Young creators encouraged to enter Ireland’s Young Filmmaker Awards 2025

The countdown is on for submissions to the Fresh International Film Festival 2025 and the coveted Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards…

The Fresh International Film Festival 2025 is now open for submissions, inviting Ireland’s most promising young filmmakers to showcase their talents.

Celebrating 29 years of championing young filmmakers, Fresh Film continues to provide an inspiring platform for creativity and storytelling. Many past participants have achieved international success, including Oscar nominations and major industry accolades. This year, the spotlight could be on you.

Calling All Young Filmmakers: Submissions Now Open

The deadline for entries is fast approaching on Tuesday, January 10, 2025. Whether you’re an independent filmmaker, part of a school group, or part of a collective, this is your chance to showcase your talents. From heartfelt dramas to thought-provoking documentaries and eye-catching animations, your work could take centre stage in this dynamic celebration of youth filmmaking.

One of the highlights of the festival remains the regional screenings, held at Omniplex cinemas across the country from 10th – 21st March 2025.

Every filmmaker who enters will have their work shown on the silver screen – an unforgettable experience for creators and audiences alike.

For submission details, visit: Fresh International Film Festival Submission 2025 freshfilm.ie

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year, shines a spotlight on the best in youth filmmaking across three categories: Junior (ages 7–12), Senior (ages 13–18), and International (ages 7–18, for non-residents of Ireland). Winners are rewarded with exciting prizes, including monetary awards, filmmaking equipment, mentoring sessions with industry professionals, and the rare thrill of seeing their work screened theatrically.

In addition to these categories, the festival also features specialist awards, such as the Animation Ireland Award, the SPI – Sustainability Award, and the Bow Street Performance Award, alongside audience-voted prizes, documentary honours, and more, ensuring every facet of filmmaking excellence is celebrated.

“We’re excited to showcase and celebrate the extraordinary creativity of young filmmakers. This year’s festival is a celebration of storytelling in all its forms. Whether it’s a 60-second short or a sweeping cinematic vision, we’re calling on young creators everywhere to share their unique voices and bring their stories to life,” said Jayne Foley, Artistic Director.

Last year’s Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year, Dublin student Fiachra Cotter O’Culachain, captivated audiences with his coming-of-age short film, Ivy. Written, directed, and edited by Fiachra, the film featured stunning cinematography and heartfelt performances. Inspired by his personal experiences with teenage romance, Fiachra speaks on his win, “Fresh Film Festival provides a great opportunity to young filmmakers as an output for our creative work and finding a community of like-minded individuals.”

Ireland’s Young Filmmaker Awards are open to films in both English and Irish (or with English subtitles) and welcomes submissions from: Independent young filmmakers, Groups and collectives, Primary and Secondary Schools