Dublin International Film Festival

The Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF; Irish: Féile Scannán Idirnáisiúnta Bhaile Átha Cliath) is an annual film festival held in Dublin, Ireland, since 2003.[1]

Dublin International Film Festival
LocationDublin, Ireland
Founded2003
Most recent2024
Festival dateFebruary/March
LanguageEnglish and others
Websitediff.ie

History

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Dublin International Film Festival was established in 2003. It was revived by Michael Dwyer, international film critic and The Irish Times Chief Film Correspondent, along with David McLoughlin, film producer. The original Dublin Film Festival was founded in 1985 by Michael Dwyer and journalist and broadcaster Myles Dungan. David McLoughlin joined while still an undergraduate in Trinity College Dublin. The festival was established to present an opportunity for Dublin's cinema-going audiences to experience the best in Irish and international cinema.

"Dublin has remarkable film attendance per capita, among the highest in Europe, certainly the highest in the EU," Dwyer said in a 2003 interview. "It seems absurd that the city didn't have an international film festival."[2]

The festival secured €25,000 in funding from the Arts Council of Ireland for planning purposes the first year which has since increased to over €100,000. Jameson Irish Whiskey was the title sponsor of the festival providing significant support for many years and backing the festival with a major marketing campaign; it was called the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF). The festival was also supported by a number of significant partners including The Irish Times, FM104, Conrad Hotel, Cineworld, McConnells, MSL Mercedes-Benz, Windmill Lane and Cine Electric. Other funders include The Irish Film Board, Dublin City Council, Fáilte Ireland and a number of Cultural Institutions including the Goethe-Institut.

In 2007, the festival introduced a career achievement award, the Volta Award, to celebrate individuals who have made a significant contribution to the world of film. In the same year the festival also introduced the Audience Award recipients of which include Once and the surfing documentary Waveriders.

Festival venues include the Screen Cinema, Hawkins Street; Cineworld, Parnell Street; the Savoy Cinema, O'Connell Street and the Irish Film Institute, Eustace Street. In 2008 Movies@Dundrum was used as a venue. In 2009 the Light House Cinema, Smithfield was added as a venue.

2008 saw a significant change to the festival's executive with Gráinne Humphreys replacing Michael Dwyer as Festival Director and Joanne O'Hagan assuming the role, formerly held by Rory Concannon, of chief executive officer. Michael Dwyer assumed the position of Chairman of the Dublin International Film Festival Board with David McLoughlin stepping down.

Over 38,000 admissions were recorded for the 2008 festival for ticketed events. Non ticketed events include a citywide installation Dublin on Screen to celebrate Dublin's cinematic heritage. The initiative featured films shot on location in Dublin and screened on the very spot that they were shot on.

The festival has come to be regarded as an important event for the cinema of Ireland, bringing together film-makers, actors, producers and other celebrities from Ireland and around the world. The festival continues to be committed to supporting film and in 2008 initiated a significant International Screen Writing Award, Write Here, Write Now. The winner of the award was announced at the 2009 festival which took place from 12 – 22 February 2009.

In 2016, the original sponsors, Jameson, were replaced by Audi after thirteen years of sponsorship. The festival was then called the Audi Dublin International Film Festival (ADIFF) and the new sponsorship deal lasted three years.[3]

In 2018, Virgin Media Ireland committed to sponsoring the festival for three years, starting in 2019, and it was called the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (VMDIFF) .[4] Since 2022 the festival has had no name sponsor.[5]

Awards

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The festival introduced the Volta Awards in 2007. The award is named after Dublin's first cinema, the Volta Picture Theatre, established by author James Joyce in 1905.[6] Awards are given for career achievement and audience favourite. Critics' awards were first presented in 2009. The Michael Dwyer Discovery Award' was created in 2010 after his death to honour Irish people working in film.

2007

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2008

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The 2008 festival was held from 15 to 24 February 2008.

 
Screen Cinema decorated for the 2008 JDIFF

2009

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2010

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The 2010 festival was held from 18 to 28 February 2010.

Career Achievement Awards:[11]

Audience Award: His & Hers

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards:[12]

2011

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The 2011 festival was held from 17 to 27 February 2011.

Career Achievement Awards:

Audience Award: Benda Bilili!

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards:

2012

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Volta Awards:

Audience Award: The Raid: Redemption

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards:

2013

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The 2013 festival ran from 14 to 24 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[16]

Jury Prizes were awarded to:

2014

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The 2014 festival ran from 13 to 23 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[17]

Jury Prizes were awarded to:

2015

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Special guest Ryan O'Neal shares about the festival in 2015

The 2015 festival ran from 19 to 29 March.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[18]

Audience Awards went to:

Special Jury Prizes were awarded to:

2016

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Cast of Sing Street at the 2016 Dublin International Film Festival. Left to right: Percy Chamburuka, Mark McKenna, Kelly Thornton, Ben Carolan, Karl Rice, Conor Hamilton.

The 2016 festival ran from 18 to 28 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[19]

AUDI-ence Awards went to:

Special Jury Prizes were awarded to:

ADIFF Discovery Awards went to:

2017

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The festival ran from 16 to 26 February.

Volta Career Achievement Awards:

The Dublin Film Critics' Circle selected the following winners:[21]

Special Jury Prizes were awarded to:

AUDI-ence Award:

ADIFF Discovery Awards went to:

  • John Connors, actor on The Secret Scripture and Breathe
  • Niamh Algar, actor on Without Name, Pebbles and Gone
  • Vincent Gallagher, writer/director on Second to None and Love is a Sting[23]

2018

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The festival began on 22 February. Its ending was extended to 12 March due to the "Beast from the East" snowstorm.[24]

Volta Career Achievement Award:

  • Paul Schrader, writer and director
  • Vanessa Redgrave (missed 2017 ceremony due to illness)

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:[19]

Jury Prizes were awarded to:

ADIFF Discovery Awards went to:

Short film awards:

AUDI-ence Awards went to:

Fantastic Flix Children's Jury Awards

2019

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Virgin Media Ireland was the sponsor for the 2019 festival, which was held 20 February – 3 March.[27]

Volta Awards:

Short film awards:

Audience Awards went to:

Discovery Awards went to:

Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival Documentary prize:

Dublin Human Rights Film Award:

Children's Jury Awards:

Young Programmer's Choice Award:

The Dublin Film Critics Circle selected the following winners:

2020

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The 2020 festival took place between 26 February and 8 March.

Volta Awards:

Audience Awards:

  • Virgin Media Audience Award: Endless Sunshine on a Cloudy Day (dir. John Connors)
  • Virgin Media Audience Award, Short Film: Iarscoláire (dir. Shaun Dunne)
  • Fantastic Flix Audience Award: Onward
  • Fantastic Flix Audience Award, Short Film: The Girl at the End of the Garden

Aer Lingus Discovery Awards:

Documentary Competition:

  • Special mention: Women Make Film: A New Road Trip Through Cinema
  • Winner: Confucian Dream, director Mijie Li

Short Film Awards, supported by Griffith College:

  • Special Mention International Short Film: Adnan
  • Best International Short Film: Quiet Land Good People
  • Special Mention, Irish Short Film : Innocent Boy, dir. John Connors
  • Best Irish Short Film: Welcome to a Bright White Limbo, dir. Cara Holmes

Irish Council for Civil Liberties Human Rights Film Award:

Lifetime Contribution Award: Liam Cunningham, actor

Fantastic Flix Jury Awards, as chosen by The Ark's Children's Jury:

  • Feature Film: Onward
  • Short Film: Streets of Fury, dir. Aidan McAteer

Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards:

2021

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The 2021 festival took place during 3–14 March.[34]

Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards:

2022

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The 2022 festival took place from 23 February to 6 March.[35] Adam McKay received the Volta Award.[36]

2023

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The 2023 festival took place from 23 February to 4 March.[37] Actress Emily Watson received the Volta Award.[38]

Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards went to:[39]

2024

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The 2024 festival took place from 22 February to March 2.[41]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Duaiseanna do dhá fhadscannán Gaeilge ag Féile Scannán Idirnáisiúnta Bhaile Átha Cliath". Tuairisc.ie.
  2. ^ Fricker, Karen (6 February 2003). "Dublin gets new film fest". Variety. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Audi Announced as new title sponsor of Dublin International Film Festival Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  4. ^ Slattery, Laura. "Virgin Media rolls out red carpet for Dublin International Film Festival". The Irish Times.
  5. ^ "Pages". Dublin International Film Festival.
  6. ^ The Voltas Archived 17 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival; retrieved 29 November 2007
  7. ^ Festival Launches Awards With Oscar Hopeful Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine , Jameson Dublin International Film Festival; retrieved 29 November 2007
  8. ^ Dublin International Film Festival, Internet Movie Database; retrieved 29 November 2007
  9. ^ a b c Donald Clarke (2 February 2009). "Spooky kids and serious vampires". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2009. (subscription required)
  10. ^ "Oscar-nominated 'Doubt' opens Dublin Film Festival". The Irish Times. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. (subscription required)
  11. ^ JDIFF announce recipients of this year's Volta Awards Archived 27 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Filmbase; retrieved 24 February 2010
  12. ^ "Fading light on film festival". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Festival, critics give out gongs". The Irish Times.
  14. ^ "Dublin Critics Circle Awards Announced | Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals | Jameson Dublin International Film Festival". jdiff.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Filmbase". filmbase.ie. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  16. ^ JDIFF 2013: Winners at the 2013 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival Film Ireland, 26 February 2013.
  17. ^ "DUBLIN FILM CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCE JURY AWARD WINNERS AT JDIFF | Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals | Jameson Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  18. ^ "DUBLIN FILM CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCE JURY AWARD WINNERS AT JDIFF 2015 Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals | Jameson Dublin International Film Festival". jdiff.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Winners at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival Festival News, Cinema Listings, Cinema Tickets, Gift Vouchers, Daily Deals – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  20. ^ "#ADIFF16: Winners announced for Audience, Short Film, and Discovery Awards – Scannain". 29 February 2016.
  21. ^ "The DFCC Awards at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  22. ^ "The Farthest Wins the AUDI-ence Award at ADIFF17 – Audi Dublin International Film Festival".
  23. ^ "Discovery Award – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". diff.ie.
  24. ^ "Home – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". diff.ie.
  25. ^ Niall (5 March 2018). "#ADIFF18: Award winners announced for 2018 Audi Dublin International Film Festival".
  26. ^ "ADIFF 2018 Discovery Awards, Shorts Awards, the Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards and the Fantastic Flix Children's Jury Awards Announced". screenireland.ie.
  27. ^ "Virgin Media Announced As New Title Sponsor for Dublin International Film Festival" (Press release). 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  28. ^ "Volta Award – Dublin International Film Festival – Audi Dublin International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 28 April 2017.
  29. ^ "Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2019 Award Winners Announced – Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival". diff.ie.
  30. ^ Clarke, Donald. "Jessie Buckley and Hugh O'Conor scoop Dublin film festival prizes". The Irish Times.
  31. ^ "Review of Irish Film @ DIFF 2019: DIFF Shorts #4 – Film Ireland". filmireland.net. 13 June 2019.
  32. ^ Murphy, Niall (9 March 2020). "Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2020 announces awards winners". Scannain.
  33. ^ "Award Winners at VMDIFF20". DIFF Festival Limited.
  34. ^ "Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (@DublinFilmFest) | Twitter" – via Twitter.
  35. ^ "Dublin International Film Festival '22 DFCC Award winners announced" (Press release). Dublin International Film Festival. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Adam McKay receives Volta Award as VMDIFF opens with gala screening of An Cailín Ciúin – Dublin City Film Office".
  37. ^ "Festival Schedule 2023". Dublin International Film Festival.
  38. ^ "DIFF 2023: Emily Watson to receive Volta Award as full programme unveiled | The Irish Film & Television Network". www.iftn.ie.
  39. ^ "Rodrigo Sorogoyen's The Beasts crowned Best Film at the Dublin International Film Festival". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 7 March 2023.
  40. ^ "Dublin International Film Festival: The moving My Sailor, My Love named best Irish movie". The Irish Times.
  41. ^ "Dublin International Film Festival's 2024 Submissions are now open | The Irish Film & Television Network". iftn.ie.
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53°21′02″N 6°16′01″W / 53.350449°N 6.26707°W / 53.350449; -6.26707