NEWS FLASH: Fresh 30 Hits the Big Screen! 🎬✨
Limerick & Dublin | March 23 – 29, 2026
The wait is almost over! Fresh International Film Festival celebrates 30 years of discovering the next generation of storytellers. From the historic Mansion House in Dublin to the creative hub of Limerick, we are marking three decades of movie magic with our biggest program yet:
🏆 Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year: The Grand Final returns to Dublin on March 26. Don’t forget—the Audience Award is based on YouTube views! Watch and support our finalists now on YouTube before voting closes March 24 at 5pm.
🌍 Global Voices: For the first time ever, Ireland hosts the Youth Cinema Network Conference, welcoming delegates from 13 countries to Limerick.
🎤 Industry Stars: A fully booked Careers in Screen panel and an exclusive Masterclass with Hollywood director David Gleeson (March 28).
🎶 Celebration: Special retrospective screenings and live performance by Hazey Haze.
30 Years. Thousands of Films. One Unforgettable Week.
Ireland’s Young Film Maker of the Year Awards returns this Spring 2026, marking a very special milestone, Fresh Film’s 30th anniversary. Founded by Jayne Foley in 1996, Fresh International Film Festival began as the Irish School’s Video Competition, Fresh International Film Festival has evolved into an established organization that provides a platform to nurture and evolve the skills of young people through their talent of film-making.
To celebrate 30 years of Fresh International Film Festival, this year’s programme includes a variety of exciting mix of film screenings, industry panels, international collaborations with other film festivals and workshops and labs for young film makers. Fresh 2026 is set out to be a momentous event for young film-makers in Ireland, and around the world.
Ireland’s Young Film Maker of the Year Awards March 26th
On Thursday the 26th of March Fresh International Film Festival will be hosting the Grand Final of Ireland’s Young Film Maker of the Year in Mansion House. This event will bring together, and celebrate, the most talented young film makers from across the country. All of this year’s finalist films are now available to stream via Fresh Film Festival’s Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@freshfilmfestival), giving audiences a chance to view and support the young film makers, while also giving the nominees a chance to view the competition! For the attendees of the Grand Final, it is advised to watch these films because the vote is now open for the Audience Award, which is given to the film with the most views, so every view counts! The voting for the Audience award closes Tuesday the 24th of March at 5pm. https://freshfilm.ie/fresh-film-festival-award-category/ The awards ceremony is most definitely the highlight of the festival week, and is promising of an unforgettable evening, with its esteemed hosts Faye Shorty and Seán Tracy, as well as Meg Burke to provide some red carpet magic!
Careers in Screen
Adding even more value to the landmark 30th anniversary of Fresh Film Festival, our Careers in Screen panel is fully booked, offering a one-of-a-kind experience to all attendees to gain valuable insights and information about working in the industry
There will be an outstanding group of guest speakers joining us for this Panel: Pat Shortt, established writer, comedian and actor. Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin, the Managing Director of Virgin Media Television. Rebekah Bustos, renowned production designer. Aisling Wallace Byrne, talented costume designer.
With speakers from every aspect of the industry, this panel will be a valuable event during Fresh International Film Festivals 30th Anniversary.
Youth Cinema Network Conference Ireland
To highlight Fresh Film’s 30th Anniversary once again, for the first time in history, Ireland will be hosting the Youth Cinema Network Conference as part of Fresh International Film Festival. Limerick will be welcoming over 40 delegates from 13 different countries from Europe and beyond,
This immersive event will include discussions on supporting young film makers, opportunities for young film makers and visits to well-known screen industry locations. This event will also include a session with Dr.Ciarán Kissaine, Director of Film Classification IFCO, where he will be exploring regulation, responsibility and creativity in screen storytelling.
It is no doubt that this will be a highlight of Fresh Film 2026.
Fresh 30 Hits the Big Screen!
Fresh Film x Big Shots
This event will see Fresh Film Festival’s partners share some of their stand-out films from young film makers over the years. This will give all attendees a chance to look back, reflect and learn from these films and film makers, who are sure to keep the future of cinema alive. FRESH30: 13 Award-Winning Short Films by Ireland’s Young Filmmakers | Fresh Film
Ciarán Kissaine, Director of Film Classification IFCO, will be making his keynote speech. On top of that, there will be entertainment from talented Limerick rapper Hazey Haze.
Fresh Young Filmmaker Lab – March 28th
To further celebrate 30 years of Fresh International Film Festival, Fresh is bringing back the Fresh Young Film Maker Lab.
This year, Fresh will be welcoming David Gleeson, a renowned Irish writer and director, all the way from Los Angeles. You may know David Gleeson from his esteemed work on ‘Cowboys and Angels’, ‘Tolkien’ and most recently ‘Once Upon a Time in a Cinema’. Fresh Film is honoured to collaborate with David Gleeson, and we are very excited to learn from his insights and experience from his masterclass.
During this Lab, we will also be including the Fresh Pitch Competition, in which selected participants will pitch their film ideas to a panel of industry professionals. This is a brilliant opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, and pitch the idea you have been dreaming of!
The Fresh Young Filmmaker Lab is sure to be an experience not-to-be missed.
After 30 years, Fresh International Film Festival continues to recognise, nurture and inspire the young filmmakers of Ireland. With an outstanding programme of events, international collaboration, and the focus of emerging talent, Fresh International Film Festival 2026 is set out to be a week to remember.
An article written by Elizabeth Monerawela
