Kerry International Film Festival Announces Full Programme for its 27th Edition

Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) is delighted to announce the full programme for its 27th edition, taking place in Killarney from October 15th to 18th, 2026. This year’s four-day festival brings an eclectic programme of Irish and international features, documentaries, short films, workshops, and family activities to venues across Killarney. Speaking about KIFF 2026, Festival Programming Director Amy Louise O’Callaghan said:

“As always, it is so exciting to return to Killarney with a packed festival programme. Whether you’re looking to support the next wave of Irish talent, check out the films making waves as Sundance or Cannes or simply have a chat over a pint and meet like-minded people, we have it all at KIFF and we hope to see you there”.

Tickets for all events are now available at kerryfilmfestival.com

OPENING & CLOSING FILMS: KIFF 2026 will open with Whitetail, an atmospheric drama directed by Nanouk Leopold and filmed in Kenmare and the surrounding areas. Starring Natasha O’Keeffe (How to Get to Heaven from Belfast) and Andrew Bennett (An Cailín Ciúin), the film follows conservation ranger Jen, who is forced to confront the guilt surrounding her younger sister’s death when an old flame returns and a poacher threatens the forest she protects.

Whitetail screens at Cinema Killarney on Thursday, October 15th at 7:30pm, preceded by Mark McAuley’s short Horseback, which follows a 10-year-old non-verbal refugee who finds unexpected hope through a life-changing bond with a piebald pony.

The festival’s Opening Night Party will take place at the Killarney Plaza Hotel from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

KIFF will close on Sunday evening with the Irish Premiere of Fatherland, the latest feature from acclaimed director Paweł Pawlikowski (Ida, Cold War). Set in Germany in 1949, the film follows Nobel Prize-winning writer Thomas Mann as he travels through a country divided by the aftermath of war while confronting a deep fracture within his own family. Starring Hanns Zischler and Sandra Hüller, Fatherland was awarded Best Director at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.

Fatherland screens at Cinema Killarney on Sunday, October 18th at 5:30pm.

CZECH FILM IN FOCUS: In celebration of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and Kerry’s pairing  with the Czech Republic, Czechia is KIFF’s 2026 Country of Focus.
From the nationalised film industry of the post-war period to the absurdist comedy of the Czech New Wave and the distinctive tradition of Czech puppet cinema, the country has developed one of Europe’s most recognisable film cultures. KIFF’s Czech Film in Focus programme celebrates this rich cinematic history alongside contemporary Czech filmmaking.

Highlights include Miloš Forman’s classic The Firemen’s Ball, the final film he made in his home country before relocating to the United States; the Irish premieres of Summer School 2001, Dužan Duong’s coming-of-age drama exploring the experiences of a first-generation Vietnamese family in the Czech Republic; and The Limits of Europe, Apolena Rychlíková’s investigative documentary following Czech journalist Saša Uhlová as she goes undercover to expose the exploitation of Eastern European workers across Europe, including in an Irish hotel. The strand is supported by Kerry County Council, Culture Ireland, and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

ABHAILE: The theme of home runs throughout this year’s programme, perhaps most strongly in KIFF’s international feature selection. Alongside Fatherland, audiences can experience Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, a Sundance hit combining love, grief, ballroom dancing and music, and Out There, an unpredictable Welsh coming-of-age adventure starring Michael Sheen, Aneurin Barnard and Iwan Rheon.

Also screening is Ukrainian drama Slovo House: Unfinished Novel, based on the true story of the writers living in the famous Slovo cooperative house in Soviet Ukraine. This special free screening is presented with support from the SICAP programme by North East West Kerry Development (NEWKD).

IRISH FEATURES: KIFF continues to showcase exciting new Irish filmmaking talent with a selection of contemporary Irish features. Walking Holiday, directed by Cian and Jack Desmond, follows Seán, who travels to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago before meeting Ana, a determined Galician grandmother. Despite not speaking each other’s language, the pair embark on a journey of friendship, loss and connection. A post-screening Q&A with the directors will follow.

Our House, directed by Peter Young, brings a tense home-invasion thriller to the programme. Three estranged siblings reunite at their mother’s wake, only to find themselves locked into a battle over the family home. The film won the Bingham Ray New Talent Award at the 2026 Galway Film Fleadh.

IRISH DOCUMENTARIES: The documentary programme explores subjects ranging from prison and rehabilitation to tourism, identity and alternative ways of living. Ross McLean’s Magilligan offers a restrained portrait of Ryan, a young man cycling in and out of prison in Northern Ireland, whose work with sheep through correctional programmes offers fleeting moments of purpose.

Local filmmaker Mieke Vanmechelen co-directs IMMRÁM with Michael Holly, following a charismatic family at the centre of a growing movement reclaiming indigenous Irish identity, customs, religion and language.

Meanwhile, The Siege of Paradise by Gar O’Rourke takes a cheeky and humorous look at Italy’s Cinque Terre, where four million tourists descend each summer, asking what happens when your home becomes a global holiday destination.

MADE IN KERRY: Kerry remains at the heart of KIFF’s programme, with this year’s opening film Whitetail offering a particularly strong connection to the county through its filming locations in Kenmare and the surrounding areas. The ever-popular Kerry Connection short film programme returns, showcasing filmmaking talent from across the Kingdom. KIFF will also once again partner with the Irish Film Institute for the free event IFI Local Films for Local People: 100 Years of Kerry on Film, bringing films from the National Film Archive back to the county from which they originate.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: KIFF is delighted to partner with Samhain Chiarraí Festival for a series of events celebrating Irish folklore, horror and storytelling. A rare screening of The Outcasts, Robert Wynne-Simmons’ 1982 Irish folk horror starring Mary Ryan and Mick Lally, will offer audiences the chance to revisit a landmark of Irish genre cinema.

Samhain celebrations continue with local seanchaí Ray O’Sullivan, who will share tales of myths, magic and mischief at Courtney’s Bar ahead of the annual Spooky Shorts programme. For younger audiences, Cartoon Saloon’s beloved Song of the Sea will screen as a relaxed screening, followed by a drawing workshop at ANAM, led by local artist Daniel Horgan O’Connell.

KIFF will also present an Open Caption Screening of Frank Berry’s The Lost Children of Tuam, winner of Best Irish Film at the 2026 Galway Film Fleadh. The screening will be open to all audiences, with open captions specifically supporting audiences who are deaf or hard of hearing.

SHORT FILMS: Short films remain at the heart of KIFF, with 14 curated short film programmes running throughout the festival. The programme includes dedicated selections of Irish and international shorts, comedy, animation, student films, documentaries, Irish-language shorts and music videos, offering audiences the opportunity to discover emerging filmmakers alongside established talent.

YOUNG AUDIENCES & EDUCATION: KIFF continues its commitment to developing the next generation of filmmakers and audiences. Thursday’s programme begins with Fresh Starts, a Careers in Screen event for young people, while Friday morning sees KIFF welcome local school groups for a selection of feature and short film screenings. Local primary school pupils will also have the opportunity to vote for the KIFF Kids Choice Award.

The festival’s family programme includes a relaxed screening of Song of the Sea, with lights half-raised, reduced volume and a reduced-capacity auditorium to create a more comfortable experience for all audiences.

KIFF REEL TALK:  This year, we are delighted to present KIFF Reel Talk, a series of panels, masterclasses and presentations throughout the festival, delivered by highly experienced members of the Irish film Industry. Focused on a range of topics including local opportunities, financing, inclusivity, crew skills and much more, each Reel Talk is set to be an informative and inspiring session for all interested in a future in the industry.

MAUREEN O’HARA AWARD: Kerry International Film Festival is delighted to announce Teresa McGrane as the recipient of this year’s Maureen O’Hara Award, which recognises women who have made an outstanding contribution to the film and television industries. Teresa served as Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland for more than two decades, playing a significant role in the growth and international recognition of Ireland’s screen industry. She is now Chief Operating Officer of Wild Atlantic Pictures. Teresa will take part in an In Conversation event with producer Lesley McKimm, exploring her career and the significant development of the Irish film industry during her time in the sector.

Randles Hotel | Friday, October 16 | 7:00–9:00pm

KIFF AWARDS 2026: The KIFF Awards Ceremony will take place at the Great Southern Killarney on Sunday, October 18th at 1:00pm.

The festival will recognise excellence across its short film programme, with awards including Best Irish Narrative Short, Best International Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Irish Language Short, Best Film Score, Best Screenwriting, Best Student Short, Best Animated Short and Best Music Video. Additional awards include Best of Kerry, the Trua Award, Taking Flight Rising Talent Award, Audience Award for Best Irish Narrative Feature, Best International Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature and the KIFF Kid’s Choice Award.

This year’s judging panel includes filmmakers and industry professionals including Kim Bartley, Frank Blake, Amanda Posey, Barry Ward, Dennis Harvey, Roisin Geraghty, Kate Dolan, Alma Kelliher, Malcolm Campbell, Luke Dunne, John Kelly and Dawn Shadforth.

Kerry International Film Festival would like to sincerely thank its principal funders, The Arts Council of Ireland and Kerry County Council, and headline sponsor Kerry Airport, alongside all sponsors, partners, festival friends and volunteers whose support makes it possible to bring fresh and dynamic cinema to Kerry audiences. KIFF would also like to thank everyone who attends the festival each year. From international cinema and new Irish filmmaking to local stories, family events and emerging filmmakers, the festival remains committed to bringing audiences together around the big screen in the Kingdom.

Kerry International Film Festival 2026 takes place in Killarney from October 15th-18th.

Tickets for all screenings and events are available at kerryfilmfestival.com or from the KIFF Box Office at Cinema Killarney, 10am-7pm, Oct 16-18.