IFI International Sends Irish Cinema Around the Globe

Full Schedule Available HERE

Image Credit: Film still of Mary Robinson from Mrs Robinson (Dir. Aoife Kelleher, 2024)

The Irish Film Institute (IFI), with support from Culture Ireland, is excited to announce the launch of a number of its IFI International partner festivals, which will see a global celebration of Irish cinema this February and March across 21 cities, in 12 countries. The incredible line-up of films promises to showcase the diverse range of voices bringing Ireland to world screens, highlighting both new work which has generated worldwide attention for the “green wave,” as well as films of historical significance from the IFI Irish Film Archive. 

Speaking on the substantial reach of these partner festivals and their commitment to placing Irish cinema on a global stage, IFI International Programme Manager Eleanor Melinn has said:

“IFI International is delighted to bring a wonderful selection of both recent Irish films, and classics from the IFI Irish Film Archive, to audiences around the world this St Patrick’s season, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and vibrant storytelling tradition of Ireland, and offering viewers a chance to experience the depth and diversity of Irish cinema. From critically acclaimed comedies to gritty dramas, these films promise to captivate and inspire. We are proud to share these cinematic treasures with a global audience, celebrating the spirit of film through the lens of Irish filmmakers.”

Global Reach and Renowned Partners
IFI International continues to foster relationships with a range of prestigious festivals and organisations worldwide in the promotion of Irish film and filmmakers. From longstanding partnerships with key festivals in Washington, Chicago, Belgrade, Rome, Luxembourg, and more, to exciting second-year collaborations in Seattle, Berlin, Los Angeles, and Nîmes, IFI International is set to bring Irish films to audiences across more than 50 countries in 2025.

These partnerships kick off this week with the Irish Film Season at Kiln Theatre in London starting February 26. On February 27 two major US festivals begin: Capital Irish Film Festival in Washington DC and Chicago Irish Film Festival in Chicago – both showcasing a range of critically-acclaimed films and providing opportunities for North American audiences to discover new Irish filmmaking talent.

Special Guests and Highlights
International audiences will be treated to an impressive roster of films and special guests, such as Q&As with former president Dr Mary Robinson at Chicago Irish Film Festival and Capital Irish Film Festival following the screening of Aoife Kelleher’s acclaimed film Mrs Robinson. Robinson has a personal connection with Chicago, notably through her donation of her rare book collection to DePaul University where it forms part of the Irish Studies Program, and will engage with audiences about her incredible body of work as an Irish and international leader, and champion of human rights.

Emerald City Irish Film Festival in Seattle will welcome guests Trisha Canning, producer of Mrs Robinson, James Latimer, composer for Holy Island and Room Taken, along with ornithologist Sean Ronayne, the subject of the documentary Birdsong.

Other exciting guest appearances include Eva Birthistle (director of Kathleen is Here) and Hazel Doupe (actor in Kathleen is Here), who will attend screenings in Chicago, Washington DC, and Belgrade.

Paul Kennedy, director of Dead Man’s Money, will also travel with his film to Washington DC with actor Ciarán McMenamin, and solo to Écrans Britanniques et Irlandais in Nîmes, France.

Kneecap continues to be a tour de force with screenings coming to Belgrade, Washington DC, Seattle, and Berlin, and the critically acclaimed That They May Face the Rising Sun remains a favourite in France.

Belgrade Irish Festival this year will host Neil Jordan as guest of honour, awarding him the Yugoslav Film Archive’s Golden Seal Award, in celebration of his significant contribution to film art. The festival will screen Michael Collins and The Company of Wolves, along with 35mm screenings of The Butcher Boy and The Good Thief from the IFI Irish Film Archive.

Several festivals will also feature special screenings from the IFI Irish Film Archive, including a live ciné-concert at Écrans Britanniques et Irlandais in Nîmes, where five silent Irish films will be accompanied by live music from young musicians from the Conservatoire de la Ville de Nîmes. This celebration of film and music will feature a range of ensembles including a saxophone quartet, a trombone quartet, a brass ensemble of young musicians, a school orchestra and choir, and the electro-acoustic composition class. For the occasion, a work was commissioned from composer Karl Naegelen for the choir and orchestra. Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels will screen the IFI Irish Film Archive’s recent restoration of Robert Wynne-Simmons 1982 folk horror cult classic The Outcasts as part of its Haunted Isles season.

In Los Angeles, the Irish Film Festival Los Angeles will showcase films and filmmakers, showing Four Mothers with director Darren Thornton attending for Q&A, King Frankie with writer-director Dermot Malone and producer Matt D’Arcy in attendance, and Eat/Sleep/Cheer/Repeat with director Tanya Doyle and producer Daniel Hegarty attending.

Those who can’t make it to a festival this season can find the best of Irish independent film available to rent at home worldwide on the IFI International online player, with films ranging from the Joe Comerford retrospective, including the restoration of his classic 1998 film Reefer and the Model, to newer work by contemporary film auteurs Dónal Foreman (The Cry of Granuaile) and Dean Kavanagh (Hole in the Head).

Looking Ahead
IFI International is looking forward to a busy year ahead with a host of events and festivals planned beyond the busy St Patrick’s Day season, with highlights including Irish Film Festival Ottawa and Scéal Eile Irish Film Festival in Brussels this April, followed by the inaugural Irish Film Festival Spain in Bilbao and Pamplona in May. Later in the year, Irish cinema will be at the  Baton Rouge Irish Film Festival (August), SF Irish Film Festival San Francisco ( September), Dinard Festival du Film Britannique et Irlandais (October), Irish Film Festival Australia which will span five cities and online this October and November, and Irish Film Festival London in November.

For a full list of films and festival dates, please visit: IFI International Calendar.

IFI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ACTIVITY IN FEBRUARY & MARCH

Feb 26: Irish Film Season at Kiln Theatre, London, UK
Feb 27 – Mar 2: Capital Irish Film Festival, Washington, USA
Feb 27 – Mar 9: Chicago Irish Film Festival, Chicago, USA
Mar 5: Irish Film Season at Kiln Theatre, London, UK
Mar 7: Ciné Gael Montréal, Montréal, Canada
Mar 7-9: Emerald City Irish Film Festival, Seattle, USA
Mar 7-17: Belgrade Irish Festival, Belgrade, Serbia
Mar 8: SF Irish Film DocFest, San Francisco, USA
Mar 11: Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, France
Mar 12-30: Offscreen Film Festival, Brussels, Belgium
Mar 14-16: Irish Film Festival Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
Mar 14-23: Écrans Britanniques et Irlandais, Nîmes, France
Mar 15-17: Irish Film Festival Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Mar 16: Irish Film Festival Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
Mar 19-23: Hippfest, Edinburgh, UK
Mar 19-23: Oro de Irlanda: Cine Irlandés Contemporáneo, Santiago, Chile
Mar 19-28: Festival Panoramic: L’Irlande en Cinéma et en Émotions, Saint-Brieuc, France
Mar 20-24: Francophonie Festival, Riga, Latvia
Mar 22: Semaine du Film Britannique et Irlandais, Brest, France
Mar 22-29: British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg
Mar 26-30: Irish Film Festa Rome, Italy
Mar 28-30: Toronto Irish Film Festival, Toronto, Canada

ENDS

Notes to Editors 

Full schedule available at: https://ifi.ie/irish-film/international/international-calendar/ 

IFI International 

The Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme is supported by Irish government organisation Culture Ireland with the aim of strategically developing a global audience for Irish film through cultural exhibition. Working with over 100 exhibition partners in more than 50 countries annually, and drawing on contemporary Irish film and the collections of the IFI Irish Film Archive, IFI International provides access for cultural exhibitors to new and classic Irish cinema.
https://ifi.ie/irish-film/international/ 

Culture Ireland
Culture Ireland promotes Irish arts worldwide, creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. It develops platforms to present the richness and quality of Irish creativity to international audiences through showcase events in key arts markets, as well as various special initiatives.
https://www.cultureireland.ie/