networking Event

Presented by the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, join us for an exclusive chat with Phil Kieran, Anna Rice and Stephen Rennicks, whose work is being shown at DIFF 2026. This panel will discuss every aspect of what it takes to write music for the big screen and the important role music plays in filmmaking. Make sure to keep an ear out for the new scores debuting in this year’s festival line-up and come along to meet the minds behind the music.

Panel:

Phil Kieran – Crazy Love

Stephen Rennicks – Whitetail

Anna Rice – An Irish Atlantic Rainforest

Perfect your festival strategy with DIFF by engaging with toptier festival programmers from around the globe.

This panel offers a comprehensive discussion on festival policies, submission criteria and crucial deadlines, providing essential insights for those preparing international festival strategies and aiming at success.

Guests include:

Mihai Chirilov - Transylvania International Film Festival

Ania Trzebiatowska - Sundance Film Festival

Alen Munitic – Mediteranean Film Festival Split

Julia Weigl - Munich International Film Festival

Mimi Plauché - Chicago International Film Festival

Emilie Bujès - Visions du Réel, Nyon

Outi Rehn – Helsinki International Film Festival

Torsten Newmann – Oldenburg International Film Festival

Jason Ryle – Toronto International Film Festival

The International Film Programmers Panel is supported by Culture Ireland.

EVENT NETWORKING

Date: Wed 25 Feb

Time: 10.00 - 13.00

Venue: Haymarket House

INTERNATIONAL SALES AGENTS EVENT FROM 30 SECONDS TO 90 MINUTES

EVENT PANEL

Date: Fri 20 Feb

Time: 17.00 - 18.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Following our hugely successful Sales Agents events over the last few years, we have invited the top sales agents and film distributors from around the world to meet with Irish filmmakers at DIFF 2026, with an introduction by Orla Clancy from Creative Europe. Join us to learn more about current trends in sales and acquisition.

Please check website for panellists and contributors.

How storytelling techniques shift between commercials, TV and features

From 30 Seconds to 90 Minutes explores how storytelling shifts across commercials, television, and feature films.

Bringing together filmmakers working across these formats, this panel considers how creative ideas, visual approaches, workflows, and decision-making evolve with scale and scope. From the precision of short-form advertising to the demands of long-form screen storytelling, the conversation will examine the creative, technical, and collaborative adjustments required throughout production and post-production, and what working across formats can teach storytellers about craft, efficiency, and creative ambition.

CPI (Commercial Producers Ireland) is the voluntary organisation of independent Irish commercial production and post-production companies.

SUSTAINABILITY CASE STUDY: THE RESTORATION AT GRAYSON MANOR

Date: Fri 27 Feb

Time: 17.00 - 18.00

Venue: Haymarket House

We’re pleased to welcome the filmmakers to speak about the monumental work behind the scenes on their film, The Restoration at Grayson Manor, to ensure the production was as sustainable as possible, with groundbreaking new ideas about how to run a set with one eye on being ‘green’ at all times.

Dr. Ciarán O’ Carroll will be joined by Sustainability advisor and DIFF Board member Stan Nangle and the film’s producer John McDonnell to talk about how they approached every single aspect of the production to make it a greener and more sustainable experience. From the catering, transport and accommodation to the hydroelectric generator powering the site - every detail was accounted for.

The Restoration At Grayson Manor will be screened on Sat 28 Feb at 18.30 in Lighthouse 1.

SWISS CINEMA DAY

NETWORKING

Date: Mon 23 Feb

Time: 10.30 - 13.00

Venue: Haymarket House

As part of our Country in Focus: A Celebration of Swiss Cinema, this dedicated day will highlight case studies of collaboration between Ireland and Switzerland as well as showcasing new opportunities. The programme this year features four new Swiss films and a retrospective of four films from acclaimed Swiss director Lionel Baier.

Hello Betty, Love Roulette, Don’t Let the Sun, Wolves, Safe House (2025), First Name: Matthew (2018), Another Man (2008), The Parade: Our History (2002)

Emilie Bujès, Artistic Director of Visions Du Reel, which takes place in Nyon Switzerland each year, will outline what appeals to her in a film when programming an internationally renowned documentary film festival, and will showcase a recent example of a Swiss-Irish co-production in action.

Peter Reichenbach is the acclaimed producer of some of the most successful Swiss films of all time including Needle Park Baby, The Foster Boy, Night Train to Lisbon and Little Mountain Boy to name but a few. He will introduce the landscape of contemporary Swiss cinema as well as his impressive body of work. His most recent film, Hello Betty, receives its Irish Premiere at DIFF ‘26.

Swiss Cinema Day is sponsored by the Swiss Embassy and Swiss Films.

DIRECTOR IN FOCUS: NANOUK LEOPOLD

Date: Fri 27 Feb

Time: 11.00 - 12.00

Venue: Haymarket House

DIFF, in association with X-Pollinator, is delighted to present this discussion with acclaimed director Nanouk Leopold following the Irish premiere of her film Whitetail at DIFF ‘26.

Nanouk Leopold, one of the Netherlands most acclaimed directors, graduated from Rotterdam’s Academy of Fine Arts and from the Dutch Film and Television Academy. Her features include Îles flottantes, Guernsey, It’s All So Quiet, Cobain, Wolfsbergen and Brownian Movement, starring Sandra Hüller.

Whitetail, a Dutch/Irish/Belgian co-production which shot in Kerry and Cork, had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival ’25, and stars Natasha O’Keeffe, Andrew Bennett and Aaron McCusker.

X-Pollinator is a cross-disciplinary professional development and networking initiative for female, trans and non-binary talent, setting out to address gender diversity in the Irish screen industry.

FUTURES: BUILDING AUDIENCES IN IRELAND

Date: Tues 24 Feb

Time: 14.00 - 15.00

Venue: Haymarket House

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION EVENT

EVENT NETWORKING

Date: Sun 22 Feb

Time: 14.00 - 15.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Presented by Screen Producers Ireland

Presented by Screen Producers Ireland, this event will present a critical, forward-looking analysis of documentary performance in Ireland, exploring how the sector can more effectively cultivate and sustain audiences.

Through data-driven insights, case studies and contributions from filmmakers, exhibitors and distributors, the session will examine current challenges in reach, visibility and engagement, particularly in an increasingly crowded media landscape.

With a panel including Daniel Hegarty (Marmalade Films), Chair of the SPI Factual & Creative Documentary Committee of Screen Producers Ireland and award winning producer Christine Le Goff, this discussion will highlight emerging opportunities for audience development, including innovative distribution pathways and demonstrate the value of DIFF. By bringing industry stakeholders together, the event aims to spark practical solutions and collaborative approaches that can strengthen the future of Irish documentary and expand its cultural impact.

In a time when Irish films struggle to find international distribution, we hear from the success stories and learn from their experiences.

Come along for panel discussions and to meet with international distributors, sales agents and festival programmers including Mihai Chirilov from Transylvania International Film Festival and Alen Munitic from Mediterranean Film Festival Split.

For the full list of sales agents and distributors in attendance please contact programme@diff.ie.

A CELEBRATION OF THE WORK OF JIMMY MURAKAMI

Date: Sun 1 March

Time: 15.00 - 16.00

Venue: Haymarket House

Jimmy T. Murakami, a foundational figure in the evolution of animation in Ireland and director of When the Wind Blows will be celebrated with a 40th anniversary screening of this classic at the Light House Cinema.

Following the screening, the panel will discuss the film’s continued significance and Murakami’s role in the development of Irish animation. This is part of series of events throughout 2026 organised by IADT celebrating Murakami’s work.

Audiences can attend this event using their When the Wind Blows – 40th Anniversary Screening ticket. The screening will be held directly before this event at Light House cinema, Sun 1 March.

RUNTIME WITH DIFF AT DUBLIN PORT

Date: Sun 20 Feb

Time: 10.00

Pace: Gentle and conversational

Distance: Approx. 5km

Who: Filmmakers, audiences, runners and walkers welcome

Meeting Point: Eastpoint Business Park

Join us for a unique morning run along the Dublin Port Greenway, where cinema, conversation and the city come into motion.

This guided, conversational run brings filmmakers and audiences together to experience one of Dublin’s most visually dramatic routes at ground level. Moving along the waterfront through the working edges of the port, the event creates space for informal conversation, shared pace and fresh perspective.

The Dublin Port Greenway runs along the boundary between city and sea, offering a rare view of Dublin that is expansive, industrial and quietly beautiful. Long used as a backdrop in Irish and international film, it is a space shaped by arrival, departure and constant movementmaking it the perfect setting for a morning run.

No running experience required: this is about connection, curiosity and seeing the city differently.

NOTES

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Arts Council proudly supports film festivals to bring the art of film to you.

Stupid August

Gealtra

Trumpets

The Art of Loss

David Keenan: Focla

Conor Walsh: Selected Piano Works

“THE DUBLIN FILM FESTIVAL IS AN ORIGIN STORY FOR ME”

COLIN FARRELL

"LET'S FACE IT, DUBLIN IS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE AT A FESTIVAL"

REBECCA MILLER

“I LOVE THIS FESTIVAL”

STANLEY TUCCI

“BUY FILM TICKETS PEOPLE”

ANDREW SCOTT