Foyle Film Festival Embraces the Spirit of Discovery for its 38th Year

Christopher Morrison, Head of Programming, Foyle Festival, said:

“With this year’s programme built around the theme of discovery, we hope every festivalgoer will uncover both cinematic gold and unexpected gems, whether through our carefully curated film selections, stimulating industry events, or unforgettable special experiences. We’re proud to present one of the most exciting, diverse, and ambitious programmes in our festival’s history and we can’t wait to share it with you!”

The festival opens on Wednesday 19 November at Brunswick Moviebowl with TRAD (Courtesy of Wildcard Distribution), a lively road-trip and joyous celebration of Irish music from writer-director Lance Daly. Winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, the film was shot across Donegal and Galway and stars Megan Nic Fhionnghaile, Aidan Gillen, Peter Coonan, and Sarah Greene. The festival closes on Sunday 30 November with Rental Family (Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures), a poignant love letter to Tokyo from writer-director HIKARI. Starring Oscar®-winner Brendan Fraser, this heart-warming comedy-drama has garnered critical acclaim at international festivals and celebrates the beauty of human connection.

This year’s festival highlights include a vibrant mix of Irish premieres, world cinema, immersive screenings, and live events. Audiences can expect preview screenings of Cannes and Venice favourites such as The History of Sound (Courtesy of Universal Pictures) starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor; Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident; and The Voice of Hind Rajab, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Venice, a harrowing docu-drama combining news footage and testimony to tell the story of a six-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a war zone.

Irish storytelling takes centre stage with Saipan (Courtesy of Wildcard Distribution), Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s reimagining of the infamous Roy Keane/Mick McCarthy World Cup clash, starring Éanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan. Also featured are Galway Film Fleadh winner Christy and the Irish-language heist film Aontas, which follows three unlikely thieves who, led by a woman on the verge of a breakdown, rob a rural Irish Credit Union.

The festival presents a rich World Cinema selection, from Julia Ducournau’s genre-defying Alpha to the playful murder mystery A Private Life, following Jodie Foster’s Paris-based psychiatrist investigating the death of a patient. Also featured is Oscar®-nominated director Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, which tells the story of Jean-Luc Godard making Breathless.

Special events include A Night for Vinny, a tribute to the late Derry filmmaker Vinny Cunningham, featuring his documentary Teenage Kicks, a new film about his life, and a live performance by Derry-formed five-piece The Marra. David Lynch’s surrealist masterpiece Eraserhead returns for one night only as part of the festival’s Cult Movie Club. Additionally, the festival presents Anatomy of a Melodrama, a curated season exploring the power of melodrama across eras, with classics such as Sunset Boulevard, All That Heaven Allows, and The Piano. This programme is part of Too Much: Melodrama on Film, a UK-wide season supported by the BFI Film Audience Network and The National Lottery.

Two major anniversaries will be marked with special screenings: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest celebrates its 50th anniversary with a brand-new 4K restoration, while Martin Scorsese’s Casino marks 30 years since its release with a screening of the sprawling Las Vegas epic.

The Oscar® and BAFTA-affiliated Light in Motion Awards once again return with nine programmes of short films from around the world. This year’s entries will be eligible for further consideration at the Academy Awards® and BAFTA in the International, Irish, British, and Animated Short Film categories.

Eavan King, Competition & Industry Programmer, Foyle Film Festival, said:

“Our Oscar® and BAFTA-accredited competition celebrates the best short films from around the world. We’ll bring filmmakers together with leading industry professionals in story development, sales, and exhibition, championing the work of excellent filmmakers by opening doors to new collaborations that last long after the festival ends.”

This year’s industry events include an Immersive Arts Day, showcasing how immersive technology is reshaping storytelling through screenings, panels, and director talks. Highlights include Director Dee Harvey’s VR documentary Heartbeat and Hugh McGrory’s poetic immersive feature Underscore, developed and produced with support from Northern Ireland Screen and Kinetek Inc.

BFI Film Academy at Foyle Film Festival presents a dynamic day of insightful discussions, screenings, and creative exchange celebrating emerging filmmaking talent aged 16–25 from across Northern Ireland and the border region. The programme features industry panels on VFX, animation, and digital storytelling delivered in collaboration with Northern Ireland Screen Academies, National Talent Academies, and Kippie. A highlight of the day is the Film Pitch Challenge, run in partnership with Ulster University and judged by leading UK producers Zam Salim (Incidental Pictures), Louise Gallagher (Gallagher Films), David Pope (Advance Films), and Christine Morrow (Northern Ireland Screen). Audiences can also enjoy screenings of exciting new work by young creatives, including WildKind, a behind-the-scenes look at a family-led animation project by Dog Ears, and Celtic Voices & Hamely Tongues, a curated selection of short films in Ulster Scots and Irish dialects exploring identity, language, and place, presented in partnership with Cinematic Arts at Ulster University and BFI Film Academy Young Programmers UK. The day also offers networking sessions, peer-to-peer interviews, and practical advice for aspiring filmmakers aged 16–25 pursuing a career in film and screen.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said:

“For nearly four decades, Foyle Film Festival has inspired discovery, nurtured new voices, and connected local talent with the wider world of cinema. We’re proud to support a festival that embodies the passion and storytelling spirit of our screen industry. It’s a vibrant celebration of creativity, ambition, and the global outlook of our filmmakers and audiences alike.”

Over two days, expert-led industry panels offer insights into festival strategy, digital distribution, and global storytelling. Topics include navigating the festival circuit, showcasing short films online, and international development with producers Dearbhla Regan, Louise Gallagher, and Gemma Creagh. Vanesa Toca (Freak Film Agency) and Sara Gunn Smith (Film Hub NI) will demystify the film sales process in Cracking the Sales Game.

Live events include two unforgettable screenings with live scores. F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) will be accompanied by an original score composed and performed by Vincent O’Callaghan. G.W. Pabst’s Pandora’s Box (1929), starring Louise Brooks, will be brought to life with a live score by Derry-based experimental group People That Listen to the Sky.

Foyle Film Festival is led by Nerve Centre and funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen and Derry City & Strabane District Council, with support from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Ulster University, and Film Hub NI.

Tickets for all events are now on sale at Nerve Centre and Brunswick Moviebowl box offices, or online at www.foylefilmfestival.org