2025 IFI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL GUESTS

This year’s festival boasts an exceptional selection of guests bringing both filmmakers and their subjects to the IFI stage for in-depth Q&As.

The 2025 festival will open with the Irish premiere of How To Build A Library, an inspirational triumph over adversity from Kenya which follows the quest to transform the formerly whites-only, colonial-era McMillan Memorial Library into a vibrant cultural hub for a new generation of Africans. We’re thrilled to be joined by directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King for this Opening Gala screening.

From Gerry Adams joining the screening of Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man with director Trisha Ziff to reflect on the 5 years of interviews that weave together to form this political portrait, Frank Shouldice getting the Once We Were Punks band back together, Lenny Abrahamson interviewing Carmel Winters about her poetic exploration of grief in The Art of Loss, and more – the wider festival programme will give incomparable insight into this riveting programme of films and the journeys that shaped them.

A notable highlight will be Victoria Mappleback and her son Jim joining for their film Motherboard. At 38, Mapplebeck found herself single, pregnant and broke. Forced to abandon her career in TV, she turned her camera on herself and Jim, documenting his life as he grew up and her journey through motherhood. Both Mapplebacks will be guests at a very special screening taking place during Jim’s first week at college in a full-circle moment that echoes Richard Linklater’s Boyhood (2014) in real life.

With more special guests still to be announced, this year’s festival promises a dynamic programme of candid discussion, personal reflection, and illuminating stories from behind the camera.

Stay tuned for guest bios and further announcements!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH

OPENING GALA: HOW TO BUILD A LIBRARY + Q&A (18:30)

Followed by a Q&A with Directors Maia Lekow & Christopher King.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH

GERRY ADAMS: A BALLYMURPHY MAN + Q&A (18.00)

Followed by a Q&A with Trisha Ziff & Gerry Adams.

BEO FAOIN BHFÓD (BURIED ALIVE) + Q&A (20.50)

Followed by a Q&A with Daire Collins and James O’Brien Moran.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH

IFI SPOTLIGHT: REPORTING ON IRELAND’S FACTUAL SCREEN SECTOR (11.00 – 12:30)

IFI Documentary Festival welcomes Dr Judith Pernin and Rónán Ó Muirthile (both IADT), authors of a major new report on the Irish Factual Screen Sector which they’ll be launching at the event. Both will be joined by a panel of documentary makers, commissioners, and programmers to discuss their findings.

ONCE WE WERE PUNKS + Q&A (20.30)

Frank Shouldice | 96 mins | Ireland | 2025 | Digital

Followed by a Q&A with Frank Shouldice & Band Members.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH

THE ART OF LOSS + Q&A (14.10)

Followed by a wide-ranging conversation with Carmel Winters and Lenny Abrahamson.

A WANT IN HER + Q&A (15.40)

Followed by a Q&A with Myrid Carten.

IN TIME – DÓNAL LUNNY + Q&A (18.00)

Followed by a Q&A with Nuala O’Connor.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH

A SHOOTING ON BRANDON + Q&A (15.20)

Michael Higgins | 110 mins | Ireland | 2025 | Digital

Followed by a Q&A with Michael Higgins.

MOTHERBOARD + Q&A (15.40)

Followed by a Q&A with Victoria & Jim Mapplebeck.

2025 IFI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL GUESTS

Programme