IRISH FILM BERLIN ANNOUNCES ST PATRICK’S WEEKEND FILM FESTIVAL 2025
Date Posted: March 13, 2025
Irish Film Berlin announces its festival programme with a Northern focus and a celebration of Irish creativity for St Patrick’s weekend in Berlin
Irish Film Berlin returns to Berlin’s historic Babylon cinema over St. Patrick’s Weekend with two days of Irish film and music, on March 15th and March 17th.
Now in its third year, the Irish Film Berlin Festival is both a celebration of Irish film, and a cultural event that brings together fans of all things Irish. This year’s programme contains a selection of films, documentaries and shorts, with a strong regional focus on Northern Ireland, including eight screenings from, or about, the North. The evening on March 15th will end with a live music session, with festival filmgoers invited to join in the music.
Speaking ahead of the event, festival director, Denis Madden said “We are thrilled to bring the best of Irish film back to Berlin, and our selection has been curated both as a celebration of Irish culture and an invitation to ponder on what it means to be Irish in the modern world. With the addition of a live music session we aim to host a festival for all to experience Irish music and “craic” firsthand, making it a real community event for all in Berlin.”
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said; “We are delighted to see Irish Film Berlin showcasing the richness and diversity of Irish storytelling, with a special focus on Northern Ireland’s vibrant screen industry. Film has the power to connect cultures, spark important conversations, and share unique perspectives with global audiences. This festival is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the depth of talent emerging from Northern Ireland, from compelling documentaries to bold feature films and thought-provoking short films.”
The festival is a partner of the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme supported by Culture Ireland, and Eleanor Melinn, IFI International Programme Manager said: “IFI International is delighted to bring a wonderful selection of both recent Irish films, and classics, to audiences around the world this St Patrick’s season, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and vibrant storytelling tradition of Ireland, and offering viewers a chance to experience the depth and diversity of Irish cinema.”
Saturday’s programme is framed around the visual arts and music. Beginning with a selection of visual arts shorts, it continues on the theme of music with a music biopic trilogy: From the birth of punk in Belfast with the Undertones, to U2 recording Achtung Baby in nineties Berlin, to concluding the trilogy with modern-day legends and Irish-language rappers Kneecap. The final film of the night is GAZA, an award winning and poignant documentary of life in Gaza by Irish filmmakers and producers.
Denis Madden added: “We are delighted with the support we have had from the Irish Film Institute and that so many filmmakers will join us for the festival: Emile Dinneen, film director, will introduce his film on the life of his grandmother and renowned Irish sculptor, and Berliner, Imogen Stuart. Kusi Okamura will speak on the documentary of her father’s life as a Japanese photographer during the “Troubles”in Belfast. Directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, from Belfast, will participate in a Q&A on their celebrated film Good Vibrations. In a virtual link-up with Berlin, Donegal and Gaza, we will end the day with reflections on the destruction of Gaza with film director Garry Keane and his former film team still located in Gaza.”
The programme on Monday, March 17th, St Patrick’s Day, focuses on Northern Ireland, past, present and future. The documentary, The Irish Question, directed by Alan Gilsenan, looks at the lessons of German reunification and how divisions that have torn communities and countries apart may heal in time. The feature, Breakfast on Pluto, by director Neil Jordan provides some lighter relief before the festival closes with The Flats, a raw but heartening documentary on the lives and trauma of Belfast communities affected by decades of conflict.
