AN INTERNATIONAL film festival named after one of Limerick’s most famous sons has been postponed until next spring, event organisers have confirmed.
The Richard Harris International Film Festival (RHIFF) has been postponed until spring 2025 after organisers couldn’t secure enough funding for it to go ahead.
A statement from the event organisers said that “the festival has not secured the necessary funding from national and local agencies, forcing this temporary postponement.
“The festival did not secure any state funding in 2023 or 2024 and this put a strain on resources,” they added.
Over the past 12 years, the RHIFF has grown into one of Ireland’s most popular film festivals, showcasing a diverse range of films and fostering a vibrant community of filmmakers, artists, and audiences.
The festival has also been a launching pad for emerging talent, with several filmmakers who debuted at RHIFF going on to achieve significant success in the industry garnering Oscar nominations, Emmys, BATFAS and IFTAS.
However, despite this year’s setback the Richard Harris International Film Festival remain committed to staging the event at a later date and is exploring all options to secure funding to continue to host the event.
The festival organisers are grateful for the ongoing support from the local community, international filmmakers, sponsors and film enthusiasts who have contributed to RHIFF’s success over the years, as well as previously received support for local and national agencies.
Festival Director Zeb Moore said that the decision was a tough one for all the organisers.
“This is an incredibly hard decision for us. Over the past decade, we have poured our hearts into making the Richard Harris International Film Festival a premier event for filmmakers and audiences alike. To be forced to postpone is devastating, but we remain hopeful that with future funding, we can return stronger and more resilient,” Mr Moore said.
