Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) returns from 19 February to 1 March 2026 with a programme celebrating Irish and international filmmaking. Across eleven days, the festival will present 83 films, including 17 world premieres and 53 short films.

This year’s festival features 23 Irish films, including 16 Irish features, 19 Ireland-connected titles, and nine films supported by
Screen Ireland.

DIFF 2026 opens with the world premiere of Once Upon A Time In A Cinema, written and directed by David Gleeson. Set over the course of one eventful evening in a cinema in 1980s Ireland, a cinema owner wrestles with the legacy of the past and the challenges of the future.

Take a look at the programme here.