Limerick’s Catalyst International Film Festival will return to Belltable and the Theatre Royal from April 23 to 25 for its seventh edition, presenting a programme of films, panel discussions, workshops and networking events that champions under-represented voices both on screen and behind the camera.
Founded and directed by Dr Susan Liddy, the festival has established itself as one of Ireland’s most socially engaged cinematic gatherings, with Hollywood actor Ruth Negga serving as its ambassador. This year’s edition promises a particularly resonant opening, with a gala screening of Once Upon a Time in a Cinema at the Theatre Royal Cinema – the very building in which the film was shot.
Director David Gleeson, a Limerick native whose previous credits include Don’t Go and Cowboys & Angels, will attend alongside producer Nathalie Lichtenthaeler.
The Royal Cinema had been closed for many years before reopening, and many Limerick locals appeared as extras during the shoot, lending the event a deeply personal character for the city.
“It’s hugely nostalgic and heart-warming for a Limerick audience,” said Dr Liddy. “I think many of whom were extras in the film will have a unique opportunity to see David’s film screen in the Royal Cinema for this special gala event.”
The film chronicles the events of May 2021, when a UK Home Office dawn raid in Pollokshields, Glasgow — Scotland’s most diverse neighbourhood — sparked a spontaneous act of civil resistance. Hundreds of residents took to the streets to prevent the deportation of two neighbours, with the protest swelling to several thousand participants. Dr Liddy described it as “a timely film that demonstrates the power of solidarity and the innate decency of people.”
Among the highlights of this year’s programme is a dedicated Stories from Palestine short film strand, featuring six shorts described by organisers as carrying an immersive quality and bearing testament to human dignity and resilience.
The festival will also host the world premiere of Queen Lizzy, directed by David McDonagh and recipient of last year’s Catalyst Short Documentary Bursary Award. The film offers a candid portrait of Traveller and spoken word artist Lizzy Connors as she navigates estrangement from her family over her sexuality, and her efforts to build a new one for herself.
The industry programme remains a cornerstone of the festival. The annual Shaping the Future in Screenwriting: Industry Day, delivered in collaboration with the National Talent Academy for Film and Television, will feature a masterclass from BAFTA-winning screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst, known for Brassic and Fool Me Once, alongside an in-conversation session with IFTA winner Ailbhe Keogan, the Kerry-born writer behind Joyride and Trespasses.
The 2026 Bursary Interviews will take place on April 25, assessed by filmmakers Vanessa Gildea, Pat Collins and Aoife Kelleher.
A closing night awards ceremony will round off what promises to be a full and celebratory weekend for Irish independent cinema.
Full programme details and tickets are available at www.catalystinternationalfilmfestival.com.