Action! Festival begins next month for new filmmakers in Youghal

The First Cut Youth Film Festival (FCYFF) is returning to Youghal from March 3-8. In its 16th year, the festival brings together young aspiring filmmakers.

The festival will screen 200 short films across six days, offering filmmakers aged 12 to 25 the opportunity to showcase their work, participate in workshops, and engage with industry professionals.

The special guest is one of Ireland’s most exciting directors, Brendan Canty who will discuss his journey from music videos like Hozier’s Take Me To Church) to feature films: His debut feature, Christy, has just premiered at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival.

Also, there will be a screening on Friday, March 7 of the TG4 documentary Na Lumière Gaelacha about the Horgan brothers, the Irish photography and cinema pioneers. It will be followed by a Q&A with director Darina Clancy.

Festival director Mary McGrath said: “This festival is a platform for young voices to shine, fostering creativity and connection within our community. Working with these amazing young people makes it possible to create a very special event: A vibrant space to gather, learn, share, and be inspired by the bold visions of tomorrow’s storytellers and filmmakers.”

The festival’s open-call programme welcomes short films of every genre by young people from Ireland and beyond. Highlights this year include Better When You’re Dancing, a sensitive story about overcoming loss, by rising star of Cork-based filmmaking Kyra Owers; and in-depth character pieces, Abhaile (Emma Whelan) and Rithsaor (Tim O’Leary), that offer thoughtful insights in to teenage life.

The festival’s Spotlight Programme highlights emerging filmmakers of third-level age of exceptional promise. Highlights include Flawless (Muirinn Carty), a challenging examination of our views of images of ageing; Uilíoch, a sober and hard-hitting look at the Troubles (Seosamh Mac Seoin); and Redemption, artist Mary O’Leary’s painterly, surreal and personal vision of addiction.

All events are ed by the Arts Council and Cork County Council, local businesses and Youghal and Cork Credit Unions.