Dublin International Film Festival

Dublin International Film Festival
LocationDublin, Ireland
Founded2003
Most recent2025
Festival dateFebruary/March
LanguageEnglish and others
Websitediff.ie

The Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF; Irish: Féile Scannán Idirnáisiúnta Bhaile Átha Cliath) is an annual film festival that has been held in Dublin, Ireland, since 2003.[1]

History

The Dublin International Film Festival was established in 2003. It was revived by Michael Dwyer, international film critic and The Irish Times chief film correspondent, along with David McLoughlin, film producer. (The original Dublin Film Festival was founded in 1985 by Dwyer and journalist and broadcaster Myles Dungan.) McLoughlin joined while still an undergraduate in Trinity College Dublin. The festival was established to present an opportunity for Dublin's cinema-going audiences to experience the best in Irish and international cinema.

"Dublin has remarkable film attendance per capita, among the highest in Europe, certainly the highest in the EU," Dwyer said in a 2003 interview. "It seems absurd that the city didn't have an international film festival."[2]

In the first year, the festival secured €25,000 in funding from the Arts Council of Ireland for planning purposes. The funds then increased to over €100,000. Jameson Irish Whiskey was the title sponsor of the festival, providing significant support for many years and backing the festival with a major marketing campaign; the festival was called the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF). The festival was also supported by partners such as The Irish Times, FM104, Conrad Hotel, Cineworld, McConnells, MSL Mercedes-Benz, Windmill Lane and Cine Electric. Other funders include the Irish Film Board, Dublin City Council, Fáilte Ireland and a number of cultural institutions, including the Goethe-Institut.

In 2007, the festival introduced a career achievement award, the Volta Award, to celebrate individuals who have made a significant contribution to the world of film. In the same year, the festival introduced the Audience Award recipients, which include Once and a surfing documentary, Waveriders.

In 2025, the festival was almost exclusively at the Light House Cinema, Smithfield. Past festival venues included the Screen Cinema, Hawkins Street; Cineworld, Parnell Street; the Savoy Cinema, O'Connell Street and the Irish Film Institute, Eustace Street. In 2008 Movies@Dundrum was used as a venue. In 2009 the Light House Cinema, Smithfield, was added as a venue.

2008 saw a significant change to the festival's executive roles: Gráinne Humphreys replaced Michael Dwyer as festival director, and Joanne O'Hagan assumed the role, formerly held by Rory Concannon, of chief executive officer. Dwyer assumed the position of chairman of the Dublin International Film Festival Board, and David McLoughlin stepped down.

Over 38,000 admissions were recorded for the 2008 festival for ticketed events. Non-ticketed events included a citywide installation—Dublin on Screen—to celebrate Dublin's cinematic heritage. The initiative featured films shot on location in Dublin and screened on the very spot they were shot on.

The festival is regarded as an important event for the cinema of Ireland, bringing together filmmakers, actors, producers and other celebrities from Ireland and around the world. The festival is committed to supporting film. In 2008, it initiated a significant International Screen Writing Award: Write Here, Write Now. The winner of the award was announced at the 2009 festival, which took place from 12 February to 22 February 2009.

In 2016, the original sponsors, Jameson Irish Whiskey, were replaced by Audi after thirteen years of sponsorship. The festival was then called the Audi Dublin International Film Festival (ADIFF). The new sponsorship deal lasted three years.[3]

In 2018, Virgin Media Ireland committed to sponsoring the festival for three years, starting in 2019, and the festival was called the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (VMDIFF).[4] Since 2022, the festival has had no name sponsor.[5]

Awards

The festival introduced the Volta Awards in 2007. The award is named after Dublin's first cinema, the Volta Picture Theatre, established by author James Joyce in 1905.[6] Awards are given for career achievement and audience favourite. Critics' awards were first presented in 2009. The Michael Dwyer Discovery Award' was created in 2010 after his death to honour Irish people working in film.

2007

2008

The 2008 festival was held from 15 to 24 February 2008.

Screen Cinema decorated for the 2008 JDIFF

2009

2010

The 2010 festival was held from 18 to 28 February 2010.

Career Achievement Awards:[11]

Audience Award: His & Hers

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards:[12]

2011

The 2011 festival was held from 17 to 27 February 2011.

Career Achievement Awards:

Audience Award: Benda Bilili!

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards:

  • Best Film: The Robber
  • Best Irish Film: Snap
  • Best Director: Alexei Popogrebski (How I Ended This Summer)
  • Best Irish Director: Carmel Winters (Snap)
  • Best Cinematography: Tim Fleming (As If I Am Not There)
  • Best Screenplay: Tudor Voican (Medal of Honor)
  • Best Short: Small Change
  • Best International Documentary: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
  • Best Irish Documentary: Men of Arlington
  • Best Début: Philip Koch (Picco)
  • Best Actor: Jakob Cedergren (Submarino)
  • Best Actress: Martina Gusman (Carancho)
  • Special Jury Prize: The Four Times
  • Michael Dwyer Discovery Award: Still Films[13][14]

2012

Volta Awards:

Audience Award: The Raid: Redemption

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards:

2013

The 2013 festival ran from 14 to 24 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[16]

  • Best Film: Vanishing Waves by Kristina Buožytė
  • Best Director: Mikhail Segal for Short Stories
  • Best Actor: Aleksey Vertkov for White Tiger
  • Best Actress: Dilan Aksüt, Night of Silence
  • Best Debut: Maja Miloš for Klip
  • Best Screenplay: Oriol Paulo and Lara Sendim for The Body
  • Best Cinematography: Oleg Mutu for Beyond the Hills
  • Best Documentary: Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story
  • Best Irish Feature: Babygirl by Macdara Vallelly
  • Best Irish Documentary: Get the Picture by Cathy Pearson
  • Michael Dwyer Discovery Award: Broken Song by Claire Dix
  • Audience Award: Broken Song

Jury Prizes were awarded to:

2014

The 2014 festival ran from 13 to 23 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[17]

  • Best Film: The Reunion by Anna Odell
  • Best Director: Paweł Pawlikowski for Ida
  • Best Actor: Jack O'Connell for Starred Up
  • Best Actress: Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin and Liv LeMoyne for We Are the Best!
  • Best Debut Feature: The Rocket by Kim Mordaunt
  • Best Screenplay: Georg Mass for Two Lives
  • Best Cinematography: Daniel Landin for Under the Skin
  • Best Documentary: Los Wild Ones by Elise Salomon
  • Best Irish Feature: Love Eternal by Brendan Muldowney
  • Best Irish Documentary: Living in a Coded Land by Pat Collins
  • Michael Dwyer Discovery Award: Out of Here by Donal Foreman
  • Audience Award: Los Wild Ones

Jury Prizes were awarded to:

2015

The 2015 festival ran from 19 to 29 March.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[18]

Audience Awards went to:

Special Jury Prizes were awarded to:

2016

Cast of Sing Street at the 2016 Dublin International Film Festival. Left to right: Percy Chamburuka, Mark McKenna, Kelly Thornton, Ben Carolan, Karl Rice, Conor Hamilton.

The 2016 festival ran from 18 to 28 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[19]

AUDI-ence Awards went to:

  • Feature: Viva
  • Short: Little Bear

Special Jury Prizes were awarded to:

ADIFF Discovery Awards went to:

  • Barry Keoghan, actor on Mammal, Traders and The Break
  • Jack O'Shea, director/animator on A Coat Made Dark and Eat the Danger
  • Kathryn Kennedy, producer on My Name Is Emily, It's Not Yet Dark and After

2017

The festival ran from 16 to 26 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics' Circle selected the following winners:[21]

Special Jury Prizes were awarded to:

AUDI-ence Award:

  • The Farthest, director Emer Reynolds[22]

ADIFF Discovery Awards went to:

  • John Connors, actor on The Secret Scripture and Breathe
  • Niamh Algar, actor on Without Name, Pebbles and Gone
  • Vincent Gallagher, writer/director on Second to None and Love is a Sting[23]

2018

The festival began on 22 February. Its ending was extended to 12 March due to the "Beast from the East" snowstorm.[24]

Volta Career Achievement Award:

  • Paul Schrader, writer and director
  • Vanessa Redgrave (missed 2017 ceremony due to illness)

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[19]

Jury Prizes were awarded to:

ADIFF Discovery Awards went to:

  • Mia Mullarkey, director of Mother & Baby
  • Rua Meegan and Trevor Whelan, directors of Bordalo II: A Life of Waste
  • TJ O'Grady Peyton, director of Wave

Short film awards:

  • Best Irish Short Film: Mother & Baby, director Mia Mullarkey
    • Special Mention: Time Traveller, director Steve Kenny
  • Best International Short Film: Retouch, director Kaveh Mazaheri
    • Special Mention: Mary Mother, director Sadam Wahidi

AUDI-ence Awards went to:

  • Feature: The Breadwinner
  • Short: Time Traveller

Fantastic Flix Children's Jury Awards

  • Feature: Room 213
  • Short: Earthy Encounters[25][26]

2019

Virgin Media Ireland was the sponsor for the 2019 festival, which was held 20 February – 3 March.[27]

Volta Awards:

Short film awards:

  • Best Irish Short Film: Five Letters to the Stranger Who Will Dissect My Brain, director Oonagh Kearney
    • Special Mention: The First was a Boy, director Shaun Dunne
  • Best International Short Film: Inanimate, director Lucia Bulgheroni
    • Special Mention: Child, director Joren Molter[29]

Audience Awards went to:

  • Feature: Maiden, director Alex Holmes
  • Short: 99 Problems, director Ross Killeen

Discovery Awards went to:

  • Alexandra McGuinness, writer-director of She's Missing
  • Ian Hunt Duffy, director of Low Tide
  • Oonagh Kearney, director of Five Letters to the Stranger Who Will Dissect My Brain
  • Madonna Bambino, makeup artist on Low Tide

Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival Documentary prize:

  • Winner: Of Fathers and Sons, director Talal Derki
  • Honourable mention: GAZA, directors Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell

Dublin Human Rights Film Award:

  • Winner: Heartbound: A Different Kind of Love Story, director Janus Metz Pedersen
  • Special mention: Land Without God, directors Gerard Mannix Flynn, Maedhbh McMahon and Lotta Petronella

Children's Jury Awards:

  • Feature – Winner: Mia and the White Lion, director Gilles de Maistre
  • Feature – Special Mention: Departures, director Peter Hutchings
  • Short – Winner: First Disco, director Helen M. O'Reilly
  • Feature – Special Mention: The Overcoat, directors Meelis Arulepp and Sean Mullen

Young Programmer's Choice Award:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:

2020

The 2020 festival took place between 26 February and 8 March.

Volta Awards:

Audience Awards:

  • Virgin Media Audience Award: Endless Sunshine on a Cloudy Day (dir. John Connors)
  • Virgin Media Audience Award, Short Film: Iarscoláire (dir. Shaun Dunne)
  • Fantastic Flix Audience Award: Onward
  • Fantastic Flix Audience Award, Short Film: The Girl at the End of the Garden

Aer Lingus Discovery Awards:

  • Paddy Slattery, writer/director of Broken Law
  • Cara Holmes, director of Welcome to a Bright White Limbo
  • Claire Byrne, director of Sister This
  • Dónall Ó Héalaí, actor in Arracht

Documentary Competition:

  • Special mention: Women Make Film: A New Road Trip Through Cinema
  • Winner: Confucian Dream, director Mijie Li

Short Film Awards, supported by Griffith College:

  • Special Mention International Short Film: Adnan
  • Best International Short Film: Quiet Land Good People
  • Special Mention, Irish Short Film : Innocent Boy, dir. John Connors
  • Best Irish Short Film: Welcome to a Bright White Limbo, dir. Cara Holmes

Irish Council for Civil Liberties Human Rights Film Award:

  • Special Mention: Street Leagues, dir. Daniel F. Holmes
  • Winner: Herself, dir. Phyllida Lloyd

Lifetime Contribution Award: Liam Cunningham, actor

Fantastic Flix Jury Awards, as chosen by The Ark's Children's Jury:

  • Feature Film: Onward
  • Short Film: Streets of Fury, dir. Aidan McAteer

Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards:

  • Best Film: Supernova
  • Best Actor: Albano Jeronimo (The Domain)
  • Best Actress: Barbara Sukowa (Deux)
  • Best Screenplay: Congcong Teng (Send Me to the Clouds)
  • Best Director: Roy Andersson (About Endlessness)
  • Best Cinematography: Leonardo Simões (Vitalina Varela)
  • Best Ensemble: Rocks
  • Best Irish Film: Arracht
  • George Byrne Maverick Award: Pat Murphy
  • Best Documentary: New York Our Time
  • Michael Dwyer Discovery Award: Clare Dunne
  • Jury Prizes: Moffie; Marona's Fantastic Tale; Deerskin; If You Are Happy[32][33]

2021

The 2021 festival took place during 3–14 March.[34]

Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards:

  • Best Film: Apples
  • Best Actor: Goran Bogdan (Father)
  • Best Actress: Joanna Scanlan (After Love)
  • Best Screenplay: Lee Isaac Chung (Minari)
  • Best Director: Lili Horvát (Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time)
  • Best Cinematography: Viktor Kossakovsky/Egil Håskjold Larsen (Gunda)
  • Best Irish Film: Tadhg O'Sullivan (To The Moon)
  • George Byrne Maverick Award: Ivan Kavanagh
  • Best Documentary: Acasă, My Home
  • Michael Dwyer Discovery Award: Zofia Stafiej (I Never Cry)
  • Jury Prizes:
    • Kyle Gallner, actor in Dinner in America
    • Noah Hutton, writer-director of Lapsis
    • Zoé Wittock, director of Jumbo
    • Bryan Fogel, director-producer of The Dissident

2022

The 2022 festival took place from 23 February to 6 March.[35] Adam McKay received the Volta Award.[36]

  • Best Director: Laura Samani, Small Body
  • Best Screenplay: Terence DaviesBenediction
  • Best Actress: Anamaria Vartolomei, Happening
  • Best Actor: Udo Kier, Swan Song
  • Best Debut Feature: Blerta Basholli, Hive
  • Best Editor: Sean Baker, Red Rocket
  • Best Cinematography: Frédéric Noirhomme, Playground
  • Best Ensemble: Róise & Frank
  • Best Documentary: Maisie
  • Best Irish Documentary: Vicky
  • Special Jury Prize: Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest
  • George Byrne Maverick Award: Tristan Heanue (Harvest – short)
  • Michael Dwyer Discovery Award: Kelly Campbell (An Encounter – short) 

2023

The 2023 festival took place from 23 February to 4 March.[37][38] Actress Emily Watson received the Volta Award.[39]

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards 2023

  • Best Film: The Beasts
  • Best Director: Léa Mysius – The Five Devils
  • Best Screenplay: Cristian MungiuR.M.N.
  • Best Actress: Kristine Kujath Thorp – Sick of Myself
  • Best Actor: Eden Dambrine – Close
  • Best Debut Feature: Victim – Michal Blasko
  • Best Editor: Nico Leunen – The Eight Mountains
  • Best Cinematography: Marine Altan – Thunder
  • Best Score: Nadah El Shazly – The Damned Don't Cry
  • Best Ensemble: How to Blow Up a Pipeline
  • Best Documentary: Kanaval: A People’s History of Haiti
  • Best Irish Film: My Sailor, My Love
  • Best Irish Documentary: 406 Days
  • George Byrne Maverick Award: Mark Cousins
  • Michael Dwyer Discovery Award: Zara Devlin
  • Best Irish Short: Lamb – Sinead O’Loughlin
  • Best International Short: Will You Look at Me – Huang Shuli
  • Volta Award: Emily Watson

2024

The 2024 festival took place from 22 February to March 2.[40]

  • Best Director: Alan Friel, Woken

2025

The 2025 festival took place from 20 February to March 2.[41]

DIFF Awards

  • Audience award feature: A Want In Her
  • Audience award short: Naked Lights
  • Discovery award: Cara Loftus, Clare Monnelly and Albert Hooi
  • Best documentary award: A Want In Her
  • Avalon World Cinema award: Santosh
  • International Short Film award: The Man Who Would Not Remain Silent
  • Animated Short Film award: Inside, The Valley Sings
  • Sue Bruce-Smith Irish Short Film: Trasna na Líne
  • Irish Council for Civil Liberties Human Rights Film Award: Testimony

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards

  • Best film On Falling, directed by Laura Carreira
  • Best director Maura Delpero, for Vermiglio
  • Best editing Ramon Zürcher, for The Sparrow in the Chimney
  • Best actress Shahana Goswami, for Santosh
  • Best actor Albrecht Schuch, for Peacock
  • Best ensemble Backstage, directed by Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane
  • Best documentary Riefenstahl, directed by Andres Veiel
  • Best cinematography Sverre Sørdal, for Sister Midnight
  • Best debut Good One, directed by India Donaldson
  • Best screenplay Tracie Laymon, for Bob Trevino Likes It
  • Michael Dwyer discovery Ruby Conway Dunne, Molly Byrne and Alicia Weafer, for Ready or Not
  • George Byrne maverick Carrie Crowley
  • Best Irish film Beat the Lotto, directed by Ross Whittaker
  • Best Irish documentary Born That Way, directed by Éamon Little
  • Special jury prize Latina Latina, directed by Adrian Duncan

See also

References

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  2. ^ Fricker, Karen (6 February 2003). "Dublin gets new film fest". Variety. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Audi Announced as new title sponsor of Dublin International Film Festival Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  4. ^ Slattery, Laura. "Virgin Media rolls out red carpet for Dublin International Film Festival". The Irish Times.
  5. ^ "Pages". Dublin International Film Festival.
  6. ^ The Voltas Archived 17 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival; retrieved 29 November 2007
  7. ^ Festival Launches Awards With Oscar Hopeful Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine , Jameson Dublin International Film Festival; retrieved 29 November 2007
  8. ^ Dublin International Film Festival, Internet Movie Database; retrieved 29 November 2007
  9. ^ a b c Donald Clarke (2 February 2009). "Spooky kids and serious vampires". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2009. (subscription required)
  10. ^ "Oscar-nominated 'Doubt' opens Dublin Film Festival". The Irish Times. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. (subscription required)
  11. ^ JDIFF announce recipients of this year's Volta Awards Archived 27 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Filmbase; retrieved 24 February 2010
  12. ^ "Fading light on film festival". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Festival, critics give out gongs". The Irish Times.
  14. ^ "Dublin Critics Circle Awards Announced | Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals | Jameson Dublin International Film Festival". jdiff.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ^ "Filmbase". filmbase.ie. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ^ JDIFF 2013: Winners at the 2013 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival Film Ireland, 26 February 2013.
  17. ^ "DUBLIN FILM CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCE JURY AWARD WINNERS AT JDIFF | Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals | Jameson Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  18. ^ "DUBLIN FILM CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCE JURY AWARD WINNERS AT JDIFF 2015 Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals | Jameson Dublin International Film Festival". jdiff.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Winners at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  20. ^ "#ADIFF16: Winners announced for Audience, Short Film, and Discovery Awards – Scannain". 29 February 2016.
  21. ^ "The DFCC Awards at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  22. ^ "The Farthest Wins the AUDI-ence Award at ADIFF17 – Audi Dublin International Film Festival".
  23. ^ "Discovery Award – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". diff.ie.
  24. ^ "Home – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". diff.ie.
  25. ^ Niall (5 March 2018). "#ADIFF18: Award winners announced for 2018 Audi Dublin International Film Festival".
  26. ^ "ADIFF 2018 Discovery Awards, Shorts Awards, the Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards and the Fantastic Flix Children's Jury Awards Announced". screenireland.ie.
  27. ^ "Virgin Media Announced As New Title Sponsor for Dublin International Film Festival" (Press release). 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  28. ^ "Volta Award – Dublin International Film Festival – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 28 April 2017.
  29. ^ "Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2019 Award Winners Announced – Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival". diff.ie.
  30. ^ Clarke, Donald. "Jessie Buckley and Hugh O'Conor scoop Dublin film festival prizes". The Irish Times.
  31. ^ "Review of Irish Film @ DIFF 2019: DIFF Shorts #4 – Film Ireland". filmireland.net. 13 June 2019.
  32. ^ Murphy, Niall (9 March 2020). "Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2020 announces awards winners". Scannain.
  33. ^ "Award Winners at VMDIFF20". DIFF Festival Limited.
  34. ^ "Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (@DublinFilmFest) | Twitter" – via Twitter.
  35. ^ "Dublin International Film Festival '22 DFCC Award winners announced" (Press release). Dublin International Film Festival. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Adam McKay receives Volta Award as VMDIFF opens with gala screening of An Cailín Ciúin – Dublin City Film Office".
  37. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (7 March 2023). "Rodrigo Sorogoyen's The Beasts crowned Best Film at the Dublin International Film Festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  38. ^ Clarke, Donald (6 March 2023). "Dublin International Film Festival: The moving My Sailor, My Love named best Irish movie". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  39. ^ "Screen Ireland congratulates the recipients of the 2023 DIFF Awards". Screen Ireland. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  40. ^ "Dublin International Film Festival's 2024 Submissions are now open | The Irish Film & Television Network". iftn.ie.
  41. ^ "Dublin International Film Festival 2025: Award winners announced". Screen Ireland. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.

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