Film
PHOTOS Fresh Film celebrates 30 years showcasing young Irish film talent on a global stage
Fresh Film celebrates 30 years showcasing young Irish film talent on a global stage. Director David Gleeson and his masterclass. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
As part of the Fresh Film 30 celebrations, the Youth Cinema Network Conference was held in Limerick for the first time and director David Gleeson held a masterclass for young filmmakers

Young filmmakers from across Ireland and from more than 14 countries attended the Fresh Young Filmmakers Lab and Youth Cinema Network Conference in Limerick this week.
The celebrations saw a weeklong series of national events come to Limerick and the national stage, including Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year Junior and Senior finals, screenings, workshops, panels and a master class with director David Gleeson. David’s film include two films made in Limerick – ‘Cowboys & Angels‘, a youth comedy/drama released in 2002 and ‘Once Upon a Time in a Cinema’, a nostalgic drama set in a small-town cinema during the 1980s which will be released nationwide on May 1st, 2026.
A major part of this year’s Fresh celebrations saw the group host the YCN (Youth Cinema Network) Conference across Friday and Saturday, welcoming over 40 delegates from more than 14 countries, including the UK, Italy, Greece, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Romania in what was a fantastic international moment for Fresh.
Ciarda Tobin, of YCN told I Love Limerick, “ It’s really exciting because you have the makers here, the storytellers, exactly, and then the advocates from all over the world who want to see their films, promote their films, distribute their films, and give them opportunities with international counterparts. Also, placements, opportunities, screenings, workshops, and of course awards.”
Although Fresh Film and the industry itself has come a long way, Jane Foley, founder of Fresh Film Festival, said the “essence” of filmmaking is still at the heart of the community.
She said, “ We started off as the Irish School’s video competition. It was much more difficult for young people to make films then; technology has hugely improved. But you know, a lot of things haven’t changed as well. It still requires a group of young people to come together, come up with an idea, storyboard it, and script it. The essence, really, of filmmaking is still there.”
The Fresh Young Filmmakers Lab, a highlight of the festival opened with a keynote conversation featuring Dr Ciarán Kissane, Director of Film Classification at the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO), who spoke on regulation, responsibility and creative freedom in a digital age.
Attendees then took part in a masterclass with Irish writer and director David Gleeson, who explored directing, visual storytelling and the realities of building a sustainable career in film. The session also included practical elements and audience engagement, giving young creatives the chance to learn directly from an experienced filmmaker.

The lab also featured a pitching workshop led by writer Sinéad Collopy, followed by the Fresh Pitching Competition, where selected young filmmakers presented their ideas live to a panel of industry professionals, with a prize awarded to the winning pitch.
Although a busy week of celebrations was taking place, Jane reminded those involved that Fresh Film is active throughout the year. She said, “We’re doing a lot of very high-profile events and projects that we like to run throughout the year. Again, really it is just about celebrating and working with young filmmakers. This has been an incredible week!”
Reflecting on the week, Jane said, “ We had our festival, we had our junior awards and they were amazing. Then we had our senior awards, which is Ireland’s filmmaker of the year; we were in the Mansion House for that.
“It was unbelievable. It kind of exceeded even my expectations, actually, of what that event could be. And it’s so nice to be able to give that to the young people, to give them a real celebration and make it like the Oscars, like really put importance on what they actually do.”
Photos: Olena Oleskienko/ilovelimerick





