Discover a world of film in the city of stories
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Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield, Dublin.
The award-winning Dublin International Film Festival (20 February – 2 March 2025) is Ireland’s premier film festival and is recognised as one of the best in Europe.
Each spring, the festival showcases over 100 Irish and international feature films, documentaries and shorts including several Irish premieres and one-off showings, attracting an audience of some 20,000. The breadth of content, which includes red-carpet and arthouse films from established and new filmmakers, has made the festival a must-do for all film lovers.
As well as screenings, the festival presents Q&A sessions, panel discussions, and public interviews with filmmakers, enabling film buffs to hear from and interact with some of the industry’s top figures. Leading lights from every area of filmmaking, including writers, directors, composers, producers and casting agents, are invited to deliver masterclasses to support emerging filmmakers.
Irish Film Institute, Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin City
The Dublin International Film Festival also hosts a prestigious awards ceremony to recognise outstanding achievements in documentaries, features and shorts as well as the Dublin Film Critics’ Circle Awards, and the Audience Award, which gives festivalgoers a chance to vote for their favourite features and shorts.
The festival’s highest honour is the Volta award, named after Ireland’s first dedicated cinema. It is given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the world of film. The 2024 winners were Steve McQueen and Isabelle Huppert and previous recipients have included Al Pacino, Julie Andrews, Ennio Morricone, Daniel Day-Lewis, Claudia Cardinale, Martin Sheen, Kristin Scott Thomas, Brendan Gleeson, Terry Gilliam, Angela Lansbury and Adam McKay.
In a nod to Ireland’s ancient tradition of storytelling, the festival also collaborates with Seanchoíche, a storytelling platform that gives writers, directors and filmmakers the opportunity to share their stories, which will be read by a seanchaí (a traditional Irish storyteller).
Irish Film Institute, Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin City
As a registered charity with a mission to develop access to film, the festival ensures screenings are spread throughout Dublin city and its suburbs in accessible venues.
The Dublin International Film Festival is a world-class destination for film and a great reason to visit the city in early spring. As well as the chance to see exclusive films and interact with filmmakers, it's an opportunity to discover the charm of Dublin off-peak and to visit its top attractions, such as the Book of Kells at Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse, before the crowds descend.