Welcome to the 17th Underground Cinema Film Festival

August 29th & 30th 2026 | Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland
An IFTA-Affiliated International Film Festival

Now entering its 17th year, the Underground Cinema Film Festival is proud to continue its mission as one of Ireland’s leading champions of independent and emerging filmmaking. We are an IFTA (Irish Film & Television Academy) affiliated festival, based in the beautiful seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, just outside Dublin.

We believe that passion is the driving force behind all great cinema regardless of budget, background, or scale. Whether you're working with a shoestring crew or telling stories with sweeping vision, Underground Cinema exists to give your voice a platform.

A New Generation of Independent Voices

We’ve witnessed an explosion of creativity, especially in short films fueled by accessible technology and a hunger for bold, uncompromising storytelling. The result is a wave of original, daring, and wildly inventive films that aren’t afraid to break the rules.

At this year’s festival, we’re proud to showcase this new generation of independent cinema films that push boundaries, explore new forms, and take audiences on unforgettable journeys into the future of storytelling.

A Hybrid Festival Experience

Our 2026 festival will feature over 100 independently produced films from around the world, screened over two days in the Royal Marine Hotel. As in recent years, the festival will be a Hybrid event, combining both live and online screenings.

The hybrid format has been a huge success for us, allowing us to include more films than ever especially important given the tight time constraints of our live schedule. Films that are selected for online screening only are still official selections and remain fully eligible for awards and nominations.

If your film is selected solely for online screening, you will be contacted in advance with full details about how the online component works.

Important Note for Submitters

All selected films will be screened as part of our online program.
From those selections, 100 films will also be chosen for live screenings at the festival venue.

If you do not wish for your film to be included in an online screening, please do not submit.

Be Part of Something Special

We look forward to welcoming filmmakers from all over Ireland and around the world, many of whom will be travelling to join us in person. It promises to be our biggest and most exciting festival yet a true celebration of creative independence and international collaboration.

Thank you for considering Underground Cinema. We can’t wait to see what you’ve created.

Dave Byrne
Festival Director
Underground Cinema International Film Festival

Awards & Prizes

Best Irish Independent Feature Film
Best International Feature Film
Best Independent Short Irish Film
Best Independent Short International Film
Best Student Film (Short or Feature)
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Documentary
Best One Minute Short Film

Honourable Mention Certificates will be presented

Rules & Terms

1. UCFF is open to Republic of Ireland and International filmmakers in the following categories:

Best Irish Independent Feature Film
Best International Feature Film
Best Independent Short Film – Short film under 25 minutes
Best International Short Film – Short film made outside of Ireland under 25 mins
Best Student Film – Short/Feature film completed by full time students
Best One Minute Short Film - Your short film has to be under 60 seconds.
Best Documentary - Short or feature

2. All entries must include the following:

A completed entry form
€25 entry fee for feature films
€20 entry fee for short films
€7 entry fee for one minute shorts

4. Entry fees are non refundable

5. Films which have been broadcast on Television, Cable or have an international theatrical release prior to the UCIFF are NOT eligible to enter competitively but may be screened out of competition.

6. Non English language produced films must have English subtitles or be dubbed in English.

7. Winners agree to participate in the publicity for the Festival as well as other promotional events, including the Underground Cinema website.

8. Closing date for submissions July 31st. Selected film entries will be notified by August 8th. Winners will be announced on the Closing Night of the Festival.

10. Selected films will either be screened online, live or both. 100 films will be selected for a live screening.

11. Fee waivers will not be granted. Our festival relies on submssion fees to cover the significant costs to run this festival.
112 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • CONOR O MAHONY

    A huge thank you to the organisers for screening The Mood Swings and for nominating it in the Best Documentary category. It was great to get the opportunity to spread our message about the damage the stigma associated with mental health issues does to people with severe diagnoses. It was also really enjoyable to watch the other films in your line up. The passion and enthusiasm you have for independent films really shows and means a lot.

    January 2026
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  • Sree Vallabhaneni

    I have been attending the festival for the past 4 years. I watched 100s of films at the festival made by the beginner filmmakers to the popular ones. The festival director/organizer Dave is a true advocate of indie film makers. His support, encouragement and the time he dedicates to the festival is invaluable. Highly recommend attending this festival.

    October 2025
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  • Stephen Barrett

    This was my second year screening at UCIFF, greatly appreciated to receive both online and in person screenings. A true advocate of independent films in Ireland, would love to see other festivals adopt a similar approach to promote further independent filmmaking.

    September 2025
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  • John paul Donnelly

    Very well ran festival and communication was fantastic. Hopefully will have a new film to enter next year. Thanks again for accepting my film this time.

    September 2025
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  • Greg Young

    Had a brilliant time at the festival last week, an incredible showing of shorts and features.

    September 2025
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