IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL 2025 ✨ PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT

IRISH FILM INSTITUTE, DUBLIN ANNOUNCES

IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL 2025

3 DAYS OF FILMS, FUN, AND ACTIVITIES

AT THE HOME OF FILM IN IRELAND

Friday, August 15th to Sunday, August 17th

Tickets on sale now
via https://ifi.ie/familyfest/

Images and Trailer free to use across all media can be downloaded HERE

Click to watch the trailer for IFI Family Festival 2025

The Irish Film Institute (IFI), Dublin, today is delighted to announce the programme for IFI Family Festival 2025, a vibrant three-day event running from Friday, August 15th to Sunday, August 17th for young film fans. This much-loved annual entry in the IFI calendar brings together an exciting programme of new international films, Irish gems, engaging workshops, and family-friendly activities. Specially curated for young audiences and their families, this year’s festival explores the themes of being yourself and the power of imagination, offering a wide range of screenings and hands-on experiences for all ages.

Opening the festival is Space Cadet, a visually stunning, dialogue-free animated feature directed and scored by Canadian multimedia artist Kid Koala, a celebrated DJ, graphic novelist, and performer perhaps familiar to parents as a Gorillaz collaborator. Trailblazing scientist and STEAM artist Niamh Shaw will introduce and talk about her own incredible space journey. 

Another festival highlight is Irish actor, writer, and director Hugh O’Conor presenting an exclusive early preview of Showkids, his newest creation for RTÉ, alongside a screening of The Boy from Mercury on 35mm in which he starred as a child – a chance to introduce children to the wonderful world of analogue film with an Irish classic. Audiences also get a special chance to catch anime master Mamoru Hosoda’s remastered classic Wolf Children returns to the big screen in 4K, offering audiences another chance to experience this poignant tale of family and transformation. Budding artists in the audience will be enchanted by closing film Hola Frida!, a gorgeous animated celebration of Frida Kahlo’s early life. With a diverse slate of standout children’s cinema the festival is set to captivate young audiences, allowing families to share unique early experiences of movie magic that will last a lifetime.

Activities will be running throughout the festival, as artist Amy Louise O’Callaghan leads several creative workshops, from starry crafts to Frida Kahlo-inspired flower making. Young aspiring filmmakers can take part in a pop-up drama session before the screening of Showkids. Families can also enjoy building rockets with TU Dublin, learning about the wonders of the universe with DIAS Dunsink Observatory and Armagh Planetarium, and even taking part in IFI’s Got Talent before The Tale of Daye’s Family. 

Tickets now available at https://ifi.ie/familyfest/ or call the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477, or in person at the IFI, Eustace Street, Dublin 2.

The IFI is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland. 

AVAILABLE FILM TRAILERS:

Space Cadet

Wolf Children

The Tale Of Daye’s Family

Tales From The Magic Garden

Hola Frida!

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH

Opening Event: Reach for the Stars! (17:00)

Starry crafts workshop with festival artist Amy Louise O’Callaghan, astronomy workshop with DIAS Dunsink Observatory and Armagh Planetarium, and rocket building with TU Dublin for ages 6+ (ticket to opening film Space Cadet required, Ages 6+)

 

SPACE CADET (18:30)

Kid Koala (86 mins, Canada, 2025, Animation, Digital, Ages 6+)

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH

 

SHORT TALES 1 (11:00)

Various Directors (50 mins approx, International, Digital, Subtitled, Screen Reader, Ages 4+)

 

BALLYMUN THEN & NOW: A YOUNG FILMMAKERS’ COLLECTION (12:15)

Helen Flanagan with Our Lady of Victories Schools (35 mins approx, Ireland, Digital, Ages 8+)

 

SHORT TALES 2 (13:30)

Various Directors (60 mins approx, International, Digital, Subtitled, Screen Reader, Ages 8+)

 

WOLF CHILDREN (15:30)

Mamoru Hosoda (117 mins, Japan, 2012, Anime, Digital, Subtitled, PG)

 

THE TALE OF DAYE’S FAMILY (18:00)

Karim El-Shinnawi (104 mins, Egypt-Saudi Arabia, 2024, Drama, Digital, Subtitled, Ages 10+)

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH

 

TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN (11:00)

Patrik Pašš, David Súkup & Leon Vidmar (77 mins, Czech Republic-Slovakia-Slovenia-France, 2025, Animation, Digital, Subtitled, Screen Reader, Ages 7+)

 

THE BOY FROM MERCURY (11:15)

Martin Duffy (88 mins, France-UK-Ireland, 1996, Drama, 35mm, PG)

 

SHOWKIDS (13:00)

Hugh O’Conor (50 mins, Ireland, Family, Digital, Ages 9+)

 

HOLA FRIDA! (16:00)

André Kadi & Karine Vézina (82 mins, France-Canada, Animation, English Language Version, Digital, Ages 7+)

 

IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL 2025

Festival notes by Alicia McGivern, IFI Head of Education

 

SPACE CADET

KID KOALA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH (18.30)

FILM INFO: 86 mins, Canada, 2025, Animation, Digital

The stunning, moving story of Celeste and her guardian Robot, who learn to cope with loss against a backdrop of space exploration. Funny, dialogue-free, with music from director, DJ, and graphic novelist Kid Koala.Trailblazing scientist & STEAM artist Niamh Shaw will introduce the film and talk about her own amazing space journey

 

SHORT TALES 1

VARIOUS DIRECTORS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH (11.00)

FILM INFO: 50 mins approx, Digital, Subtitled

A fantastic collection of, mostly dialogue-free short films from around the world, specially curated for our youngest film fans. Explore tales of unexpected friendship, musical animated animals, and more in this exciting programme.

Short Tales 1 will also be presented as a relaxed screening in Cinema 2. Enjoy some free play and craft in the foyer after the show.

 

BALLYMUN THEN & NOW: A YOUNG FILMMAKERS’ COLLECTION

HELEN FLANAGAN / OUR LADY OF VICTORIES SCHOOLS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH (12.15)

FILM INFO: 35 mins approx, Digital

Beware of horse bandits, banshee combs, and revolting robots! Short films created by Our Lady of Victories Schools with artist Helen Flanagan, inspired by the IFI Irish Film Archive’s recently digitised Ballymun Community Films collection.

Free to book in person at IFI Box Office, or online (subject to a small booking fee). Project funded by Dublin City Council

 

SHORT TALES 2

VARIOUS DIRECTORS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH (13.30)

FILM INFO: 60 mins approx, Digital, Subtitled

For our slightly older audience, we present a wonderful selection of live-action and animated short films. These creative shorts touch on topics such as climate action and learning to explore the world outside of our phones. For full details on all short films see www.ifi.ie/familyfest/

 

WOLF CHILDREN (OKAMI KODOMO NO AME TO YUKI)

MAMORU HOSODA

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH (15.30)

FILM INFO: 117 mins, Japan, 2012, Anime, Digital, Subtitled

Remastered in 4K, Mamoru Hosoda’s enchanting anime take on the werewolf fantasy, with hand-drawings, humour, and edge. Young mother, Hana, is left alone to bring up her two mischievous half-wolf children, who are happiest gnawing the furniture or running wild.

 

THE TALE OF DAYE’S FAMILY (DAYE: SERET AHL EL DAYE)

KARIM EL-SHINNAWI

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH (18.00)

FILM INFO: 104 mins, Egypt–Saudi Arabia, 2024, Drama, Digital, Subtitled

14-year-old Daye is a Nubian albino boy with a golden voice. Bullied in school, he is encouraged by a teacher to enter The Voice competition in Cairo. His traditional mother is not so sure but, eventually conceding, she and his rebellious sister join Daye on the precarious journey to Cairo, bound by love and belief in his incredible voice. Come early and try for IFI’s Got Talent before the show!

 

TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN (POHÁDKY PO BABICCE)

PATRIK PAŠŠ, DAVID SÚKUP & LEON VIDMAR

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH (11.00)

FILM INFO: 77 mins, Czech Republic–Slovakia–Slovenia–France, 2025, Animation, Digital, Subtitled

After losing their grandma, the kids miss her vivid stories, and grandpa is sad too. They decide to cheer him up by telling their own tales, using three magic ingredients as she had taught them. Their imaginations take them on wonderful new adventures together, in this stunning stop-motion feature based on a story by Arnošt Goldflam.

Craft your own sound story in the IFI using just one magic ingredient – paper!

 

THE BOY FROM MERCURY

MARTIN DUFFY

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH (11.15)

FILM INFO: 88 mins, France–UK–Ireland, 1996, Drama, 35mm

This sweet and nostalgic fantasy set in 1960s Dublin, concerns eight-year-old Harry, who imagines he and his dog have been sent down from Mercury – starring a young Hugh O’Conor, director of festival entry Showkids.

 

SHOWKIDS

HUGH O’CONOR

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH (13.00)

FILM INFO: 50 mins, Ireland, Family, Digital

A sneak preview of RTÉ’s brand-new series for kids and families, created, written and directed by Hugh O’Conor. Imaginative 12-year-old Sam is unsettled in school, so his concerned parents sign him up to Miss Jessop’s drama class. There he finds his own tribe and slowly grows in confidence. Funny and warm-hearted, Showkids is for everyone who wants to find their own voice.

Unleash your creative spirit at IFI’s pop-up drama activity before the screening, led by IFI, with Hugh O’Conor, series creator, writer and director who will then introduce the screening. 

 

HOLA FRIDA!

ANDRÉ KADI & KARINE VÉZINA

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH (16.00)

FILM INFO: 82 mins, France–Canada, Animation, English Language Version

Gorgeous, colourful animation about the early life of artist Frida Kahlo. Growing up in Mexico as a mischievous, expressive child, she learns to cope with life’s challenges through her artistic self-expression. Create some Frida flowers with artist Amy Louise O’Callaghan before the show or express yourself in a perky portrait!

 

NOW BOOKING

Book now for cinema screenings via https://ifi.ie/familyfest/ or call the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477, or in person at the IFI, Eustace Street, Dublin 2.

All films: €7.50 (includes opening night event)

IFI Family Ticket (film events): €25.00 (2 adults, 2 children)

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

All IFI Family Festival events operate in accordance with our Child Safeguarding procedures. (See www.ifi.ie/child-safeguarding).

Films which have not been classified by the Irish Film Classification Office (www.ifco.ie) are given an age recommendation by the IFI. For more information on any title or our age recommendation, please contact amcgivern@irishfilm.ie.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult in the cinema.

To facilitate younger viewers, subtitles will be read aloud where indicated.

For information on our Relaxed Screening, please see www.ifi.ie/familyfest

For full programme information and updates on all related IFI Family Festival activities, please see our website: www.ifi.ie/familyfest