Back for its 23rd year, the Dublin International Film Festival (or DIFF as it's fondly known) kicked off this week with an incredible programme of screenings, masterclasses and events.
Running from February 20 to March 2, this year’s schedule spans 11 days and includes world premieres, star-studded red carpets, inspiring Q&As and a glitzy opening gala at which Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes will be in attendance. Stanley Tucci loves this festival, Andrew Scott wants you to buy film tickets and me? Well, I can’t bloody wait. Below are some of the highlights we at IMAGE are most looking forward to.
Aontas screening and Q&A
February 22
Three unlikely thieves, led by a woman on the verge of a breakdown, rob a rural Irish Credit Union. Opening in the tragic aftermath of the heist gone wrong, director Damien McCann’s film moves forward into the past to unravel the events that led to this point. What starts as a poorly executed robbery becomes a portrait of a wilful woman frozen in her own past. Aontas is about the moments we get trapped in and the memories that make prisoners of us but more than anything, it is about the choices that can change destinies. The screening will be followed by a 20-minute Q&A sesion with Mccann. There are still tickets available and you can get yours here.
Seanchoíche x DIFF
February 24
As a festival that celebrates the power of creative expression, it’s only fitting that DIFF would team up with Seanchoíche for one of their legendary storytelling evenings. Centred on the theme of creativity, the event will give writers, directors, filmmakers and other cinema creatives the opportunity to share a story about what that word means to them. The session aims to celebrate the rich tradition of oral storytelling while exploring its deep connection to the art of cinema – if you’ve been lucky enough to attend a previous event, you’ll know they’re pure magic. Tickets are still available and you can get yours here.
Maestra screening and Q&A
February 24
Maggie Contreras’s directorial debut, Maestra, profiles five incredible women from around the globe—each boldly breaking glass ceilings in the male-dominated world of orchestral conducting—who gather in Paris for ‘La Maestra’, the only competition in the world for female conductors. Mothers, daughters, rebels and leaders all compete with and support each other for the honour and their personal stories of perseverance are interspersed with moments of drama and excitement. When one of the participants, after a rejection, is told to smile more, it becomes clear that the real-life Lydia Társ still have a long road ahead of them. The screening will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A. You can get your tickets here.
Dag Johan Haugerud’s Love screenings
February 27
Marianne, a pragmatic doctor, and Tor, a compassionate nurse, are both avoiding conventional relationships. One evening, after a blind date, Marianne meets Tor on the ferry, and wonders if his philosophy of spontaneous and casual intimacy might be an option for her. The second instalment in celebrated Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s Sex Love Dreams trilogy, this is a delightful and honest look at modern relationships. Book your ticket to Love here.
Elia Suleiman masterclass
March 1
DIFF’s Retrospective filmmaker for 2025, Elia Suleiman is a Palestinian film director and actor whose work includes the 2019 film, It Must Be Heaven which will also be screened at the festival. This masterclass will cover Suleiman’s life and work, spanning the sources of his inspiration to his commitment to highlighting local stories on a global stage. Unfortunately, the event has already sold out but you can join the waitlist in case tickets become available in the meantime and check out Suleiman’s film retrospective screening at DIFF, featuring Divine Intervention and It Must Be Heaven. The screening of Divine Intervention will be followed by a Q&A with Suleiman.
Playback X DIFF: A Celebration of Irish Music Videos
March 1
Did you know that the first-ever music video played on MTV Europe was directed by an Irish person? Today, most Irish filmmakers making waves on a global level began their careers making music videos. In fact, the most watched pieces of entertainment in the world are almost all music videos. Seeking to explore the phenomenon in a special screening celebrating the best of Irish music videos as well as the directors behind them, this programme curated by Michael Donnelly V features insights from the filmmakers and includes work from the likes of Sam McGrath (Kojaque’s “Town’s Dead”), Tara O’Callaghan (Why Axis’ “Bloodstain”), Kevin Godley (U2’s “The Sweetest Thing”), Hugh O’Conor (Sinead O’Connor’s “8 Good Reasons”), and Bob Gallagher (Lankum’s “The Young People”). The screening will be followed by a 20-minute Q&A session as well as an exclusive afterparty. Tickets are still available and you can get yours here.
Chemi Bebia with live music
March 1
In this hilarious no-holds-barred Georgian satire, a hopelessly lazy paper-pusher tries to get his job back to avoid the wrath of his wife, by looking for a ‘grandmother’ – an influential bureaucrat who can provide a recommendation letter. Mikaberidze’s masterpiece exposes the alienation of the modern workspace and is as relevant today as it was in 1929. A gloriously imaginative firework of a film, banned for almost 50 years, this silent was recently restored and screened at the 2024 edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna. The screening features live accompaniment from Meg Morley. Tickets still remain and you can get yours here.
Visit diff.ie for a full breakdown of this year’s schedule of events, screenings and masterclasses.
Also Read
