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Virgin Media Discovers Premieres Four New Short Stories at DIFF 2026

Virgin Media Discovers Premieres Four New Short Stories at DIFF 2026

Posted: 19th February 2026

Now Available on Virgin Media PLAY and Airing on Virgin Media One

Last weekend, Virgin Media Television (VMTV), in partnership with Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, premiered four brand‑new short films from this year’s Virgin Media Discovers 6 at a special screening in the Light House Cinema as part of this year’s Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF).

Virgin Media Discovers is a key annual platform that celebrates original Irish storytelling and supports both emerging and established creatives. Each year, the initiative brings bold and thought‑provoking new work to the big screen at DIFF, championing stories that reflect contemporary Ireland and the talent behind them.

Speaking on this year’s winning projects, VMTV Director of Programming, Anthony Nilan, said:

“Last night’s premiere was a powerful reminder of the originality and courage we continue to see in Irish storytelling on screen. We are immensely proud to be able to give a platform to original Irish voices, spark important conversations, and showcase the remarkable creative talent across the country. These films are bold, timely, and beautifully crafted, and we’re thrilled to bring them to our audiences at home on Virgin Media PLAY and Virgin Media Television.”

Following the premiere, all four short films are now available to stream on Virgin Media PLAY, with each set to air on Virgin Media One from next week.

Details of the four winning projects and their linear air dates are below:

SUB5

Created by Rhona McAuliffe (Writer), Tom Hopkins (Producer) and Laura Kavanagh (Director).

A tense, contemporary social thriller exploring the dark crossover between online misogyny and real-world danger. When a teenage son sabotages his mother’s online dating attempts as a bitter prank, he unleashes a threat he can’t control – turning clicks into consequences and a desperate race against time.

Lydia

Created by Caleb J Roberts (Writer & Director) and Anna Callan (Producer).

In October 2007, Dr. Lydia Foy returns to the Irish High Court after years of trying to be legally recognised as female. During the case, she spoke openly about the emotional strain of a system that repeatedly denied her identity. As tensions rose in court, Lydia was forced to confront the decision to continue her case alone, ultimately choosing to press forward. In a landmark ruling, Justice Doherty found that the absence of gender recognition legislation breached human rights, however, Lydia’s fight, despite this victory, continued for another eight years.

Samhain

Created by Amy De Brún (Writer & Actor), Michael Donnelly V (Producer), and Seán Branigan (Director).

A stressed mother is thrust into crisis when her autistic son, Samhain, goes missing from preschool. After a turbulent morning and difficult news about his future at school, she’s pulled from work by the call every parent fears. Searching in the nearby forest, her panic unravels into long‑buried grief. In the depths of her despair, she slips into her son’s imaginative fairytale world, moving through the gestures and language that shape his reality. When Samhain eventually is found, she finally understands him on his terms. Hand in hand, they return – the world still frantic around them, but no longer between them.

Emergency Accommodation

Created by Seán Connolly (Writer), Eamonn Keane (Producer), and Kate Haley (Director).

Joe, a homeless man, ends up in a severely overcrowded emergency department under Garda custody. After a few unexpected opportunities, he manages to escape into the hospital using the chaos of the Irish healthcare system as his cover. As he finds places to wash, rest and eat, Joe watches the growing strain on Eve, a junior doctor, who is left to manage the emergency department on her own. Seeing the staff battle exhaustion and overwhelm, Joe begins to question the safety and shelter he thinks he’s found.

Also, at last night’s Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTAs), the 2025 Virgin Media Discovers short story No Time Wasters by Tara O’Callaghan received a nomination for the 2026 Redbreast Short Film Award. The film follows Marianne, a young woman on the verge of homelessness, as a seemingly hopeful house viewing turns into a situation where the lines between help and exploitation become dangerously blurred.

Virgin Media Discovers, in association with Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, continues its commitment to championing diverse, ambitious and original Irish stories. Viewers can stream all four short films now on Virgin Media PLAY, with each project broadcasting on Virgin Media One throughout the coming week.