Emma Whelan: Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025 – Full Winners List Inside

Dublin student Emma Whelan crowned Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025 **Fresh International Film Festival, in collaboration with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, The Arts Council, Coimisiún na Meán, and Omniplex Cinema Group, proudly announces the winner of Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025: Emma Whelan from Finglas, Dublin.

•  Watch all the winning short films over on Fresh Film YouTube
•  Media Images and Publicity Materials Download Here

On April 10, Ireland’s next generation of young filmmakers stepped into the spotlight at the Fresh International Film Festival Awards, livestreamed from Omniplex Rathmines and hosted by comedians Justine Stafford and Hannah Mamalis, with red carpet coverage from actor and comedian Faye Shortt.

This year’s finalists from across the country wowed with bold storytelling and emotional depth, exploring themes ranging from climate change and identity to class, grief, and friendship.

 Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025: Emma Whelan – Abhaile

Written, directed, edited, and performed by Emma, Abhaile is a deeply personal film that explores identity, class, and belonging through the eyes of Aimee, a working-class teen navigating friendship across social divides. With quiet intensity and heartfelt nuance, Emma’s film struck a powerful chord with both jury and audience alike, for its honesty, performance and message: home isn’t defined by postcode or status, but by the people who shape us.

Abhaile is now available to watch over on YouTube

“Emma’s film is an extraordinary achievement,” said Jayne Foley, Artistic Director of Fresh Film. “She told a deeply personal story with honesty and heart, and that’s the true power of film. There’s no doubt she has a brilliant future ahead.”

 Top Prize Winners

Second Place went to 17-year-old Hugo Fearon from Ravenhill Road, Belfast for Red Reverie. A bold and experimental film that blends live-action, animation, and surrealism to explore grief and sisterhood. Judges praised Hugo’s inventive visual style and emotionally nuanced script.

Third Place awarded to Lucas Stewart from Bangor, Co. Down, who was recognised for Ouroborus. This moody, film noir-inspired crime drama showcases confident direction and compelling visuals – all the more impressive given Lucas is just 15 years old.

 Special Category Awards Celebrate Ireland’s Diverse Young Voices

Among the standout school projects, Alexandra College in Dublin earned the Best School Award for Disconnected, a heartfelt tale of friendship and the challenges of distance.

Waterford Youth Arts took home Best Group Award for their gripping dystopian short Frequency 208.4, which follows a rebel radio broadcast offering hope in a war-torn world. Written, performed, and produced using cutting-edge technology, the film demonstrated the collaborative excellence of the group.

Eoin Murphy from Clonakilty, Cork was a double winner this year. His film The Absence of Things, a contemplative reflection on isolation and avoidance, earned both Best Cinematography and the Screen Producers Ireland Sustainability Award for its poetic tone and visual strength.

From Limerick, Izzy Dalton received Best Director for Barracuda, an intimate story of brotherhood and unspoken emotion, told through the subtle metaphor of a fish tank.

Meanwhile, Mischa McCarthy from Killarney, Kerry was awarded Best Screenplay for The Four Failed Attempts of Finn Downey, a charming and relatable coming-of-age story about love, nerves, and the power of a handwritten letter.

Best Concept went to Devlin Murphy from Dublin for More Than Peanuts, a witty, offbeat exploration of life’s contradictions and absurdities through two unlikely teenage philosophers.

 Animation, Documentary, and Performance Excellence

Adam Flannelly from Athenry, Galway was this year’s RTÉ 60 Second Film Winner for Life, a visually striking and timely story set in the year 3000, where nature and conflict collide.

Aaron Carter from Newtownabbey, Belfast earned the Animation Ireland Award for Keys, a touching animated short about a boy’s connection to his late grandmother through music.

The Radharc Trust Award was presented to Cahersiveen Youth Film Group in Kerry for Home from Home. This powerful documentary follows young Ukrainian refugees as they rebuild their lives in Ireland.

Grace Gonnelly from Dundalk, Co. Louth was honoured with the RTÉ Factual Award for Cliff Edge, a striking and vulnerable film about living with chronic pain. Through a raw and poetic monologue, Grace invites viewers into the often unseen world of invisible illness.

Finally, Liam Raymond from Kingscourt, Cavan won the Bow Street Academy Performance Award for his role in Sluaghs of the Forest, a richly imagined fantasy short that also earned praise for its art direction and world-building.

 Watch the Winners

Catch all the winning short films over on the Fresh Film YouTube Channel

Viewer discretion advised: some films include mature themes. Parents, guardians, and teachers are encouraged to preview films before screening with younger audiences.

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