Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Boyne Valley, the Boyne Valley International Film Festival (BVIFF) returns from the 7-9 August for its fifth year in partnership with LOVE Drogheda BIDS. Creating an environment for filmmakers and audiences to connect and celebrate film in the historical medieval town of Drogheda, located in the heart of the Boyne Valley Region.
Funded by The Arts Council, Louth County Council Festival Fund, Love Drogheda BIDS, Meath County Council and The National Talent Academy for Animation. With sponsorship from Tom Clinch and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, KMN Ltd, Scotch Hall, and support from Boann Distillery, Anglo Printers, Scholars and The Marcy Hotel.
All Film Programmes include a 25min Q&A with filmmakers
FRIDAY 7 AUGUST
Made in the Boyne Valley | 7pm - 8:50pm
Followed by reception sponsored by Boann Distillery.
Celebrate local film making with a selection of some of the best short films made in the region.
MOLLY AND THE ROBOT – Director: Táine King, Writer: Robert Tyrrell, Producer: Jo Heffernan.
AGUS NI DUIRT MUID TADA (AND WE SAID NOTHING) – Director/Writer/Producer: Jonny Farrelly.
STONE ELEGY – Director/Writer: Shane Smith. Producers: Maya O'Shea, Darragh Conway, Shane Smith.
DEARG – Director/Writer: Emma Ray. Producer: Baz Black.
WARRIOR – Directors: Katie Joan Maguire, Aaron Oliver Kelly. Writer: Katie Joan Maguire. Producer: Daniel Lane.
FOR THE CURE – Director/Writer: Conor McCormick. Producer: Lorcan O'Hanlon.
GET A GRIP – Director: John Anderson Jnr. Writer: Barry John Kinsella. Producer: John Delaney.
Saturday 8 AUGUST
National Programme 1 | 12:00pm - 2pm
HOLLY – Director/Writer: Margaret Kane-Rowe. Producer: Richard Kearney.
I SEE A VOICE – Director/Writer: Leah Egan. Producers: Leah Egan, Aaron Eccles.
THE DEATH NOTICE OF EAMONN MCCARTY – Director/Writer: Aaron Clarke. Producers: Aaron Clarke, Louise McCabe.
JOE'S FINALE – Director/Writer: Michael Creagh. Producer: Liam Creagh.
CULCHIE – Director: Richard Lennon. Writer: Brian McCarthy. Producer: Brian McCarthy.
SNOT ROCKET: EINE BOHEMIAN SCHNAPSIDEE – Director/Writer: Sean Gormley. Producers: Andrew Kingston, Sean Gormley, Miki Molnar.
DAWN OF THE ICK – Director/Writer: Nell Mercier. Producer: Anne Gately.
TIL DEATH DO US PART – Director/Writer: Adam Collins. Producer: Joe Mullins.
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International Programme | 3pm – 4:50pm
FATHER ON FIRE – Director: Rafa Piqueras. Writer: María José Miguel. Producers: Rafa Piqueras, Jorge Acosta.
COYOTES – Director/Writer: Said Zagha. Producers: Myriam Sassine, Laura Junnel.
THE WOLF – Director: Maeve Murphy. Writer: Kellie Shirley. Producer: Kayleigh Paige Rees.
LAST CALL – Director: Harry Holland. Writers: Harry Holland, Will South. Producers: Harry Holland, Marie-Elena Dyche.
MANTLE – Director/Writer: Henry Cobb. Producer: Ulysse Audouard.
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National Programme 2 | 5:15pm – 7:05pm
BLOOD RELATIVE – Director: Cody Farren. Writers: Cody Farren, Parnell Scott. Producer: Niamh Branigan.
THE THINGS WE DO – Director/Writer: Shane O'Connor. Producers: Steve Sheehy, Colin Brady, Shane O'Connor.
DRESS SMART – Director/Writer: Trevor Kaneswaran. Producer: Niamh Branigan.
HIS HOUSE, HOME – Director: Aisling O'Regan Sargent. Writer: Philip Emo. Producers: Killian Casey, Philip Emo.
COGAR – Director/Writer: Elaine Kennedy. Producer: Claire Cassidy.
ÉIST – Director/Writer: Róisín Kearney. Producers: Caroline Grace-Cassidy, Kevin Cassidy.
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SUNDAY 9 AUGUST
National Programme 3 | 10am - 11:50am
CLIÓDHNA – Director/Writer: Aaron Ryan. Producers: Aaron Ryan, Lorenxo-Atreides Hohensee.
HORSEBACK – Director: Mark McAuley. Writer: Bairbre O'Toole. Producers: Emer Durcan, Dorothy Whittaker.
MARY CHRISTMAS – Director/Writer: Colm S Herron.
THE AFTERMATH – Director/Writer/Producer: Mark Loughran.
POULASTORE – Directors: Ann-Marie Kelly, Cabrina Cahill. Writer: Cabrina Cahill. Producer: Mark de Carreau.
OUR LAST SUMMER – Director/Writer: Alannah Wilson. Producers: Alannah Wilson, Ann Marie Shields.
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Film Maker in Focus – Aisling Connolly Byrne | 12:15pm – 2pm
Boyne Valley International Film Festival is proud to announce that the 2026 Filmmaker in Focus is Writer/Director Aisling Connolly Byrne. This programme and bursary has been sponsored by Tom Clinch and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha.
CONNECTIONS – Writers: Mark Smith & Colm Keegan. Director: Aisling Connolly Byrne. Producer: Killian Coyle.
HEAD SPACE – Aisling Connolly Byrne, Killian Coyle.
MISREAD – Directors: Aisling Connolly Byrne, Sinead O'Loughlin. Writer: Aisling Connolly Byrne. Producer: Killian Byrne.
TURNAROUND – Director: Aisling Connolly Byrne. Writer: Aisling Connolly Byrne. Producer: Killian Coyle.
MARY IS MISSING – Director: Aisling Connolly Byrne. Writers: Aisling Connolly Byrne, Caitríona Daly. Producer: Killian Coyle.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Working Class Voices in and on Film | 3pm to 4pm | (Free, Booking essential, €1 booking fee applies)
Shane Meadows, Hilda Fay, Thomas Kane Byrne and Aisling O’Mara
Documentary Programme | 4:15pm to 6:05pm
A VINYL GOODBYE – Director: Garret Daly. Producer: Martina McGlynn.
BEYOND THE WAKE – Directors/Producers: Joe Rooney, Simeon Boris.
LAUGHING BOYS – Directors: Roisin Kearney, Caroline Grace-Cassidy. Writer: Roisin Kearney. Producer: Kevin Cassidy.
QUEEN LIZZY – Director: David McDonagh. Producer: Keith Bogue.
LONG BALCONIES – Director: Cara Gaynor. Producers: Michael Roulstone, Kevin Goss-Ross.
THE TRANSATLANTIC WAY – Director/Producer: Fergus Coyle.
National Programme 4 | 6:30pm to 8:30pm
THE PARTING – Director: Marrissa Aroy. Writer: Libby McCormack. Producer: Elaine Walsh.
BABYSITTER – Director: Clare Monnelly. Writer: Aisling O'Mara. Producer: Niamh Ní Chonchubhair.
SHUSH, NOW – Director/Writer: Craig Austin Reynolds. Producers: Hana Mohamed, Arianna Owens.
FIELD QUEENS – Director/Writer: Áine Ryan. Producers: Áine Ryan, David Burler.
DIVE – Director/Writer: Amy-Joyce Hastings. Producer: Michelle King.
MINDING – Director: Emily Foran. Writer: Shannon Welby. Producer: Grace Pdumosu.
THE LAST WORD – Director: Rory Hanrahan. Writer: Clara FitzGerald.
SAMHAIN – Director: Sean Branigan. Writer: Amy De Brún. Producer: Michael Donnelly.
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SATURDAY 8 AUGUST
ANIMATION DAY | The Arc Cinema
Join us for a day of Animation at The Arc Cinema, funded by the National Talent Academy of Animation, from short animation, to workshops, panel discussions and an exclusive preview of a new feature, not to be missed.
Animation 1 | 10am to 10:40am (Suitable for families/children, Includes 20m Q&A)
I CAN HELP YOU BUMBLEBEE – Directors/Writers/Producers: Conor McMullin, Stina McMullin.
UISNEACH: THE HEARTH OF IRELAND – Director: Ann Elaine Dottle. Writers: Peter Willian Symonds, Ann Elaine Dottle. Producer: Peter Willian Symonds.
MIRROR SISTER – Director: Lucy Keegan.
SERENADE – Writer/Director: Fergus Boylan.
TALE OF THE CURRAGH – Directors/Writers: Joshua Brown, Iobhar Stokes-Rodriguez. Producer: Mary O'Connor.
NO WORRIES – Director: Chris Dicker. Writers: Amy Stephenson, Shane Langan, PJ Gallagher. Producer: Lena Byrne.
Animation 2 | 11am - 12:05pm
BALL LIGHTENING – Writer/Director: Catriona Trina Baker.
THIN PLACE – Writer/Director: Samuel Wrather Keshishain.
UNANIMATED STRANGER – Director: Roisin Kelly. Writers: Roisin Kelly, Eimear Young, Finn McKeon. Producer: Eimear Young, Roisin Kelly.
BRÓN – Director: Catherine Mangan Williams. Writer: Gareth Lyons. Producer: Joanne Heffernan.
LIKE FRIEND, LIKE DEER – Director/Writer/Producer: Malek Eghbali.
CHARACTER DESIGN WORKSHOP | 12:30pm – 2:00pm at Drogheda Library, Stockwell St. | Tickets On Sale Soon
INDUSTRY PANEL | 2:15pm – 3:15PM | Book Here
Facilitated by Steve Woods featuring guests Paul O'Flanagan - Boulder Media, Ian Hamilton - Elk Studios; Jessica Patterson - Director of Worry World and Louise Bagnall - Director of Late Afternoon
EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW - Little Caribou - 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Director Barry O’Donoghue presents a look behind the scenes of his new film, with 20 minutes of finished footage, rough work and a look at his process, and discussion facilitated by Steve Woods.
For more information and to book tickets to any of the above events, please visit droichead.com.
