Dublin International Film Festival and Screen Ireland bring Irish cinema to campuses across Ireland
Posted: 10th September 2026
Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF), with the support of Screen Ireland, will bring a celebration of Irish cinema to college and university campuses across Ireland this September and October, with a nationwide touring programme designed to spotlight Irish cinema and inspire the next generation of filmmakers and audiences.
Running from September 22nd to October 19th, the initiative will visit six higher-education institutions across the country, bringing a different programme of Irish films and shorts to each campus. Students will have the opportunity to experience Irish cinema free of charge and meet the filmmakers and creative talent behind the work through introductions and post-screening Q&As.
The tour will visit:
- Dundalk Institute of Technology, Louth
Tuesday, September 22nd, 10.00am - The programme will feature An Cailín Ciúin, Garage and a selection of short films, with Garage writer Mark O'Halloran in attendance.
- Maynooth University, Kildare
Wednesday, September 23rd, 6.30pm - The Young Offenders, actor Chris Walley in attendance.
Wednesday, September 30rd, 6.30pm - Shorts Programme, filmmakers in attendance
Wednesday, October 7th, 6.30pm - That They May Face the Rising Sun, director Pat Collins in attendance
- Technological University of the Shannon, Limerick
Thursday, September 24th, 6.30pm - Waveriders, director Joel Conroy in attendance
Thursday, October 1st, 6.30pm - Garage, writer Mark O’Halloran in attendance
Thursday, October 8th, 6.30pm - Shorts programme, filmmakers in attendance
- South East Technological University, Carlow
Tuesday, September 29th, 1.00pm - The programme will feature An Cailín Ciúin, Adam & Paul and a Shorts Programme, with Adam & Paul writer Mark O'Halloran in attendance.
- Atlantic Technological University, Donegal
Tuesday, October 6th - The programme will feature The Pipe, An Cailín Ciúin and a Shorts Programme, with Risteard Ó Domhnaill, director of The Pipe, in attendance.
- Munster Technological University, Kerry
Monday, October 19th, 12:00pm - The programme will feature Sing Street, The Secret of Kells and a Shorts Programme, with Cartoon Saloon animator Fabian Erlinghäuser in attendance.
Each screening will take place in a lecture hall or screening room on campus, or a venue associated with the college, with capacities from 120 to 350.
Dates have been selected in collaboration with participating institutions to facilitate maximum student attendance. Through the Campus Tour, DIFF aims to bring Irish cinema directly to students across the country, creating opportunities for young audiences to discover Irish films, engage with filmmakers and talent, and gain insight into the creative process behind the work.
Louise Ryan, Head of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs at Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
Today’s students represent the future of the Irish screen industries, both as the audience members and as the next generation of talent who will shape the stories coming to our screens in the next decade. Screen Ireland is delighted to partner with DIFF to bring Irish film straight to their lecture halls, from modern classics to new short films from emerging talent. Our hope is that by having the opportunity to watch a wide variety of Irish stories on screen, and to speak directly with filmmakers about the creative process, that younger audiences will feel inspired to tell their own stories in the future.”
Commenting on the Campus Tour, DIFF Executive Festival Director Gráinne Humphreys said:
Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) is delighted to present this new initiative that will inspire new audiences to engage with cinema, made possible with the generous support of Screen Ireland. For a quarter of a century, DIFF has brought extraordinary stories to Irish audiences, and we are thrilled to present these titles chosen by each campus ahead of our 2027 festival, which will mark DIFF's 25th birthday. The Campus Tour has grown directly from our commitment to accessibility, fostering film culture, and celebrating Ireland's creative heritage through cinema."
Further information on individual screening times, programmes and attending talent will be available through the participating institutions and Dublin International Film Festival at DIFF.ie.