Yearly Festivals
Bringing the latest Irish films and talent to you
Na scannáin agus tallainne Éireannacha is déanaí a thabhairt chugat
IFTUK produces numerous Film Festivals and awards each year, which include:
The Irish Film Festival, London - our annual flagship event, this five-day Festival each January celebrates new Irish Films, hosting many World and UK Premieres. The opening gala is held in the Vue Cinema Leicester Square, with screenings & events around London. Expect to see the greatest Irish Films attended by Irish and international celebrities and behind the camera talent.
The Irish Film Awards - this exclusive red-carpet event is held each January/February and celebrates the best of the year’s Irish talent, by invitation only.
The Brigid’s Film Festival each January/February pertaining to the Patron Saint of Women, St Brigid, and showcases Irish female films & talent.
St. Patrick's Day Film Festival is held each March. As the official Film Partner for the Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and Trafalgar Square celebrations, IFTUK screens Irish Films & and hosts multiple workshops, panels and events surrounding the festivities.
IFTUK's Pride Festival each June - screenings, workshops and events dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ community.
Date to be confirmed IFTUK's Mental Health Film & Arts Festival
Upcoming Festivals
15th Irish Film Festival, London & Irish Film Awards
The 15th Irish Film Festival London will take place from 27 to 31 January 2027, with the Irish Film Awards taking place on 1 February 2027.
News of event screenings, workshops, masterclasses & networking events coming soon!
Submissions are open on FilmFreeway
Previous Festivals
IRISH PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL LONDON 2026
The Irish Pride Film Festival London had everyone wishing it was one more day! Held at the Irish Cultural Centre and Century Club, the festival celebrated the voices of Irish queer creatives alike on June 23, 26, and 27.
Irish Pride Film Festival London is proudly presented for the second year in a row by Q-IFTUK, the LGBTQ+ branch of the IFTUK and the only company dedicated to promoting Irish queer media, led by Derek Murphy, who also hosted the festival events. The festival worked in partnership with Screen Ireland and Culture Ireland.
The festival kicked off Tuesday with an Irish Queer Shorts Programme, screening shorts like “I Can Fix You” and Q-IFTUK Best Short film winner “Boobs,” an emotional exploration and rebellion against body shame in her documentary series depicting 100 nude portraits.
Friday started strong with more shorts, including favorites like “Night Glances” and hilariously brilliant “Mean Girls Gaelic Parody.” Last but certainly not least, the evening concluded with a drag extravaganza performance by Dragstar Orla Nothin’, with her iconic high energy shows keeping the audience lively well into the night.
The festival culminated with the award winning film “Girls and Boys,” and the “2026 Q-IFTUK Irish Pride Awards” Saturday evening, hosted by Q-IFTUK head Murphy. One final celebration to end the festival was celebrated with a rooftop DJ set by Groove Detective.
“The diversity of films and talent portrayed at the Q-IFTUK Irish Pride Film Festival was brilliant. I went from tears of laughter to little hiccoughing sobs and back again in a matter of seconds,” one attendee said.
Between the film screenings, networking events, and excellent sponsors like Madame F cocktails, the festival truly had something for everyone.
IRISH PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL LONDON 2026 AWARD WINNERS
Best Short Film BOOBS By Nicole Leddy
Best Performance CAILUM CARRAGHER
The Audience Award ANZIETY by David O’Carroll
A Special Mention went to NIGHT GLANCES by Sam Ahern:
"An honourable mention would be NIGHT GLANCES by Sam Ahern. They have a great directorial eye."
"We are beyond delighted about this year's festival, the love and support that we have received has been overwhelming and it is an absolute honour and joy to be able to spotlight and promote the huge amount of LGBT+ Irish Talent there is out there” Murphy said. “A massive congratulations to all our winners and to all the filmmakers and artists who were involved in this year’s festival. And a HUGE thank you to our audiences that came out to support us and help us grow. It has been an incredible three days. Let’s do it all again next year!”
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St Patrick's Festival 2026
What an amazing St Patrick's Film Festival we had this year! It all kicked off in London's Trafalgar Square on Sunday 15th March with the Mayor of London's St Patrick's Parade arriving in the Square. The IFTUK stand was busy all day with queues of people from 12 until 6pm having their selfies taken with their favourite Irish stars from our stand.
We partnered with our friends at the Irish Creative Collective and screened two Irish Short Film Programmes during the day.
On St Patrick's Day itself we launched a separate free programme of eighteen Irish Short Films from the IFTUK App. The Programme will be running until the 30th March so download the IFTUK App for free from the App store and enjoy!
Our Partners, the Century Club, launched their Hibernia week and on St Patrick's Evening itself held a Trad evening in the Club. Irish actor & musician who starred in the Irish Film Festival London 2026 opening film, TRAD, Labhras Sonnai Cholm Learraí headed the music line up with the Galway Paddy's.
Also at the Century we had a lively and entertaining St Patrick's Special MASTERS AT WORK where we screened another separate programme of short Irish films. IFTUK's Advisory Group member Dominique Murphy - de Neef interviewed six of the filmmakers, followed by a lively and engaging Q & A and networking late into the night.
This is what the filmmakers said:
“Thrilled to be asked, the team were amazing. Having the chance to see them in action in Trafalgar Square as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations was great has a truly encouraging effect.” - Ruth Carnegie
“Loved our experience at the St Patrick's Film Festival London with One Last Show in Taghmon. A big thank you to everyone involved.” Alan Walsh
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IRISH FILM FESTIVAL LONDON 2025 UNVEILS AWARD WINNERS
IFTUK Is Pleased To Congratulate The Following Awards Winners From The Irish Film Awards, London 2025
Best Feature Film - 'Aontas' | Special Mention - 'Ready Or Not'
Best Feature Documentary - 'Testimony'
Suile Eile Award For Contribution To Irish Film - 'Brenda Fricker'
Best Short Film - 'Three Keenings' | Special Mention - 'Purebred'
The Ros Hubbard Award For Acting - 'Naimh Mccormack'
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2025 IFTUK PRIDE FILM FESTIVALS
The inaugural 2025 IFTUK Pride Film Festival took place on the 2nd and 4h July at the Century Club and was a great success. In partnership with the London Irish LGBT Network, Peccadillo Pictures & The Century Club and supported by industry partner Screen Ireland, the Festival showcased a diverse range of Irish films and talent, with a strong focus on LGBTQ+ themes and Irish language cinema. The Festival included screenings, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and networking events, while celebrating Irish culture and fostering connections within the Irish community in London. Overall, the IFTUK Pride Film Festival provided a valuable platform for queer Irish filmmakers to share their work, connect with new audiences, and celebrate Irish culture in London.
In addition, the collection of Irish language LGBTQ+ shorts are being shown until the end of July on the IFTUK free to download app.
Here is what some of the audience said:
“I Enjoyed the film last night, very emotional and heartwarming at the same time. Thank you, IFTUK.” - Dean Lapper
"What a beautiful night!" - Graham Cantwell, Director of WHO WE LOVE
"Wonderful evening celebrating Irish Queer films, what a joy to attend and celebrate these beautiful shorts." - Edyta Budnik
"Brilliant evening last night for the Queer Irish diaspora with the Irish Pride Film Festival with sparking compere Derek Murphy." - Joseph Healy
"Thank you—for recognising the value of this work, and for making space where it’s so often denied"- Pradeep Mahadeshwar, filmmaker
"Glad I managed to catch the good craic at the inaugural Irish Pride Film Festival - more film and cabaret comedy on Friday too!" - Smithy's here
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2025 ST PATRICK’S FILM FESTIVAL
As part of the Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Celebration in Trafalgar Square on the 16th March, we screened two Short Film Programmes in the Irish Creative Collective Marquee during the day, which included VINNY, RUBY, CANDLELIGHT, BOOGALOO & GRAHAM, COLOUR ME PINK & DEAR IMELDA .
Filmmaker and musician Nick Kelly travelled sustainably from Dublin to Trafalgar Square to join the St Patrick’s Day Parade, perform live on the main stage in Trafalgar Square, whilst showing clips from his film THE SONG CYCLE. The crowd enjoyed their “selfies” with their favourite Irish Stars from the IFTUK stand in the Square. The IFTUK App showed an additional collection of Irish films. Click here to see Nick Kelly's journey: https://youtu.be/yySg5mW9occ
In partnership with Wise Women, we enjoyed an informative and animated evening from the Wise Women Platform with renown published writer of nine novels and numerous award-winning screenplays, Denise Deegan, and multi-award-winning writer/director Maeve Murphy.
In partnership with the Century, legendary Casting Director Amy Hubbard and her Associate, Heidi Lawry, chatted with IFTUK’s Nicola Wadell, on all things casting to a packed audience.
This is what filmmaker Declan Curran said:
“We just wanted to say a big thank you for including DEAR IMELDA in your fantastic arrangement of films yesterday, we were in excellent company and it was a perfect set up to be able to view and appreciate everything with such lovely feedback! Hats off to you and the entire team and thank you for all the work you do in promoting DEAR IMELDA in the big smoke, our voices would only echo so far without you.”
Comments from the online and in person workshops:
"What an inspiring event, thank you for sharing with us!"
"Thank you, this has been a fascinating evening."
"Maeve and Denise have been so generous with their advice and tips and even shared their contacts with us. Thank you so much.”
"Amy & Heidi have given me so much to think about, thank you for an incredible event. I am totally motivated and clear about how to approach casting agents. Thank you again."
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2025 ST BRIGID'S FILM FESTIVAL
The feature documentary “Mrs Robinson” was shown to packed cinemas in Glasgow, London and Birmingham. At the sold out screening at The Kiln Cinema in London we were delighted to welcome Mary Robinson herself who thrilled the audience with a lively and interesting Q & A.
With our Partner, the Century Club, we hosted a live workshop with legendary filmmakers Julie Baines, Maeve Murphy & Farah Abushwesha as well as an online Masterclass from the Wise Women Platform with Edwina Forkin & Tara Gaule.
The IFTUK App screened film collections from female filmmakers Patricia Kelly, Chiara Viale, Jeda de Bri & Maeve Murphy.
Highlights from the Irish Film Festival London 2024 event
"We had an amazing time at Irish Film Festival London. The screening was an amazing experience and to win the award was a wonderful icing on the cake. Memories we will never forget. The hospitality shared by the IFFL team was second to none and we can’t wait to be back with our next film."
Dermot Malone, Director, King Frankie
"I was so pleased to be able to present our film at the Irish Film Festival London. The screening went brilliantly well and it was helpful that the cinema was so central. Thanks to all the IFFL staff who looked after me and flew me over and back."
Jeremiah Cullinane, Producer, The Flats
"Just want to express my heartfelt thanks for having Naked Lights at the festival. The whole team are delighted with the award and I had such a great time at all the screenings."
Jeda de Bri, Director, Naked Lights
"Just to say thank you ever so much to you and all the team for organising such a wonderful festival. It really was a fantastic few days of film, Q&As, and meeting of faces, old and new! Highlights for me were King Frankie and Bring them Down, both beautiful films, and, of course, the fabulous night at the embassy, Many congratulations to you all on a job incredibly well done. This festival is my festival highlight of the year and it has been a joy seeing it grow from strength to strength over the last few years!"
Jack C. Irwin, Writer/Actor
Highlights from the St Brigid & St Patrick’s
Celebration of Irish Film 2024 event
Following on from the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in London's Trafalgar Square, where Irish Film and TV UK thrilled the crowd with free selfies taken with their favourite celebrities from the IFTUK stand, we presented a programme of films celebrating the strength and diversity of Irish cinema in celebration of both St Brigid & St Patrick.
St Patrick’s screenings with lively Q & A events were held at the Curzon Cinema Soho and the ICA Cinema hosted the St Brigid screenings and Q & A's, celebrating female voices.
Free to Irish screen film were also available to view on the IFTUK App.
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Highlights from this year’s Irish Film Festival London 2023 event
"It was a truly memorable occasion to have our UK premiere of 'One Night in Millstreet' at the Irish Film Festival London, and at the bright lights of the VUE in the West End no less. A great platform for Irish films to directly reach Irish and UK audiences, we'll certainly be back with future projects. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Hayden, Carey Fitzgerald, JoJo Dye, and all the team, for all their support and taking such good care of us."
Morgan Bushe, Producer, ONE NIGHT IN MILLSTREET
“The Verdigris cast and crew had a terrific time at the 2023 Irish Film Festival London. It's such a special festival with a great atmosphere and excellent lineup of films and events. The festival's hospitality and welcome made each of us look forward to returning with future projects."
Patricia Kelly, Writer/Director VERDIGRIS
“Fantastic Festival. Great films, a celebration of film and people.”
Eugene Doyen, Senior Lecturer in Film Practice, Queen Mary University of London & IFTUK Champion
“I'm still smiling at the lovely reception we received from the Irish Film Festival, London. Thanks to Carey, Michael Julie and Jo Jo and the whole team of volunteers who could not have been nicer to us.”
Geradine McAlinden, Lead Actor, VERDIGRIS
"My main regret is (partly because I was preparing for my own workshop etc..) not seeing other films at the festival which I now realise were excellent. May the festival prosper and spread! Many thanks for your hospitality."
Joe Comerford, Filmmaker and recipient of the Suile Eile Award for his contribution to Irish Cinema
“The Irish Film Festival London is a fun, welcoming, vibrant and inclusive festival that recognises the unparalleled quality and power of Irish cinema. I look forward to being involved in IFFL in years to come.”
Paul FitzSimons, Producer VERDIGRIS
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