The Dublin Independent Film Festival brings groundbreaking shorts and feature films of groundbreaking artists and filmmakers. Loyal to our vision to create a safe place open to a diverse audience with people of all backgrounds, DIFF takes place in local venues that live up to the city’s vibe and cultural history.

Our programme spans a wide range showcasing the creations of upcoming talents passionate about the art of cinema.

The Dublin Independent Film Festival aims to become a cultural hub where the artists and audience can interact and exchange ideas.

The Dublin Independent Film Festival is organised by HFP, a pioneer organisation that runs Film Festivals and other events showcasing and championing ideas of diversity. Through our global series of film Festivals that spread over 13 countries, we open the path to voices with a compelling story to share. Our main mission is to honour independent cinema and establish a network of artists eager to join forces and spread their work across all nations. HFP runs 25 film Festivals worldwide.

Awards & Prizes

The Festival's award-winning films are presented at the end of the screenings and are announced on our official website and social media.

All winners receive our official award certificate.

Rules & Terms

✓ All films must be submitted in English or with English subtitles (if in a different language).

✓ All films must have been made in or after 2025.

✓ Short films must not exceed 45 minutes.

✓ Filmmakers are responsible for sorting out the copyright on their own materials.

✓ By submitting to us, you give us consent and right to screen your film in front of a live audience, and, under special circumstances, online screening.

✓ Nominations: These are all the films that have been nominated for an award in a category. Not all nominated films will be screened.

Official Selection: These are all the nominated films selected for screening, which will be notified via email. If you received a Nomination email, but no Official Selection email, it means your film will not be screened, but is still a contender for an award in its category.

Award Winners: Chosen from the Nominations (which includes the Official Selection).

✓ We may promote clips from your film on social media, based on the press kits you provide us with.

✓ We retain the right to change the date and venue of the festival under special circumstances. All filmmakers will be informed about any changes through email and our online platforms.

✓ We place no restrictions on your work in terms of premiere status or whether your work has been made available online.

✓ We do not accept partial screeners, trailers, or screener links that require access other than password protected links.

✓ Any technical issues with the submitted films are 100% the responsibility of the filmmakers. If, at the time of judging, your video file doesn’t work or doesn’t have English subtitles (if in a language other than English), it will be automatically rejected, without a refund. Please contact the festival team ASAP if there are any issues with the submission process, and a solution will be found.

✓ We cannot provide refunds.

✓ If you have submitted your project in the previous year, please do not resubmit the same project to the current edition.

✓ By submitting to us you agree to our terms and conditions and to receiving marketing newsletters and discounts about film festivals in the form of emails. We will never sell your information to third parties.

✓ We reserve the right to update our terms and conditions.
9 Reviews
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  • Rana Abushkhaidem

    The Dublin Independent Film Festival was a wonderful experience! The team was warm and welcoming, and I’m truly honored to have received the Best Short Documentary Award. The festival clearly puts heart into everything they do, and it shows. I highly recommend DIFF and can’t wait to see it continue to grow—keep up the amazing, genuine work!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    It was wonderful having you at the festival Rana! Congratulations once again!

  • Marie-Anne Hafner

    What a pleasure! Thank you very much for the Best Experimental Film Award. Unfortunately, in the end we were unable to travel to Dublin.
    The support in the run-up to the event, for travel and accommodation and the personal communication was excellent. Keep up the good work!

    September 2024
    Helpful
  • Borja Alcalde

    Super pleased to grab the Best Feature Documentary award at Dublin Independent Film Festival 2023, thanks so much for your communication, support and sharing independent cinema around, keep the great work!!

    November 2023
    Helpful
  • Margaret Kane-Rowe

    My only complaint is that I didn't meet the organisers in person, this year. This is an excellent film festival. Run by fellow indie filmmakers. Thank you so much for the excellent feedback and communication. I look forward to meeting you at the next in-person event and festival. Very best of luck to the whole team.
    Margaret Kane-Rowe

    July 2022
    Helpful
  • James Newitt

    this is not a real festival

    May 2021
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear James

    Our team is not sure where your statement is based on, but we can assure you we are very much real and successfully run for 3 years now. Our 2020 edition was held online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and closed cinemas (you can find more info of our virtual event here: https://fb.me/e/5U6BGFX2A) and we are very eagerly preparing a physical festival for 2021!

    You can find photos and testimonies of past invited filmmakers on our FilmFreeway page and social media channels, but please feel free to contact us for any other info you need at dublinfilmfestival@yahoo.com

    Sincerely

    The DIFF Team