The Irish Film Institute launches new five-year strategy 

committed to ensuring the IFI is truly the home of film in Ireland for everyone

Strategy Trailer Here
Full Documents Here

Tuesday 2 December 2024: Today, the Irish Film Institute has officially unveiled their ambitious IFI Strategy 2025-29, alongside two pivotal policy documents – IFI Climate Policy & Action Plan 2025-29, and IFI Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy & Action Plan 2025-29. These comprehensive initiatives underscore the IFI’s commitment to film as a transformative and inclusive cultural force, while also embracing sustainability and community engagement. The full documents can be explored / downloaded HERE.

John McGrane, the Chairperson of the IFI said, “This IFI Strategy is informed by the past, the present and the future. We look back at what the organisation has achieved since it was first founded in the 1940s. We recognise the huge importance of safeguarding our past, which we do through the work of the IFI Irish Film Archive, preserving our national moving image collection for current and future generations. We look at the present, at where we are now and how we are presenting audiences with challenging, inspiring and entertaining exhibition programmes. And we look to the future, as we aim to respond to a changing cultural landscape and educational opportunities, ensuring that we develop the next generation of film lovers and inspire future filmmakers”.

IFI Director & CEO Ross Keane said, “Film is contemporary culture’s most relevant and influential art form and has the power to excite, captivate and challenge audiences. It is intrinsically culturally diverse and accessible, and is a powerful force in broadening the base of arts participation amongst the public. Through the development of this IFI Strategy, we wanted to solidify the IFI’s place as one of Ireland’s most effective and influential cultural organisations. With People as the central pillar within this strategy (our audiences, our filmmakers and our team), we show our commitment to ensuring the IFI is truly the home of film in Ireland for everyone.”

The new five-year strategy covering 2025-2029, sets out five strategic pillars to guide the IFI’s operations and activities – Exhibit, Preserve, Educate, Innovate and People. Each pillar represents a key area of focus for the IFI, underpinned by specific actions and objectives. These pillars represent the core areas of the IFI’s work and reflect their dedication to enhancing the cultural impact of film through diverse programming, film heritage preservation, educational initiatives, technological innovation, and a focus on the people who make it all possible. 

The Exhibit pillar outlines actions to curate a diverse range of film programmes, to expand opportunities for film discourse, and leverage new technologies to enhance the cinema-going experience.

The Preserve pillar emphasises collecting, safeguarding and sharing Ireland’s moving image heritage, advocating for film heritage in Irish State cultural policy and changes to legislation.

The Educate pillar focuses on increasing access to educational programmes and initiatives that foster a passion for film and film literacy, playing a central role in the delivery of the new Leaving Certificate subject of Drama, Film & Theatre Studies, and a focus on developing next-generation skills and audiences.

The newly introduced Innovate pillar explores the use of new and emerging technologies, such as AI, to enhance audience engagement, streamline operations, and improve processes while also exploring opportunities for expansion.

The final (and central) pillar of People emphasises the importance of the human component as the backbone of everything at IFI, always considering audiences, artists and the dedicated team at IFI at the heart of all decision-making. This pillar will also focus on further improvements to the IFI’s 18th-century home in Temple Bar, Dublin, and enhanced efforts to attract and retain valued staff members.

A key feature of the strategy’s development was its integration of the IFI’s new EDI Policy & Action Plan 2025-29, which will drive the organisation’s efforts to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. The EDI policy is rooted in the belief that diversity strengthens the creative process and enriches the institution’s offerings. It focuses on three core areas: internal practices and staffing, inclusive programming and outreach, and accessibility. To support the delivery of these principles, the IFI will make significant investments in resources, time, and staffing to ensure a meaningful and sustainable commitment in this area.

(Left to Right: Ross Keane, Director of the Irish Film Institute, and John McGrane, Chair of the IFI Board of Directors, pictured at the Irish Film Institute Strategy Launch in Cinema 2.)

Equally important, the IFI has unveiled their IFI Climate Policy & Action Plan 2025-29, which aligns with the IFI Strategy’s core value of sustainability. This plan outlines specific goals and actions across various focus areas, including travel and transport, materials and waste, energy use, and digital footprint. By prioritising sustainable practices across all facets of institutional operations, the IFI is committed to reducing their environmental impact while promoting climate-conscious behaviours within the film industry and audiences. IFI Climate Policy & Action Plan 2025-29 is part of the IFI’s broader commitment to a just transition towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

All three documents – the IFI Strategy 2025-29, IFI EDI Policy & Action Plan 2025-29, and IFI Climate Policy & Action Plan 2025-29 are available digitally on the IFI website. The decision to go paperless aligns with the IFI’s commitment to sustainability and marks the beginning of a more environmentally responsible approach to their operations. The IFI invites the public and their stakeholders to engage with the documents and learn more about the institution’s long-term vision for the future of film in Ireland. The IFI looks forward to the continued support of its partners, staff, and audiences as it embarks on this exciting new chapter.

The IFI acknowledges the support of our primary funder the Arts Council.

IFI Principal Funder

For further media information please contact:

Sinead O’Doherty (Macdonald), O’Doherty Communications 

+353 86 259 1070

sinead@odohertycommunications.com