Fresh Film Inspiring, Nurturing and celebrating excellence in young people's filmmaking
Fresh Film runs programmes throughout the year under four headings; Fresh Education, Fresh International, Fresh Production and Fresh International Film Festival featuring Ireland’s Young Filmmaker Awards.
Fresh Film encourages young people to make films and empowers them as artists.
Make. Watch. Share. Inspire
Submit for 2027
Celebrating Young film makers
Engaging film programmes
Liam Raymond: Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2026 – Full Winners List Inside
Celebrating 30 Years of Fresh Film: Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2026
our social media posts
Every year, Fresh Film supports young filmmakers to attend the @hsfilmfest in New York 🎬🗽
We’re so happy to have played a small part in helping @gracegonnactor get there and see her film on the big screen in Times Square. What a moment! ❤️ #iyftys #youngfilmmaker #freshfilm
🎬 WE’RE HIRING! 🎬We’re on the lookout for a Festival Coordinator to join the Fresh Film team for the 2027 Fresh International Film Festival & Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards! 🏆 Are you organised, passionate about film, and ready to support the next generation of creative talent? This full-time, hybrid role based in Limerick might be your next big step.
✨ Key Details:
🗓️ Contract: 18 Jan – 23 Apr 2027 (Fixed-term, 40 hrs/week)
⏰ Deadline: Friday, 13 November 2026 at 4 PM
All details, full job description, and application guidelines are live on our website! (Head to freshfilm.ie or check our main website link in bio) 💻✨
Tag a friend who would be perfect for this! 👇
#FreshFilm #Hiring #ArtsJobs #FilmFestival #Limerick YoungFilmmakers CreativeJobs ArtsAdmin JobOpportunity @filminlimerick
What an inspiring morning at Kerry International Film Festival! 🎬✨
Fresh Film’s Emma hosted the ‘Fresh Starts’ Careers Panel at @kerryfilmfest, guiding a brilliant conversation on breaking into the screen industry.
We also screened some amazing films from last year’s Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year, with a special focus on Kerry’s talented young filmmakers. A lovely opportunity to celebrate local talent on the big screen!
A massive thank you to our expert panellists, Kate Leys, Deirdre Barry, Gerard Barrett and Michelle Navarro, for giving young creators an honest look behind the scenes at script editing, production, directing and costume department logistics! 🎥
@avalonfilmsirl @kleys103 @barrettgerard
Have you filmed a horror short, a psychological thriller, or a eerie animation? 🎃
🎬Fresh International Film Festival loves genre films! Show us your scariest stories, your best jump scares, and your haunting atmospheres.
Submit your film to Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2027!
📅 Deadlines:
• International Submissions: 18 December 2026
• Island of Ireland Submissions: 15 January 2027
👉 Submit your work via FilmFreeway today (link in bio)! 🕷️
#FreshFilm #IYFTY2027 #HorrorFilm #YoungFilmmakers #FilmFreeway IrishFilm YouthInFilm ShortFilmSubmissions"
Looking for spooky inspiration this Halloween? 🎃👻
You don`t need excessive gore to make a brilliant horror film.
Here are 4 PG-13 / 12A classics that every young filmmaker should study for pacing, sound design, and creative tension:
1️⃣ A Quiet Place — For storytelling through sound and silence.
2️⃣ Coraline — For atmospheric stop-motion and visual storytelling.
3️⃣ Signs — For masterclass suspense and off-screen horror.
4️⃣ Ghostbusters — For blending sci-fi/horror elements with comedy.
Which spooky movie made you want to pick up a camera? Let us know in the comments! 👇
#FreshFilm #YoungFilmmakers #HalloweenInspiration #HorrorMovies #YouthInFilm PG13Horror FilmAnalysis IrishFilm"
A day of fresh ideas, new connections and filmmaking inspiration! 🎬✨
Our recent Hothouse workshop day was a brilliant chance for all our young filmmakers to meet and learn from the best.
We explored producing with @eamon_hughes, sustainability with @greenfromscripttoscreen and all things DOP with the fantastic @fionnuala_mccormack before rounding off the day with Fresh’s longtime mentor @lauraoshea91
A huge thank you to our guests for sharing their experience and insight, and to our young filmmakers for bringing such enthusiasm and curiosity.
With shoots kicking off over the coming weeks, it’s nearly time for “action!” and for @charlie.animates stop-motion film, the magic will happen one tiny movement at a time! 💛
#FreshFilm #Hothouse #irelandsYoungFilmmakers #talentdevelopment
Planning a spooky short film this Halloween? 🎃👻
You don`t need a huge budget or special effects to terrify your audience. It’s all about clever lighting, sound design, and building suspense!
Swipe through to check out 3 essential horror-filmmaking tips you can use on your next project.
What’s your favourite horror trope? Let us know below! 👇
#FreshFilm #HorrorFilmmaking #YoungFilmmakers #IndieFilm #FilmmakingTips ZeroBudgetFilm ShortFilm IrishFilm
Looking for inspiration before starting your next short film? 🎬
The best way to learn filmmaking is by watching great movies! Here are 4 essential films to study before you turn 18:
1️⃣ Lady Bird — For authentic character dialogue and direction.
2️⃣ Sing Street — For DIY energy and passion-driven projects.
3️⃣ The 400 Blows — For honest youth representation on screen.
4️⃣ Submarine — For creative framing and distinctive visual style.
Which movie inspired you to pick up a camera? Let us know in the comments! 👇
#FreshFilm #YoungFilmmakers #FilmInspiration #YouthInFilm #GretaGerwig LadyBird ShortFilm IrishFilm Cinematography
Myah Sullivan — What Still Glows
Flashback Series 🎬: Catching up with Myah Sullivan at HotHouse (DIFF, February 2026)! 🏡✨
Back when her magical realism story What Still Glows tackled the bittersweet emotions of leaving a childhood home. In this clip, Myah opens up about how a family saying and clearing out her gran`s house inspired the film, and shares her ambitions to get her next project ready for funding.
Want to see your own stories come to life? FilmFreeway is officially open for submissions for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year! 🚀
🎤 @elizabeth_monerawela
#FreshFilm #HotHouse #DIFF #DIFF2026 #YoungFilmmakers IrishFilm FilmFreeway FilmmakingLife @myah.makes.films
Proudly supported by our funders and partners: @screenireland, @rtejr and @artscouncilireland.
Massive congratulations to our young filmmakers whose short films have been officially selected for Koolifilm Festival in Estonia! 🇪🇪🎬
• What`s the Job? by Alana Gaston
• Iascaire by Lily Sheehan
• The Volunteer by Charlie Beimers
• The Leak by Mikey Mahon
Koolifilm is part of the Youth Cinema Network (YCN), and we are thrilled to see our Fresh Film talent showcasing their work on the international stage.
Huge well done to all four filmmakers! 👏✨
#FreshFilm #Koolifilm #YCN #YouthCinemaNetwork #IrishFilm YoungFilmmakers InternationalFilmFestival ShortFilm @youth_cinema_network @actually_alana_sometimes @lilysheehan_ @charlie.animates @mikeymahonn
Hugo Fearon — Fog Tooth
Flashback Series 🎬: Catching up with Hugo Fearon at HotHouse (DIFF, February 2026)! 🎨✨
Back when his creative project Fog Tooth blended live-action with animation on the big screen. In this clip, Hugo and the team talk about the inspiration behind their unique visual style and the excitement of seeing everything come together at the festival.
Want to see your own stories come to life? FilmFreeway is officially open for submissions for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year! 🚀
🎤 @elizabeth_monerawela
#FreshFilm #HotHouse #DIFF #DIFF2026 #YoungFilmmakers IrishFilm FilmFreeway FilmmakingLife @___hugoesthere
Proudly supported by our funders and partners: @screenireland, @rtejr and @artscouncilireland.
The official poster for the 2027 Fresh International Film Festival and Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year is here.
Submissions are open across Ireland and internationally.
If you’ve made a short film—or are currently working on one—you can submit it now on FilmFreeway.
Deadlines:
• International: 18 December 2026
• Ireland: 15 January 2027
Head to the link in our bio to submit your entry. 🎨 Artwork by @alemercado_art | Application Design by @pauleile
Proudly supported by our partners and funders:
@artscouncilireland | @limerickcouncil | @cnam.ie | @limerickclareetb | The Radharc Trust | @rtejr | @rte_supporting_the_arts | @animationireland | @omniplexcinemas | @screenireland | @screenproducersireland | @bowstreetacademy
#FreshFilm #IYFTY2027 #YoungFilmmakers #FilmFreeway #IrishFilm AleMercado
🌱 Most Sustainable Production Award — It’s about the process, not the plot! 🎬✨
Did you know that you don`t need to make a movie about the environment to win an eco award?
Sponsored by Screen Producers Ireland, the Most Sustainable Production Award recognises filmmakers who take active steps to make their film in an environmentally responsible way. From eco-friendly travel and recycled props to minimizing waste on set, we want to see how you put green filmmaking into practice! 🌍💡
How to enter:
1️⃣ Submit your short film on FilmFreeway for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2027.
2️⃣ Fill out the separate Sustainability Award form during submission to tell us about your green production steps!
📅 Submissions Deadlines:
• International Entries: 18 December 2026
• Island of Ireland Entries: 15 January 2027
Prove that creative production can also be green! 🚀
#FreshFilm #IYFTY2027 #SustainabilityAward #MostSustainableProduction #ScreenProducersIreland GreenFilmmaking YoungFilmmakers FilmFreeway IrishFilm @screenproducersireland
🎬 OFFline × FRESH 48 Hour Film Challenge! 🎬 YOUR CREW. YOUR STORY. ONE WEEKEND. ⏳✨
Are you aged 13–18 and ready to make a movie? Join us for an adrenaline-fueled 48 hours to create, shoot, and edit an original short film — then watch it premiere on the big screen at the OFFline Film Festival! 🎥🍿
📅 Dates: 9 – 11 October 2026
📍 Location: Birr, Co. Offaly
👥 Open to: Ages 13–18
💡 No experience necessary | Places are limited!
📩 Send us an email [email protected] 🚀
#FreshFilm #OFFlineFilmFestival #OFFlineFresh48 #48HourFilmChallenge #YoungFilmmakers IrishFilm Birr CoOffaly FilmmakingLife FilmChallenge"
Let’s take a moment to appreciate our beautiful IYFTY Awards ✨
Created by the hugely talented team @forgedesignfactoryire and made at the Maker Station in @lsadlimerick each award was made in Limerick using fully sustainable and recycled materials.
They really deserve an award of their own!
A huge thank you to @screenproducersireland for supporting these very special awards, celebrating the next generation of filmmakers 🎬
Want to be holding one next April? Applications for the 2027 IYFTYs are now open! 📸 @apphoto.ie
#FreshFilmFestival #IYFTYs #ScreenProducersIreland #LSAD ForgeDesignFactory MakerStation MadeInLimerick SustainableDesign
Adam Flannelly — Transit
Flashback Series 🎬: Catching up with Adam Flannelly at HotHouse (DIFF, February 2026)! 🚌✨
Back when his film Transit captured that strange, alien feeling of being a stranger in your own house after traveling. In this clip, Adam talks about the spark for his comedy, working with soul music licensing, and getting ready to shoot his next comedy about adolescence on a 36mm camera.
Want to see your own stories come to life? FilmFreeway is officially open for submissions for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year! 🚀
🎤 @elizabeth_monerawela
#FreshFilm #HotHouse #DIFF #DIFF2026 #YoungFilmmakers IrishFilm FilmFreeway FilmmakingLife
Proudly supported by our funders and partners: @screenireland, @rtejr and @artscouncilireland.
Lights, camera, career! 🚀 Photo recap from our time at Creative Calling / Creative Careers!
From inspiring conversations to empowering future directors and crew members, events like these remind us why supporting young talent is so vital for the future of Irish media. 🎬🔥
Huge thanks to all our incredible partners:
@artscouncilireland | @creativeskillnet | @creativeireland | @cnam.ie | @screenireland
#FreshFilm #CreativeCalling #CreativeCareers #IrishFilm #YoungFilmmakers ScreenIreland ArtsCouncilIreland
Lily Sheehan — Iascaire
Massive congratulations to Lily Sheehan from Limerick, officially selected for the Cinemagic International Film Festival in Belfast this October! 🎣🎬
Lily’s wonderful short Iascaire is in competition for the Audience Award – Best Irish Short Film. Seeing local talent travel to Belfast and showcase their work is what it`s all about. Huge congrats, Lily! 🏆
A big thank you to @cinemagic_filmfestival for selecting and supporting these talented directors! 🙌
Ready to take your filmmaking journey further? Submissions are open on FilmFreeway for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year! 🚀
#FreshFilm #Cinemagic #LilySheehan #LimerickFilm #IrishFilm YoungFilmmakers FilmFreeway FilmmakingLife
Sonny Santiago — Possessed by You
Huge congratulations to Sonny Santiago from Wicklow, officially selected for the Cinemagic International Film Festival in Belfast this October! 👻✨
Sonny’s striking short Possessed by You is officially in competition for the Audience Award – Best Irish Short Film. Seeing unique, independent young voices reach the big screen at Cinemagic is fantastic. Massive congrats, Sonny! 🏆
Special thanks to @cinemagic_filmfestival for championing independent youth cinema! 🙌
Want to share your own vision with the world? Submissions are open on FilmFreeway for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year! 🚀
#FreshFilm #Cinemagic #SonnySantiago #WicklowFilm #IrishFilm YoungFilmmakers FilmFreeway FilmmakingLife
CBS St. James St — Birdy
Massive congratulations to the students at CBS St. James St in Dublin, officially selected for the Cinemagic International Film Festival in Belfast this October! 🐦🎬
Their brilliant school project Birdy is in competition for the Audience Award – Best Irish Short Film. It’s amazing to see school-led filmmaking shining on the festival circuit. Well done to all the student creators involved! 🏆
Thank you so much to @cinemagic_filmfestival for inspiring the next generation of filmmakers! 🙌
Want to see your school project on the big screen? Submissions are open on FilmFreeway for Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year! 🚀
#FreshFilm #Cinemagic #CBSStJamesSt #DublinFilm #IrishFilm YoungFilmmakers FilmFreeway FilmmakingLife
