THE CATALYST International Film Festival returns to Limerick this week, marking its fifth anniversary.
The local film festival will run from April 18 to 20, with films, panel discussions, workshops, and networking events taking place across the Treaty City throughout the festival.
This year’s instalment is showing movies and stories that come from people who are currently under-represented on screen or behind the camera.
The awards segment of the festival will see two new categories added, with the inaugural Short Documentary Bursary Award and the National Student Award.
The Short Documentary Bursary Award is worth €10,000, and is open to emerging filmmakers to support the making of a short documentary.
The National Student Award is worth €1,000 and aims to highlight upcoming student talent. The award is open to third level student filmmakers from Limerick and across Ireland.
Launching this year’s festival, founder and director of Catalyst International Film Festival Dr Susan Liddy said that the festival’s success wouldn’t be possible without the support they have gotten from the film industry.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today but for the enormous goodwill from the industry generally and from individual practitioners and organisations across the country,” Dr Liddy said.
“This year we present our biggest festival yet and I can say with confidence and gratitude – here’s to the next 5 years.”
Friday and Saturday (April 19 and 20) will see a full programme of Irish and international short films shown at the Belltable in Limerick City, as well as two feature films, Baltimore (April 19) and Verdigras (April 20).
As well as movie screenings, both days will see masterclasses taking place, including the Shaping the Future in Screenwriting industry day on Friday and the Director’s Masterclass on Saturday.
The full programme of events can be found on catalystinternationalfilmfestival.com, with tickets also available online.
