Twenty emerging young filmmakers from across Munster have been shortlisted for the Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards 2026 (IYFTY Awards), which will take place at the Mansion House in Dublin on March 26th.
The province saw an extraordinary level of participation this year, with two dedicated regional screenings. Thirty films were showcased in the hometown of Fresh the Omniplex Limerick on March 4th, where the shortlist for the wider Munster region was announced.
This was followed by a second screening at Omniplex Cork on March 6th, where a further 42 films from Cork and Kerry were presented on the big screen to an audience of peers, teachers, families and film enthusiasts.
Celebrating its 30th year, Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards, part of the Fresh International Film Festival produced by Fresh Film, are globally regarded as one of the world’s leading annual film events for young people. In 2024, Fresh Film was honoured with the Community Impact Award at the Screen International Global Production Awards at the Cannes Film Festival.
More than 1,500 short film entries were received for consideration for the 2026 IYFTY Awards and IYFTY Awards founder Jayne Foley noted: “Munster’s young filmmakers are particularly strong this year, with a remarkable range of work on display. From mockumentary and musical comedy to poetic documentary and even outer space adventure, the diversity of storytelling is incredibly exciting. We’re also delighted to see such strong representation from across Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary and Clare”
Limerick delivers an especially diverse slate of nominees. Limerick Youth Theatre is shortlisted in both Best Group and Best Art Direction for 12 Scissors, a theatrical production that brings stagecraft energy to the screen. Emerging Limerick Filmmakers are nominated in Best Group for Accowntant, while director Dara Ajala from Coláiste Chiaráin’s Muchin vs Manchin earns a nomination in the Animation Ireland Award category.
Honour Bala Ahmed’s And You Wonder Why We’re Like This stands out with multiple nominations, including Best Comedy, Bow Street Performance Award and the Screen Producers Ireland Sustainability Award. This high-energy musical comedy follows six teenagers warring over a hangout spot, as friendships fracture and chaos escalates into a full-blown musical showdown.
Also representing Limerick in the Animation Ireland Award category is The Leak, directed by 14 year old Mikey Mahon.
Kerry continues its strong youth film tradition with nominations from Dingle and Cahersiveen. Dingle Youth Film Group’s Dasha is nominated in Best Group, while Fís na hÓige’s Spacedog is shortlisted in both Best Group and Animation Ireland Award. This animated adventure follows an ambitious canine on a courageous journey into outer space.
Last year’s Radharc Award winners, Cahersiveen Youth Film Group, are back with a compelling collection of films exploring nature, climate change and creativity. The group, made up of Ukrainian young filmmakers, also receive recognition in both Best Art Direction and Best Concept for What’s Next and Where the Trees Remember
Cork is represented in Best School by Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy for Rumour Has It, a gripping drama exploring the destructive power of gossip. When a photograph sparks false assumptions among friends, the resulting rumour spirals into targeted bullying, isolation and confrontation — a sharp examination of social dynamics and truth.
Cork also features in Best Comedy with I Told You So, directed by Anna Burn.
Tipperary secures multiple nominations across categories. Stagecraft Youth Theatre, Clonmel is nominated in Best Group for Pricked, with Abbie Burke also shortlisted for the Bow Street Performance Award for her performance in the same film.
Director Lily Sheehan’s Iascaire receives nominations in both Best Art Direction and the RTÉ Factual Award. Inspired by the poem “Iascaire is ea m’athair le ceart”, the film blends archive and contemporary footage to explore family, identity and cultural heritage.
Thomas Calagari from Ballina, Tipperary is nominated in Best Director for The Last Note, while Rebecca Maria Condon receives a Best Screenplay nomination for Rose Coloured Glasses.
Clare is represented in Best School by Scariff Community College for The Documentary, a mockumentary in which a school film project goes spectacularly and comically wrong.
Across Munster, this year’s nominees demonstrate bold storytelling, creative ambition and technical sophistication — whether through musical comedy, poetic reflection, animation or socially driven drama.
The IYFTY Awards 2026 take place on March 26 at The Mansion House in Dublin and will be attended by filmmakers aged 12-18 from across the island. From hundreds of entries, 60 films have made it to the final stage, with 17 awards to be revealed at the ceremony before the prestigious title of ‘Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2026’ is announced. The Awards ceremony will be attended by more than 500 young filmmakers, their crews and supporters, and will be hosted by Seán Treacy, filmmaker, actor and three time winner of Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year, and actor, podcaster and comedian Faye Shortt.
Previous IYFTY Award winners and participants include Oscar-nominated director Vincent Lambe (Detainment); All-American High School Film Festival, New York ‘Best Director’Seán Treacy (this year’s Awards host); acclaimed Irish filmmaker Dónal Foreman; IFTA nominated director Conor McMahon (Let The Wrong One In); comedian and TV personality Justine Stafford and the late BBC presenter and author Nick Sheridan and lastly Cal O’Driscoll (Video Nasty) who was recently nominated for supporting actor in 2026 IFTAs.
2026 is a landmark year for Fresh Film, the national not-for-profit organisation that has championed young storytellers for three decades. What began in Limerick in 1996 as the Irish Schools Video Competition, when students borrowed camcorders and posted VHS tapes, has evolved into a nationwide platform for emerging filmmakers working in a fully digital world.
The IYFTYs shortlist is a rich collection that showcases the imagination, creativity and skills of the world’s future storytellers. Fresh Film and Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards are made possible with the support, investment and partnership of The Arts Council, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Omniplex Cinema Group, Coimisiún na Meán, Limerick City and County Council, RTÉ, Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board, The Radharc Trust, Animation Ireland, Screen Producers Ireland, Bow Street Academy
All shortlisted films can be viewed from Monday, March 9 at the Fresh International Film Festival YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/freshfilmfestival
Viewer discretion is advised for younger audiences, and parents, guardians and teachers are encouraged to preview the films in advance or watch along with younger children.
See www.freshfilm.ie for details on all the films, the IYFTY Awards 2026 and the work of Fresh Film.