PHOTO Fresh International Film Festival puts the spotlight on Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025

Fresh International Film Festival puts the spotlight on Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025

The future of Irish cinema is shining bright as Fresh International Film Festival crowned Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025 as part of a festival highlighting young local and global film talent

The future of Irish cinema lit up the screen at the 2025 Fresh International Film Festival, which brought some of Ireland’s top young filmmaking talents to this year’s awards.

Hosted in Dublin and livestreamed to audiences on YouTube, the awards celebrated young Irish talent in filmmaking and brought a plethora of filmmaking talent to the island for the Fresh International Film Festival.

Taking home the top honour was 17-year-old Emma Whelan from Finglas, Dublin, who was crowned Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025 for her film Abhaile. Written, directed, edited, and performed by Emma, the film explores themes of class, identity, and belonging through the eyes of Aimee, a working-class teen navigating friendship across social divides. Judges praised the film’s emotional honesty and powerful message: that “home” is defined not by status, but by the people who shape us.

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“Emma’s film is an extraordinary achievement,” said Jayne Foley, Artistic Director of Fresh Film. “She told a deeply personal story with honesty and heart, and that’s the true power of film. There’s no doubt she has a brilliant future ahead.”

Second place was awarded to Hugo Fearon from Belfast for Red Reverie, a visually inventive exploration of grief and sisterhood, blending animation and live-action. Lucas Stewart from Bangor, Co. Down, earned third for Ouroborus, a moody, film noir-inspired crime drama that impressed judges with its confident direction—especially remarkable given Lucas is just 15.

Limerick was also represented at the 2025 awards when Izzy Dalton received Best Director for Barracuda, an intimate story of brotherhood and unspoken emotion, told through the subtle metaphor of a fish tank.

The festival also honoured filmmakers across a wide range of categories including Alexandra College, Dublin, who took home Best School Award for Disconnected; Waterford Youth Arts won Best Group Award for the dystopian short Frequency 208.4; Eoin Murphy from Clonakilty was a double winner with The Absence of Things, earning both Best Cinematography and the Sustainability Award; Mischa McCarthy (Kerry) earned Best Screenplay for The Four Failed Attempts of Finn Downey; and Devlin Murphy (Dublin) received Best Concept for the quirky More Than Peanuts.

Animation and documentary also shone: Adam Flannelly (Galway) won the RTÉ 60 Second Film Award for Life, and Aaron Carter (Belfast) took the Animation Ireland Award for Keys. The Radharc Trust Award went to Cahersiveen Youth Film Group for Home from Home, a moving portrait of young Ukrainian refugees.

The awards capped off a vibrant weekend of events at the Engine Collaboration Centre in Limerick. Highlights included the Fresh x Big Shots networking event, an all-day Young Filmmakers Forum, and a virtual masterclass with legendary producer Sir David Puttnam. Attendees also participated in workshops, panels, and a live pitching competition judged by industry professionals.

Now in its 28th year, Fresh International Film Festival continues to champion, lift up and develop the nation’s filmmaking talent for the future.

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick