Dublin International Film Festival 2024 announces first festival highlights, including jam-packed Shorts Programme with over 40 films
Posted: 11th January 2024
The Dublin International Film Festival returns this Spring with a varied programme of some of the best new cinema from Ireland and around the world, as well as a host of special events planned across the ten-day event. The 22nd edition of the Festival will unfold from 22nd February and 2nd March, proudly supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and the Arts Council.
Early highlights from the 2024 programme were announced this week, including six shorts programmes showcasing over 40 shorts from Ireland and across the world: three DIFF curated screenings of 24 short films selected from 756 submissions from 16 countries; two Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland curated programmes of 13 shorts from the agency's funding schemes and a special Virgin Media Discovers Shorts programme, in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is again delighted to support Irish shorts this year with two curated programmes of 13 shorts from Screen Ireland's Focus and Frameworks funding scheme, including Oscar longlisted Two For The Road, Derek Ugochukwu’s Pediment and Grace Dyas’ Waiting Day. Emma Scott, Head of Distribution and Short Film Production at Screen Ireland, said:
There is an absolute wealth of storytelling represented across Screen Ireland-supported short film this year, from drama to horror to animation. We’re delighted to support more and more emerging voices each year – and are looking forward to connecting them with DIFF 2024 audiences."
The three DIFF curated screenings of 24 short films were selected from 756 submissions from 16 countries stretching from Japan in the east to the USA in the west, and from the northernmost reaches of Norway to the southernmost point in Uruguay. The four winning projects of the highly competitive Virgin Media Discovers 4 competition - Naomi Sheridan's Kiki, Seán Gallen's The Head on Him, Lee Loi Chieng's Never Kill a Femboy on the First Date and Colin Brady's Pregnant with a Drag Queen - were announced in November will make their premiere at the festival. More about the competition can be found here.
DIFF Shorts programmers Aisha Bolaji and Mohamed Tarek said:
We can't wait to share these films with our audiences, witnessing the transformation of images on a screen into windows that open to the hearts and minds of the viewers. Laugh, cry, and contemplate the intricacies of life with us as we present a film programme that transcends borders, connecting us all through the universal language of cinema.”
Gráinne Humphreys, director of Dublin International Film Festival said:
The short film format has always been a vital part of the festival, acting as both a showcase for future talent and as an exciting and dynamic art form. Join us and celebrate the wealth and diversity on offer."
Other early programme highlights include the announcement that the 2024 international film showcase will spotlight African Cinema, featuring seven films including Oscar favourite Four Daughters, as well as Sundance award winner Mami Wata. The latter film along with French film Toni and a season of international short films will tour to venues outside Dublin during the Festival, in association with access>Cinema, and with the support of the Arts Council.
Tickets are now on sale for the African season, the shorts programmes and DIFF Film Tour at www.diff.ie.
As announced previously, Isabelle Huppert will receive the DIFF Volta Award, and the festival closing night gala screening is the much-anticipated adaptation of John McGahern’s That They May Face The Rising Sun.
The full festival programme will be revealed on Monday, 22nd January with tickets to go on sale from 1pm.