About > About the Festival
About the Festival
From May 11-13th 2023, Achill will play host to a very special film festival packed with fantastic films and events, all taking place on a scenic island off the west coast of Ireland.
Returning for its second year after a wonderful inaugural weekend, Achill International Film Festival will welcome hundreds of exciting filmmakers who will come together to enjoy the stunning scenery and some of the finest new films produced here recently in Ireland and abroad.
Interspersed with fun networking events and parties, the festival will play host to entertaining Q & A sessions and fascinating panel discussions.
Between screenings, you can visit the locations where the award winning masterpiece "The Banshees Of Inisherin" was filmed, and enjoy the beautiful beaches that this area has to offer, as you mix with locals, actors, film lovers and directors alike.
Emily O'Callaghan
In May 2022, AIFF approached 5 local businesses to provide space in which our team transformed these locations into make-shift cinemas. AIFF hired an audio visual company to provide screens and projectors, including sound and visual engineer techs to provide a professional cinema experience.
It was a fantastic milestone for our team to see this vision of films in Achill as a reality. The screenings brought over 350+ patrons to our screenings over a 3 day weekend. 120+ films from worldwide submissions were played to these audiences, with some of the screenings making their Irish, European and even World debuts. Several films were of local interest with themes of fisheries, sea swimming, farming and local heroes who had emigrated. The weekend also offered a number of networking events, Q & A sessions, and exhibitions.
2023 sees year two of this very special event and we look forward to welcoming you from May 11- 13.
Achill International Film Festival is dedicated to the advancement of filmmaking in the West and being a link for all types of creative endeavours.
Achill Island itself plays a huge part in the draw for audiences. With its coastal location, fabulous seafood, and generosity of its people, Achill Island's beauty adds to the cinematic experience.
