Event News
Catalyst International Film Festival returns for its 7th edition from April 23–25
Catalyst International Film Festival, which celebrates diverse storytelling, takes place in Limerick from April 23 to 25, 2026. Pictured at the launch are Founder & Director Dr Susan Liddy and Actress and Festival Ambassador Ruth Negga. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
Catalyst International Film Festival returns April 23–25, and Oscar nominated actress and festival ambassador Ruth Negga is excited ” to celebrate the many different faces of our film industry and its future”
Catalyst International Film Festival is Ireland’s only cinematic event dedicated exclusively to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion features bold stories that reflect underrepresented perspectives in the global film industry.
The Festival returns April 23- 25, presenting films, panel discussions, workshops and networking events in venues across the city for its 7th edition.
The Limerick festival presents a film programme prioritising stories and storytellers currently under-represented on screen and behind the camera, with screenings, panels, workshops and masterclasses.
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We have an exclusive sneak-peek preview of some of the highlights from its 2026 programme ahead of the full lineup announcement in early April.
Among them are the premiere of Catalyst Short Documentary Bursary Award winner Queen Lizzie, directed by David McDonagh, the annual Shaping the Future in Screenwriting Industry Day featuring Award Winning special guests audiences will know and love, alongside networking events and a dynamic programme of national and international films screening in venues across the city.
Academy Award nominee and Festival Ambassador Ruth Negga said, “It swells the heart to welcome everybody back and to be growing our Shannon-side film festival,” said Negga. “We are celebrating the many different faces of our film industry and its future.”
A cornerstone of this year’s festival is the free Screenwriting Lab for 10 screenwriters. Designed to ensure that talent, not circumstance, dictates success, the immersive programme will mentor ten emerging writers. Thanks to funding from Coimisiún na Meán, Catalyst will be able to provide accommodation and support to the selected screenwriters for the duration of the 2 day Lab at this year’s festival.
Facilitated by Jennifer Davidson (Chair of the Writers Guild of Ireland) alongside veteran script editors Lena Byrne and Sam Atwell and special guest producers (tba), the lab aims to bridge the gap between raw talent and industry production.
Festival Director Dr Susan Liddy highlighted the necessity of the festival’s mission, noting that too many promising voices are lost due to a lack of institutional support saying, “Too often, promising voices are not identified or supported, resulting in a loss of authentic stories,” Dr Liddy said, adding “Catalyst is taking a first step towards changing that.”
The full programme will be released in early April – follow Catalyst and join their newsletter via www.catalystinternationalfilmfestival.com
For more information please contact [email protected].
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