Discover Industry & Public Events at Dublin International Film Festival 2025
Posted: 5th February 2025
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland (Screen Ireland) is proud to be the official Industry Partner of the Dublin International Film Festival 2025 (DIFF) taking place from 20th February to 2nd March 2025 and to support its line-up of industry and public events.
Industry Events
Moroccan Cinema Day
Friday, 21st February 2025 / The Complex / 10:00 - 16:00
As part of DIFF's Country in Focus: a celebration of Moroccan Cinema, this dedicated day will highlight case studies of collaboration between Ireland and Morocco as well as showcasing new opportunities. DIFF have partnered with the Centre Cinematographique Marocain (CCM) who will bring a group of experienced producers to discuss opportunities available for collaboration between Irish and Moroccan productions. The schedule of the day will include:
- Case Study: The Boy That Never Was: An in-depth discussion featuring Aoife O'Sullivan and Tristan Orpen Lynch from Irish production company Subotica and Moroccan producer Hamid Herraf sharing insights into their TV series filmed in Morocco.
- Introduction to Contemporary Moroccan Cinema: Presented by Abdelaziz el Boudaini, the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre (CCM), providing an overview of modern Moroccan filmmaking with producers Amine Benjelloun (Everybody Loves Touda), Sana Kilali (Dune Films), Ahmed Abounououm (Dune Films), Khaoula Assebab Benomar (Yaz’Image), Saloua el Gouni (Pink Sheep), Taha Benghalem (Pink Sheep).
- Shooting in Morocco: Locations and Services: A delegation of Moroccan producers will highlight Morocco’s production services, iconic filming locations, and opportunities for Irish-Moroccan collaboration, chaired by Khadija Alami (K Films).
- Meetings and One-to-One Networking: Facilitating networking between Irish producers both established and emerging with invited Moroccan producers.
The Moroccan Cinema Day is sponsored by the Moroccan Embassy.
Register for the Moroccan Cinema Day
International Film Programmers Panel
Saturday, 22nd February 2025 / The Complex / 10:30 - 12:00
Perfect your festival strategy with DIFF by engaging with top-tier festival programmers from around the globe. This panel offers a comprehensive discussion on festival policies, submission criteria and crucial deadlines, providing essential insights for those preparing international festival strategies and aiming at success.
Guests include:
- Karel Och – Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Czechia)
- Ania Trzebiatowska – Sundance Film Festival (United States)
- Rachel Rosen – New York Film Festival (United States)
- Madison Egan – Tribeca Film Festival (United States)
- Anastasia Lukovnikova – IndieLisboa (Portugal)
- Marcello Paolillo - Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland)
- Dominique Green - Dinard Festival of British & Irish Film (France)
The International Film Programmers Panel is supported by Culture Ireland.
Register for the International Film Programmers Panel
Next Generation (15-19) Programme Roadshow
Saturday, 22nd February 2025 / The Complex / 14:00 - 16:00
Networking lunch, Young filmmakers panel
Hosted by the IFI's Next Generation (15 -19) Programme, this special event is designed for young filmmakers aged 15 - 19 based in and around Dublin. Network with other young filmmakers and enjoy a discussion with The Future of Irish Film young filmmakers' network, award-winning young Dublin filmmakers, and special guests. This is a chance to meet likeminded filmmakers, learn about what is happening in Dublin, and explore how you can take your first steps towards working in film. Spaces limited, tickets are free, and booking is essential.
The Next Generation (15 - 19) Programme is supported by Screen Ireland.
National Talent Academies Networking Event at DIFF
Saturday, 22nd February 2025 / Light House Cinema / 20:00
The National Talent Academies are delighted to host a networking event at DIFF 2025, creating a space for filmmakers and crew to come together, network, and explore opportunities for future collaborations.
The NTAs’ focus is on fostering inclusivity and supporting the diverse spectrum of talent within Ireland's screen sector. In addition to networking, attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from the NTAs about upcoming training, opportunities, and events for 2025. Anyone engaged in or working within the Irish screen sector is welcome to attend.
The National Talent Academies will also host the world premiere of live-action and animation shorts produced under the First Credit Short Film Scheme and the NTA Short Film Fund on Friday, 21st February 2025, from 14:30 at the Light House Cinema.
The National Talent Academies are an initiative of Screen Ireland.
Register for the National Talent Academies Networking Event at DIFF
Learn more & book tickets for the National Talent Academy Shorts
Artist Film and the Festival Circuit: aemi in conversation with Anastasia Lukovnikova
Sunday, 23rd February 2025 / The Complex / 11:00 - 12:00
aemi is an Arts Council-funded organisation that supports and regularly exhibits moving image work by artists and experimental filmmakers. Since 2016 aemi has presented screenings in partnership with festivals and venues across Ireland and toured programmes of Irish and international work across the UK and Europe.
For this edition of DIFF, aemi co-director Alice Butler will lead a conversation with IndieLisboa festival programmer and film researcher Anastasia Lukovnikova about her background and interest in first-person, independent and analogue cinema.
Focus will be on effective strategies for navigating an international film festival circuit that has in recent years increasingly made space for more meaningful engagement with artist and experimental filmmaking practices.
Register for Artist Film and the Festival Circuit: aemi in conversation with Anastasia Lukovnikova
Documentary Masterclass with Melanie Miller
Sunday, 23rd February 2025 / The Complex / 12:00 - 13:00
Oscar-winning Producer Melanie Miller will be sharing her knowledge of the world of documentary making. She is best known for producing the documentary Navalny (2022), which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2023, as well as a plethora of other films including Stutz (2022) and Inventing Tomorrow (2018). DIFF will be screening Miller's film Maestra at the Royal Irish Academy of Music on Mon 24 Feb at 19:00.
Register for the Documentary Masterclass with Melanie Miller
Planet Placement: Sustainability & Storytelling
Sunday, 23rd February 2025 / The Complex / 14:00 - 15:00
The screen industries hold immense potential to influence attitudes and inspire action on climate change. By embedding environmental awareness into on-screen narratives, we can create a powerful shift in climate engagement.
Join our panel as they explore the concept of ‘Planet Placement;’ - the practice of integrating ecoconsciousness into screenwriting and storytelling. Hear from industry leaders who have successfully championed this growing approach, sharing their experiences, insights, and the impact of their work.
Register for Planet Placement: Sustainability & Storytelling
Irish Programmers Network
Monday, 24th February 2025 / The Complex / 11:00
Over the summer of 2020, a small group of Irish film programmers came together to share insights and knowledge about filmmakers, audiences, festivals and cinema exhibition and the move to online screening platforms. This group expanded rapidly to include many cinemas and film festivals throughout Ireland and the UK.
The group met on a monthly basis to share resources and updates on their events and were often joined by international colleagues who shared their experiences with the group, including at this annual dedicated event at DIFF. After the success of the in-person event last year DIFF would like to once again welcome programming colleagues to this event.
This year's event will hear from a panel of experts, including Lucy Costelloe, Head of Marketing at Ticketsolve and RTÉ Culture editor Derek O’Connor, about the issues facing film programming in Ireland today such as media, ticketing, representation and new audiences.
Afterwards, we are delighted to be able to offer lunch to our attendees, as well as time for a much needed catch-up and reflection of the day’s discussions.
If you are a cinema programmer or member of a film society please contact boxoffice@diff.ie
Focus on the Composer: Screen Composers Panel & Networking Event
Tuesday, 25th February 2025 / The Complex / 9:30 - 11:00
Presented by the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, join us for an exclusive chat with a selection of composers whose work is being shown at DIFF 2025. This panel will discuss every aspect of what it takes to write music for the big screen and the important role music plays in filmmaking. Make sure to keep an ear out for the new scores debuting in this year's Festival line-up and come along to meet the minds behind the music.
Register for Focus on the Composer: Screen Composers Panel & Networking Event
Directing Masterclass with Alexandre O. Philippe
Tuesday, 25th February 2025 / The Complex / 11:30 - 12:30
DIFF is delighted to welcome acclaimed director, writer, and producer Alexandre O. Philippe for an exclusive masterclass on the art of directing. Known for his gripping feature documentaries like 78/52 (2017), Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019), and You Can Call Me Bill (2023), Philippe is a master at telling compelling cinematic stories. His latest film, Chain Reactions (2024), which won the prestigious Venice Classics Award for Best Documentary on Cinema at Venice Film Festival 2024, is part of the DIFF 2025 programme at the Light House Cinema on Monday 24 Feb at 20:00.
Register for the Directing Masterclass with Alexandre O. Philippe
Parallel Frames: Connecting the Dots Between Ads & Film
Tuesday, 25th February 2025 / The Complex / 13:00 - 16:30
Presented by one of Ireland's leading commercial production companies, Antidote, this eye-opening schedule of talks with industry professionals who have successfully worked across both advertising and filmmaking will consist of three panels.
The first panel will focus on why and how creative talent in commercial production transitions into filmmaking. We have a very exciting line-up of industry professionals (to be announced) whose work spans both fields and will give an in-depth look at the crossover between the two.
The second panel will hear from the producers and directors of Antidote discussing the company's 20 years of making TV commercials and films. Participants will include Andrew Freedman (Founding Partner/Producer), Ken Wardrop (Founding Partner/Director) and Paula Stewart (Antidote Producer). Confirmed guests now include directors Rich Peppiatt (Kneecap), Lorcan Finnegan (The Surfer), and Brian Durnin (Spilt Milk).
The final panel will be an in-conversation with a special guest yet to be announced. Sign up to our mailing list at www.diff.ie to get programme announcements as they happen. We invite all attendees to join us for a round of specialty cocktails as we wrap up and reflect on the day's conversations.
Register for Parallel Frames: Connecting the Dots Between Ads & Film
International Sales Agent Event
Wednesday, 26th February 2025 / The Complex / 10:00 - 15:30
Following our hugely successful Sales Agents events over the last few years, DIFF have invited the top sales agents and film distributors from around the world to meet with Irish filmmakers at DIFF 2025, with an introduction by Orla Clancy from Creative Europe. Join us to learn more about current trends in sales and acquisition. Some of the agencies represented will include Indie Sales, Neue Visionen Filmverleih, Level K, Charades and ASC Distribution.
Distributors in attendance:
- Yann Kacou, ASC Distribution
- Torsten Frehse, Neue Visionen Filmverleih (Distributor)
Sales Agents in attendance:
- Alfred Deragne, Head of acquisition and sales at Indie Sales
- Mark Tucker, Level K
- Carole Baraton, Charades
Register for the International Sales Agent Event
Sustainability Through Festivals: A Collective Approach
Wednesday, 26th February 2025 / The Complex / 18:00 - 19:00
Hosted by Megan Best from Native Events and Julie's Bicycle Europe, both leaders in mobilising climate action, this panel will focus on how festivals can act as catalysts for improving sustainable practices, bringing together groups of venues to advance sustainable production and operations.
The panel, featuring sustainability expert Hannah Cox (The Better Business Network, Glastonbury Festivals, betternotstop) Karen English (Festival Manager, DIFF), Vanessa Fielding (Artistic Director and CEO, The Complex), and Amy Lynch (Event Manager, Light House cinema), will explore how festival networks and collectives can support these efforts and help chieve collective sustainability goals, with practical applications for the live event and festival sectors.
DIFF is committed to implementing sustainable practices year-round, especially during the festival and across our partner venues. In this spirit, DIFF invites other festival and live event coordinators to join the conversation and discover new ways to engage with this movement.
Register for Sustainability Through Festivals: A Collective Approach
Visual Storytelling: A Panel Discussion between Directors and Cinematographers
Thursday, 27th February 2025 / The Complex / 12:00
Join Directors Colm Bairead (The Quiet Girl, The Joy) and Colin McIvor (Zoo, No Ordinary Heist) alongside Cinematographers Kate McCullough ISC (The Quiet Girl, Normal People) and Damien Elliott ISC (Zoo, Four Letters of Love) as they explore Visual Storytelling and th collaboration between the Director and the Cinematographer.
Register for Visual Storytelling: A Panel Discussion between Directors and Cinematographers
X-Pollinator / DIFF: Producers Panel
Friday, 28th February 2025 / The Complex / 11:00 - 12:00
X-Pollinator is thrilled to host a panel at Dublin International Film Festival with a selection of Irish producers, presenting their latest work at this year's festival. This panel is an opportunity to hear from these experienced producers on how each of their projects developed from script to Dublin International Film Festival, approaches to their work, how best to approach and build relationships with producers and further insights on the current landscape for production in Ireland and abroad.
- Brunella Cocchiglia (Lovely Productions) - The Surfer
- Rachel Lysaght (Underground Films) - Testimony
- Collie McCarthy (Forty Foot Pictures) - Fran the Man
- Martina Niland (Port Pictures) - Four Mothers, Four Letters of Love
- Aoife Barry - Arts/Culture Writer & Broadcaster (Moderator)
This panel is open to members of the X-Pollinator alumni network, as well as a general audience engaging with DIFF's industry programme.
Register for X-Pollinator / DIFF: Producers Panel
New Narratives, New Voices
Friday, 28th February 2025 / The Complex / 17:30 - 18:30
This panel brings together accomplished filmmakers from around the world. Together they will explore the challenges of sharing diverse cultures with a global audience.
Discussion will centre around different approaches to navigating language, context, and storytelling whilst maintaining a strong cultural authenticity. This panel aims to explore how cinema helps shape, celebrate, and appreciate storytelling from multiple cultures on the global stage.
Register for New Narratives, New Voices
Elia Suleiman Masterclass
Saturday, 1st March 2025 / The Complex Gallery / 11:00 - 12:00
Join us for an exclusive chat with our Retrospective filmmaker for 2025: Elia Suleiman.
This masterclass will cover his life and work as a Palestinian filmmaker, from the sources of his inspiration to the completion of his films and how he takes local stories to the global stage. Suleiman has been a writer and director for over thirty years, won multiple awards at international festivals, including Cannes and Venice, and is renowned for the dark humour ever-present in his work.
Register for the Elia Suleiman Masterclass
Public Events & Special Presentations
Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club with Fiona Shaw
Friday, 21st February 2025 / The Complex / 16:00 - 17:00
DIFF is honoured to welcome BAFTA Award winner Fiona Shaw for an exclusive In Conversation event as part of the award-winning Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club. Hosted by acclaimed filmmaker Claire Dix, this special evening offers a unique opportunity sit in on a filmmaker-to-filmmaker conversation, in an intimate setting.
Fiona Shaw’s career spans film, television, and theatre, earning her a reputation for unforgettable performances. She is known globally for her sharp-witted turn as Carolyn Martens in Killing Eve, her iconic role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter series, and more recently, Maarva Andor in the Disney+ Star Wars series Andor. On stage, she has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, delivering acclaimed performances in Medea, Richard II, Hedda Gabler, and The Waste Land.
Leading the conversation is award-winning Irish filmmaker Claire Dix, whose visually striking and deeply human storytelling has earned widespread recognition. Best known for Sunlight and the award-winning documentary Broken Song, Dix brings a director’s perspective to the discussion, offering fresh insight into Fiona Shaw’s approach to acting and storytelling.
Fiona Shaw is also part of this year’s DIFF lineup with the premiere of her latest film, Park Avenue, directed by Gaby Dellal.
Register for Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club with Fiona Shaw
Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club with Justin Chang
Saturday, 22nd February 2025 / The Complex / 14:00 - 15:00
The Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club welcomes Justin Chang, one of the most respected voices in contemporary film criticism. Chang, a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, and a regular contributor to NPR’s Fresh Air, brings his sharp insights and deep passion for cinema to DIFF. Through an intimate In Conversation, expect to hear Chang’s unique perspectives on screen and cinema and their extraordinary cultural impact.
Register for Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club with Justin Chang
Silent Cinema: Restoration & Celebration
Sunday, 23rd February 2025 / The Complex / 16:00 - 17:00
As part of the expanded silent film programme, DIFF is thrilled to be hosting this discussion on silent cinema. From conservation to ongoing screenings to composing and playing live musical accompaniment, we'll dissect the world of silent cinema and its place on our screens today.
We will be joined by Serge Bromberg and Robert Byrne. Bromberg is a renowned French film restorer and accompanist, as well as a producer, writer and director. Byrne is the President of the Board of the San Francisco Film Preserve and has spent his life in dedication to the restoration and preservation of films.
Register for Silent Cinema: Restoration & Celebration
Meet the Cast: Spilt Milk
Monday, 24th February 2025 / The Complex / 14:00 - 15:00
Take a sneak peek behind the scenes of the casting process with this panel! We will be joined by several cast members including Cillian O’Sullivan, Naoise Kelly, Danielle Galligan, Laurence O’Fuarain, Lewis Brophy, Justin Daniels Anene, as well as their casting director Áine O’Sullivan from Spilt Milk which has its World Premiere in our programme this year.
The cast will tell us about their experiences of breaking on to the big screen for the first time and shine some light on the realities of being an actor on set.
Split Milk premieres at DIFF on Sunday, 23rd February 2025.
Register for Meet the Cast: Spilt Milk
Book your ticket for Spilt Milk
IFCO Lecture Series
Monday, 24th February 2025 / The Complex / 16:00 - 17:00
Following the success of the 2024 IFCO Centenary lecture series, DIFF is once again partnering with the Irish Film Classification Office to give a public platform to three emerging film and media students and early career researchers.
In 2024, the remaining IFCO records from the censorship period were deposited in the National Archives. These records represent a fascinating insight into cinema exhibition in Ireland and the central role which censorship played in shaping Irish film culture.
For 2025, our participants will give vibrant and exciting presentations on the extent to which the audience ratings awarded to theatrical content has reflected Irish society and evolving community values. The IFCO Collection in the National Archives is a rich information source in this regard. Contributors will present on their findings on the research of their choice:
- Conor Ryan: Born and raised in Dublin, Conor Ryan is a graduate of the National Film School at IADT. That means he can talk as loud as he likes in the cinema and there's nothing you can do about it. He writes about film and live comedy. His work has been published by HeadStuff, Anfa Collective, and Cambridge University. He hopes one day to become the fifth Beatle but he would also settle for becoming the second Groucho Marx. In his lecture, he explores the censorship of film comedy in Ireland with a particular focus on Monty Python's Life of Brian.
- Vanessa Byrne: Vanessa Byrne is a graduate of Screenwriting - Film Studies (M. Phil) at Trinity College Dublin. She is also a graduate of Drama, Theatre and Performance at the University of Galway and has studied at The School of Drama, The New School, New York. Vanessa has worked as an actor, director, stage manager and dramaturge across Ireland, the UK and the US. She has also worked across multiple festivals through Ireland and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Vanessa's lecture will seek to analyse and interrogate queer female representation in film over the last two decades and will ask how this representation has evolved over time.
- Denis Condon: Denis Condon is a lecturer in film at Maynooth University, where his research focuses on early Irish cinema. In this talk, he will be focusing on the operation of the Office of the Film Censor in its first year, following James Montgomery’s appointment in November 1923. Offering examples of how specific films were cut, he’ll be looking at the way the office interpreted the legislation to address the challenges from exhibitors/ distributors, cinema audiences, and lobby groups seeking strictly enforced regulation.
Register for the IFCO Lecture Series
Seanchoíche at DIFF 2025
Monday, 24th February 2025 / The Complex / 19:00
Seanchoíche (pronounced Shanna-Key-Huh) is a storytelling platform founded in Dublin, with nights hosted across the globe in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Australia and America.
Seanchoíche is collaborating with DIFF to give writers, directors, filmmakers, and other cinema creatives opportunities to share their stories. Stories may be personal anecdotes, other people's experiences, monologues, poetry or anything considered a story.
These storytelling sessions celebrate the rich tradition of oral storytelling while exploring its deep connection to the art of cinema. Join us for an evening where voices and visions intertwine, bringing new dimensions to the stories that shape our world.
Register for Seanchoíche at DIFF 2025
Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club with Twiggy and Sadie Frost
Tuesday, 25th February 2025 / The Complex / 17:00 - 18:00
A rare and unforgettable chance to hear from two iconic figures of film, fashion and contemporary culture: Twiggy, the Golden Globe winning actress and original supermodel, and Sadie Frost, acclaimed actress and director. Together, they'll share the story behind Twiggy, Frost's new documentary offering an intimate, glittering dive into the birth of a star, and everything that followed.
From revolutionising fashion to earning international acclaim as an actress, Twiggy remains a cultural icon whose influence transcends generations. With Frost bringing bold vision as a director to the screen, Twiggy explores eponymous model's upbringing, career, relationships and everything else that has made her the woman she is today.
This unmissable event is hosted by actress, writer, and Tanqueray Brand Ambassador Amy Huberman. Don't miss the Irish premiere of Twiggy - Mon 24 Feb, 18:00 at Light House Cinema.
Register for Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club with Twiggy and Sadie Frost
Volta Awards: Ed Harris
Wednesday, 26th February 2025 / The Complex / 16:00 - 17:00
Volta Awards: Jessica Lange
Thursday, 27th February 2025 / The Complex / 16:00 - 17:00
DIFF's Volta Awards honour outstanding contributions to the art of filmmaking. Named after Ireland's first dedicated cinema, the Volta Picture Theatre, founded by James Joyce, this prestigious accolade celebrates those whose work has captivated audiences and left a lasting legacy in the global film industry. Previous recipients include Danny DeVito, Steve McQueen, Julie Andrews and Kenneth Branagh.
This year's Volta Awards will be presented to Jessica Lange and Ed Harris. Both Volta presentations will be public events and include career retrospective and conversation with the recipients. Don't miss Long Day's Journey into Night, which stars both of this year's award recipients - Thursday, 27th February 2025, 18:00, Light House Cinema.
Register for Volta Awards: Ed Harris
Register for Volta Awards: Jessica Lange
In Conversation with Eddie Marsan
Saturday, 1st March 2025 / The Complex Gallery / 14:30 - 15:30
DIFF is delighted to present an exclusive In Conversation with Eddie Marsan, a versatile and highly respected actor known for his wide-ranging roles across film and television, who will be in town to support the Irish premiere of Fran The Man at DIFF 2025. Hosted by the beloved Irish actor and presenter Simon Delaney, this special event offers a rare opportunity to hear from Marsan about his craft, and experiences working across film and television.
With a career spanning over three decades, Eddie Marsan has established himself as a master of transformation, bringing depth and authenticity to every role. He has collaborated with some of the most acclaimed directors in the industry, including Steven Spielberg (The BFG), Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York), Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky, Vera Drake, All or Nothing), Guy Ritchie (The Gentleman, Sherlock Holmes), and Ridley Scott (The Last Duel). His performances in Happy-Go-Lucky earned him the British Independent Film Award for best Supporting Actor, showcasing his ability to bring nuance and complexity to any character.
Marsan's versatility has made him a staple in both independent cinema and major Hollywood productions. Fans of prestige television will also recognise him as Terry Donovan in the critically acclaimed series Ray Donovan, where he played the troubled yet resilient brother of Liev Schreiber's titular character across seven seasons. His television work also includes Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Pact, and The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe.
Register for In Conversation with Eddie Marsan
Testimony: A Discussion on Documentary as a Tool for Change
Saturday, 1st March 2025 / The Complex Gallery / 15:00 - 16:00
This panel brings together Senator Lynn Ruane, the filmmakers, and the activists, contributors and survivors behind Testimony to explore the power of documentary in the fight for justice. The film lays bare the resilience of those who survived Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes, exposing systemic abuse and the ongoing struggle for accountability.
With survivors and campaigners in the room, we’ll discuss how documentary can amplify silenced voices, challenge state and institutional narratives, and drive real change. What responsibilities do filmmakers have when working with survivors? How can documentaries be used as evidence in legal and advocacy efforts? And what role does the audience play in keeping the pressure on?
This is more than a conversation – it’s a call to action, highlighting the role of film in truth-telling, activism, and ensuring history is neither forgotten nor repeated.
Register for Testimony: A Discussion on Documentary as a Tool for Change