The 20^th Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival took place in theaters around the Irish capital and online (for people in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) from February 23 to March 6. There was undeniable excitement around every in-person event. It could have been because the festival took place when covid restrictions were being lifted throughout Ireland. It was the first time, in a very long time, that people could see each other’s faces in a packed theater.

There was unwavering pride and enthusiasm around the strong range of films highlighting a very modern and diverse Ireland. From homegrown thrillers like Kate Dolan’s You Are Not My Mother, centered in Irish folklore, to Declan McGrath and Neasa Ní Chianáin’s documentary Young Plato, which, like Kenneth Branagh’s Golden Globe nominated film Belfast, focuses on Northern Ireland’s troubled history through the eyes of precocious children.

One of the most anticipated events at the festival was a press conference for the upcoming Hulu/BBC series Conversations with Friends. Producers Catherine Magee and Emma Norton joined writer Mark O’Halloran and director Lenny Abrahamson as they discussed their involvement in the second adaption of Sally Rooney’s work (the highly successful Normal People was the first adaptation). Four gasp-and-laugh-inspiring clips were shown from the series.

The program included a strong international line-up. Some of the films exhibited were Nitram, Small Body, Red Rocket and The Batman. Certain actors made appearances, including Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum, of the Oscar-nominated Norwegian film The Worst Person in The World. Also in attendance: Lee Cooper, the director of Maisie, which won Best Documentary. Laura Samani appeared onscreen to accept the Best Director award for her haunting work titled Small Body.

 

Here is a full list of this year’s Dublin Film Festival award winners:

Best Film

Vortex – Gaspar Noé (France/Belgium/Monaco)

Best Actress

Anamaria Vartolomei – Happening (France)

Best Actor

Udo Kier – Swan Song (USA)

Best Screenplay

Terence Davies – Benediction (UK)

Best Editor

Sean Baker – Red Rocket (USA)

Best Director

Laura Samani – Small Body (Italy/France/Slovenia)

Best Documentary

Maisie – Lee Cooper (UK)

&

Three Minutes, A Lengthening – Bianca Stigter (Netherlands)

Best Irish Documentary

Vicky – Jono McLeod (Ireland)

Best Irish Feature

The Quiet Girl – Colm Bairéad (Ireland)

Sue Bruce-Smith Award for Best Irish Short

An Encounter – Kelly Campbell – (Ireland)

Special Mention

Don’t Go Where I Can’t Find You – Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair (Ireland)

Best International Short

Stiletto – A Pink Family Tragedy – Can Merdan Doğan (Turkey/Germany)

Special Mentions

In Flow of Words – Elaine Esther Bots (Netherlands)

Store Policy – Sarah Arnold (France)

Aer Lingus Discovery Award

Colm Bairéad – The Quiet Girl

Kate Dolan – You Are Not My Mother (Ireland)

Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair – Don’t Go Where I Can’t Find You (short)

ICCL Human Rights Film Award

Young Plato – Neasa Ní Chianáin and Declan McGrath (UK/Ireland/France/Belgium)

Hive – Blerta Basholli (Kosovo/Switzerland/North Macedonia/Albania)

Best Cinematography

Frédéric Noirhomme – Playground (Belgium)

Best Ensemble

Róise & Frank – Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy (Ireland)

George Byrne Maverick Award

Tristan Heanue – Harvest (Ireland)

Michael Dwyer Discovery Award

Kelly Campbell – An Encounter (short)

Special Jury Prize

Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest – Mads Hedegaard (Denmark)