Catalyst International Film Festival

Award Categories

🎬 Irish Short Film

🌍 International Short Film

📽 Documentary Short Film

📝 Short Screenplay Award

🎓 National Student Short Film Award

WE WANT TO SEE:

✨ Films that promote gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.

✨ Stories from voices that struggle for visibility in mainstream film festivals.

✨ Films that entertain, engage, challenge, and inspire.

Recognised as one of Ireland’s most dynamic and socially engaged festivals, Catalyst offers exceptional visibility, industry connections, and the opportunity to screen in front of engaged audiences and respected professionals. With a growing international reputation, a dedicated student programme, and unique awards, Catalyst 2026 is the place to premiere your film or script. Submit your work now and be part of the movement for change through cinema.

FILMMAKER SUBMISSION FAQ

What kind of films does Catalyst International Film Festival programme?

We programme films that actively reflect equality, diversity, and inclusion, both on screen and behind the camera. If your film highlights underrepresented voices in its story or creative leadership, we want to see it.

Does my film need to meet specific inclusion criteria?

Yes. To be eligible, films must demonstrate a commitment to inclusion in both:

- On-screen representation

- Behind-the-camera representation

What counts as on-screen representation?

Your film qualifies if it meets at least one of the following:

- A lead character, or at least two secondary characters, are from an underrepresented group

- The storyline or subject matter focuses on an underrepresented individual or community

What counts as behind-the-camera representation?

Your film qualifies if one of the following applies:

- At least one key creative role (writer, director, producer, cinematographer, or editor) is held by someone from an underrepresented group

- Two or more crew members are from underrepresented groups

Which groups are considered underrepresented?

This includes, but is not limited to:

- Gender

- Social and economic exclusion

- Race

- Disability

- Age

- Sexual orientation/identities

What if my film addresses underrepresentation not listed here?

That’s absolutely fine. This list is not exhaustive, and we warmly welcome films that explore underrepresentation in other areas too!

I’m unsure if my film qualifies — what should I do?

If you’re unsure, please get in touch We’re happy to discuss your film and help determine whether it’s a good fit for the festival.

Do you accept feature length film submissions?

No, as our 2 main feature films every year are curated by our programmers we are not in a position to accept feature length work.

OUR MISSION

DIVERSE STORIES | DIVERSE STORYTELLING
Catalyst International Film Festival focuses exclusively on films that address under-representation on screen and behind the camera; gender equality, diversity and inclusion are core to our programming. We want to create a more inclusive industry and films screened here will promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion whether in content, key creative roles or crew.

We prioritise stories and storytellers who may struggle for visibility in the film industry and in mainstream film festivals.

We believe that talent is plentiful but opportunities can be limited. Catalyst films will entertain and engage audiences - but they will also challenge and inspire.

Panel discussions, workshops, interviews, Q&A and special events are an integral part of Catalyst International Film Festival.

We seek to generate new audiences and discussion around gender equality, diversity and inclusion and the practice of that by individual filmmakers.

Our targeted festival guests will themselves speak to diversity whether in the vision, themes and characters explored in their films (content) and/or in the diversity of their personnel and crew (behind camera).

This is a place where diverse filmmakers, emerging and more established, can connect and maybe even collaborate.

Diversity is welcomed, not merely accommodated.

Catalyst International Film Festival is also keen to engage with emerging filmmakers, ‘new’ rather than inevitably ‘young’, in order to broaden the horizons of potential future filmmakers and audience members.

Filmmaking can be enriching as an art form, in and of itself; new technology has democratised filmmaking to some extent and we hope to capitalise on that in time.

Films screened at Catalyst demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and meet the criteria both on-screen AND creative leadership.

RUTH NEGGA | FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR

"It swells the heart to welcome everybody back and to growing our Shannon side film festival, Catalyst International Film Festival and celebrating the many different faces of our film industry and its future. As our industry experiences a resurgence of exciting attention, it has become increasingly clear that Ireland has extraordinary talent. Let’s nurture and support it so we can continue to explore our ever-evolving identity and culture through the collective in film by encouraging and supporting all Irish voices! Join us for Catalyst International Film Festival, 2023!"
Ruth Negga, Catalyst International Film Festival Festival Ambassador.

Dr Susan Liddy, film festival founder and Director, is enthusiastic about the festival’s association with Ruth Negga.

“We are very proud and honoured to welcome the talented actor, Ruth Negga, to the role of Ambassador for Catalyst International Film Festival. Ruth is hugely supportive of the festival’s ethos so there is a real meeting of minds in this partnership. Ruth also has strong ties to Limerick, having lived in the city for many years as a child. Her connection remains strong and, indeed, she still has extended family living here. We look forward to working with her to focus attention on the need for a more diverse and inclusive industry.”

SUBMISSION INFO