The Foyle Film Festival, now in its 33rd year, delivers a year round programme of feature films, workshops, short films, competition screenings, outreach and special events.
The 2020 Foyle Film Festival will take place from Friday 20th to Sunday 29th November in Derry-Londonderry.
Over the last 33 years, the Foyle Film Festival has become renowned for attracting top industry professionals to Derry-Londonderry. Past guests have included Richard E Grant, Ray Winstone, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Christie, Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan, Wim Wenders, Stephen Frears to name but a few.
Foyle Film Festival is one of only a handful of International festivals with Oscar® affiliation, BAFTA and BIFA recognition. The festival offers filmmakers, animators and artists a unique platform to screen their films, network with industry professionals and gain access to the international market.
In light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the festival is reducing the submission fee for late and extended deadlines.
The prestigious Light In Motion (LIM) competition, sponsored by City of Derry Crystal, is open to filmmakers and animators across the world.
The three competition categories under LIM 2020 are:
· Best Irish Short
· Best International Short
· Best Animated Short
Recipients of the LIM Awards qualify for consideration in the Live Action and Animated Short Film categories of the Academy Awards® without needing the standard theatrical run. Foyle Film Festival is also an IMDb Qualifying Festival, granting all eligible film submissions a fast-tracked title page on IMDb.com.
Previous Foyle Film Festival winners and competitors who have proceeded to win the Oscar® include: Terry George for The Shore (2012), Martin McDonagh for Six Shooter (2006), Andrea Arnold for Wasp (2004), Adam Elliot for Harvie Krumpet (2003), and Eric Armstrong for Chubbchubbs (2002).
The success continued with 2018 Oscar nominations for LIM Award finalist The Silent Child directed by Chris Overton and 2018 BAFTA award in Short Animation for LIM Award finalist Poles Apart directed by Paloma Baeza and Ser En Low.
Funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, by Derry City and Strabane District Council and Tourism NI; Foyle Film Festival delivers a comprehensive programme of documentaries, short films and feature films from all over the world; a full programme of educational events for schools, youth, and adults and a variety of industry networking events and panel discussions.
The Festival is the flagship project of the Nerve Centre, Northern Ireland’s leading creative media arts centre which delivers a diverse range of cutting edge projects, training and production opportunities, state of the art production facilities and creative learning centres in Belfast and Derry-Londonderry.
'It was an honour to have my film Aretha selected and screened at this fantastic festival. I would highly recommend filmmakers to submit their work to this festival.'
Dave Thomas, award-winning director and producer
'Can't recommend this festival highly enough. Eavan and the team made us feel right at home in beautiful Derry. The screenings and industry talks were all excellent too, and a great networking opportunity. Will definitely be coming back!'
Shaun O Connor, award-winning Director / editor