From hidden gems to red-carpet spectaculars attended by directors and stars, every Festival is a celebration of cinematic excellence in all its forms. Our awards recognise outstanding achievements in documentaries, features and shorts, while the Dublin Film Critics’ Circle Awards distribute accolades from Ireland’s professional film critics and the Audience Award gives Festivalgoers a chance to vote for their favourite features and shorts.

But the Festival’s most prestigious accolade is the Volta. Named after Ireland’s first dedicated cinema, the Voltas are awarded each year to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the world of film. Previous recipients have included iconic figures such as Al Pacino, Julie Andrews, Ennio Morricone, Daniel Day-Lewis, Claudia Cardinale, Martin Sheen, Kristin Scott Thomas, Brendan Gleeson, Terry Gilliam and Angela Lansbury.

Many of these stars join us in helping to nurture the next generation of talent, as every year DIFF invites a wealth of leading industry professionals to run workshops, give talks, and offer inspirational advice. Over the years we’ve welcomed leading lights from every area of filmmaking, including writers and directors (and quite a few writer-directors), composers, producers and casting agents. Our Creative Catalyst series – introduced in 2019 – showcases the visionary figures (such as Sean Bailey, President of Walt Disney Motion Picture Production) who are changing what we see onscreen.

And that’s not all. With a host of special events, from exhibitions to live concerts, every Festival is unique. For a look at Festivals past, check out previous Festival programmes.

Whether you’re a dedicated film fan, an aspiring director, or you simply want to try out one of Ireland’s best festivals, the Dublin International Film Festival is for you. Be sure to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest news and events.