Galway Film Fleadh is Ireland’s leading film event, a six-day international film festival taking place every July on the very edge of Europe. ‘Fleadh’ is the Irish word for a feast or a celebration, and like Galway itself, our festival is compact, bohemian, informal and fun. After hosting our first in-person festival since the pandemic in 2022, we are looking forward to a triumphant return to the theatrical experience in 2023.
Founded in 1989, as an opportunity for Irish filmmakers to exhibit their work to their peers, the central goal of the Galway Film Fleadh remains unchanged: to be a platform for the boldest new films, and to bring audiences and filmmakers from around the world together to share in the wonder of cinema. Annually, screening between 80 – 100 feature films and up to 100 short films, the Fleadh welcomes an exciting diversity of filmmaking from around the world, all generations and cultural backgrounds.
Marketplace
Running alongside the festival for the past 25 years, the Galway Film Fair is Ireland’s only film & television marketplace. Galway Film Fair co-ordinates pre-scheduled meetings between filmmakers with projects in development and/or completed films and invited Film Financiers, Distributors, Sales Agents, Broadcasters, Film Funds and Major Producers.
The Galway Film Fair’s unique selling points:
->Transatlantic bridge
->Access to the world’s leading financiers in an informal environment
->Showcasing new Irish, European and International cinema to leading Film Buyers, Distributors and Festival Programmers
Forum
The Fleadh Forum is an annual symposium for filmmakers and industry professionals to explore and share ideas about what is happening in the audio-visual industry. Joined by a host of Industry Experts, discussion topics include the process of development, the future of co-production, as well as film sales, distribution and exploitation.
Masterclasses
Each year the Fleadh invites masters of filmmaking craft to be the subject of our series of masterclasses for industry professionals. Previous subjects have included:
Acting
Vicky Krieps, Andrew Scott, Marisa Tomei, Michael Smiley, Ruth Negga, John C. Reilly, Will Forte, Martin Sheen, Isabelle Huppert, Amanda Plummer, Annette Benning, Michael Fassbender, Jessica Lange, Jeremy Irons, Kathy Bates, Colm Meaney, Woody Harrelson, Zachary Quinto, Saoirse Ronan, Brendan Gleeson, Anjelica Huston, Peter O’Toole, Maureen O’Hara, Pierce Brosnan...
Directing
Richard Kelly, Najwa Najjar, Abbas Kiarostami, Mira Nair, Alex Gibney, Mohsen Makmalbaf, Stephen Daldry, Jon Jost, Volker Schloendorff, Stephen Frears, Anthony Minghella, Agnieszka Holland, Gillo Ponecorvo, Arthur Penn, István Szabó, Michael Winterbottom, Michael Moore, Oliver Reed, Madeline Olnek, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan
Screenwriting
Lisa McGee, Ed Solomon, Kirsten Smith, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Paul Schrader, Robert Towne, Sir Ronald Harwood, Christopher Hampton, Mark Fergus, Allison Anders, Daniel Waters, Nicole Holofcener...
Animation
Lee Unkrich, Pete Docter, Jimmy Murakami, Cartoon Saloon, Brown Bag Films...
Pitching Competition
Having provided many writers with an opportunity to get their foot in the door of the industry, participants have found that our Pitching Competition opened the door to producers, key contacts and mentorship in addition to bolstering their confidence and having projects optioned. Ten finalists are chosen from written submissions, and pitch their idea to a panel of industry judges and a live audience. The winner receives a cash prize of €3000, which can allow time to develop and expand their pitch into a full feature script.
And much more...
Networking breakfasts, our (in)famous Rowing Club, pop-up panels, debates, BBQ’s...come and see why we’ve been named one of Moviemaker Magazines ‘50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.’
Short Film Awards
- Best International Documentary Short
- Best International Fiction Short
- Best International Animation Short
- Best Debut Fiction Short
- Best Debut Animation Short
- The Donal Gilligan Award for Best Cinematography in an Irish Short Film
sponsored by ISC in association with 24-7 Drama
Oscar Qualifying Awards
- The Tiernan McBride Award for Best Fiction Short
in association with Network Ireland Television
- The James Horgan Award for Best Animation Short
- Best Short Documentary Award
in association with TG4
Individual Artist Awards
- Pitching Award
- Bingham Ray New Talent Award
in association with Magnolia Pictures
- Best Marketplace project
in association with Bankside Films
Feature Film Awards
- Peripheral Visions Award (for a first for second International feature)
- Best Documentary Award
- Best Irish First Feature
- Best Irish Film
in association with Danú Media