The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles 2026

The Irish Film Festival
Los Angeles
2026

20th-22nd March 2026

A Celebration of Irish Film

March 20th – 22nd, 2026

Laemmle Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles returns March 20–22, 2026 for a three-day celebration of contemporary Irish cinema at the Laemmle Monica Film Center, presenting a bold and diverse programme of feature films, documentaries, vertical cinema, and Oscar Nominated short films from both established voices and emerging talent.

This year’s festival showcases nine feature films, including three feature documentaries, reflecting the breadth and ambition of Irish filmmaking today.

Short-form cinema is at the heart of the festival, with 30 short films screening across four carefully curated programmes. These films capture the energy, creativity, and originality of Irish filmmakers working across narrative, documentary, and hybrid forms. The programme also includes a vertical film presentation, responding to the shifting ways audiences experience film today.

The 2026 programme proudly celebrates Irish-language cinema, with several Irish-language {Gaeilge} films featured across both the feature and short film selections, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to cultural diversity within Irish filmmaking.

This year’s lineup includes 14 women directors, reflecting a growing and vital presence of women-led storytelling across Irish cinema. The programme also celebrates a wide range of voices and perspectives, including LGBTQ+ stories, Irish-language films, documentaries, and work from both emerging and established filmmakers.

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Click a screening to learn more and book tickets!

Friday March 20th

Saturday March 21st

Vertical Film – Just hitting America, is it here to stay?

March 21st @1pm

Panelists: Dana Protsyshak, Daniel Cotroneo, Paige Compton Moderator – Kristin Matthews

From TikTok to theatrical experiments, vertical film is rewriting the rules of composition and narrative—discover why filmmakers are finally thinking upright.

Dana Protsyshak is the founder of Dana Productions, known as VertIGo, Vert-I-Go Media and the LA Vertical Drama Market – the first-ever industry event dedicated to the vertical drama industry. She is also the creator of OtheR, a dystopian series being developed across long-form and vertical formats. Having worked on over 25 verticals across writing and production, she has emerged as a leading voice of vertical filmmaking in Los Angeles’ emerging vertical landscape. Given her experience, she serves as a judge for vertical series and acts as a consultant, frequently reviewing and evaluating the work of other creators and studios for acquisition purposes. Dana develops, produces and directs original vertical projects with international teams across North America and Europe, builds Vert-I-Go Media – dedicated vertical drama app, and fosters a creative community through her monthly Vertical Mixers, helping introduce and establish the vertical format within Hollywood.

Daniel Cotroneo is a producer and director with 20+ years in film and television. He was Director of Photography on Netflix’s #1 global hit A Beautiful Life and the Danish Oscar nominee While We Live. He won two Emerging Cinematographer Awards from the International Cinematographers Guild and operated camera on three seasons of This Is Us. He worked in the lighting department on Mad Men, Django Unchained, and Star Trek Into Darkness. In 2025, Cotroneo founded Flashback Pictures with a slate of nine films over three years, leveraging a “Moneyball” approach to create value in film production. The company’s first release, Pizza Guys Vs Vampires, went from concept to launch in three months and earned coverage in Deadline and StageRunner. Flashback is currently producing a 2D animated feature utilizing an innovative human-first, AI-supported workflow. Flashback is also developing a scripted sports biopic in the vein of The Wolf of Wall Street, and a documentary portrait of Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton through his personal unreleased recordings.

Paige Compton is a graduate of AFI with an MFA in Directing and the Art Institute, with a BFA in Digital Filmmaking. She has gone on to complete a multi-award winning festival circuit with her AFI thesis GUIDE ON, and with her LGBTQ+ rom-com short, PEANUT BUTTER SHOT produced with a Disney/AFI grant. During her time in the US Army she designed and built TV Studios, earning membership in the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and her last four years of service were spent as Audio Visual Director for Obama and Biden and a manager for an indie rock band. Paige has completed the WGF: Veterans Writing Project and Warner Brothers Directors Access Program. Paige is currently one of the most sought after directors for vertical format comedy series and is creating a brand new independent vertical series this year.

Kristin Matthews is a media executive and Emmy Award-winning television producer. She most recently was the Showrunner at CBS for The Talk; previously, she produced news coverage for The Today Show and CBS News programs. As part of her career in the entertainment industry, Kristin has stayed close to the publishing world: she has developed and produced written, audio and video content on authors, poets and other writers in the U.S. and Europe. She has served on the board of the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation and is a past President of the Smith College Club of Los Angeles. Kristin holds a BA from Smith College and a MPA from Columbia University.

Sunday March 22nd

Stunts in film – Explore the world of the artists who put their bodies on the line.

March 22nd @2pm

Panelists: Rick Avery, Quartay DeNaya, Josh Mabie, Kendall Wells | Moderator – Zegan Doyle

From hand-to-hand combat to high falls, stunt performers and cinematographers collaborate to transform danger into cinematic art.

Rick Avery is an award-winning stuntman, stunt coordinator, actor, director, author, photographer, helicopter pilot, aerial coordinator with over 700 feature film, television, and commercial credits including, Titanic, Men in Black 2/3, Dunkirk, four Batman Movies, Casino American Sniper, Anchorman, and Heat. He is a former police officer and Army Veteran. Winner of the Screen Actors Guild’s Cast award for Traffic, Best Stunt Ensemble Award in a Motion Picture for Batman Dark Knight, and the 2009 Red Bull Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Vehicular Work in Batman Dark Knight. Also nominated for two Screen Actors Guild awards, for Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in Dunkirk, and Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in Batman Dark Knight Rises.

Quartay DeNaya is an actress, producer, and 1st degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate known for performing her own stunts. She starred in Apple Watch’s “Hello Sunshine,” executing all stunt work and narrating the commercial. Her film credits include Kings and multiple action-driven projects highlighting strong female leads. Trained in weapons, gymnastics, and dance, Quartay blends cinematic storytelling with authentic martial arts skill, positioning herself as a rising force in action entertainment.

Josh Mabie is a 2nd Unit Director and Fight coordinator, and has worked on films such as Painter, Avatar Fire and Ash, Road House, and HBO’s upcoming Lanterns.

Kendall Wells is a professional stunt performer, actor, and fight choreographer. His credits include Our Flag Means Death, Hunters, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Rebel Moon, The Gray Man, and more. He specializes in edged and flexible weapons performance, horsemanship, and martial arts. He is the longtime student of Anthony De Longis, renown Hollywood sword and whip master, and is passionate about teaching and building upon his teacher’s legacy.

Zegan Doyle (they/them) is a writer, director, and film programmer. They are the 2025 Project Involve Film Programming Fellow at Film Independent where they are the lead programmer for the Artist Development Showcase. Zegan is a SXSW Documentary Feature Programming Associate and has contributed to programming at Rooftop Films, Mountainfilm, and the Rubin Museum of Art.

CELEBRATING IRISH FILM

IrishFFLA26 is proud to showcase nine award-winning feature films, celebrating the very best of Irish cinema. The festival will include a significant number of visiting filmmakers, cast, and crew across the weekend. The festival opens on Friday, March 20th with the award-winning Horseshoe, followed by a Q&A with Actor Neill Fleming. Later that evening, audiences will hear from Director Donncha Gilmore after the screening of his award-winning debut feature Girls & Boys.

On Saturday, March 21st, Director Ronan McCloskey will be in discussion following Éire agus na Chéad Náisiúin (Ireland and the First Nations). The day also features Craig Stuart Garfinkle, attending in his role as Director on The Unsinkable Entrepreneur and as Composer on the award-winning Irish-language feature Báite.

On Sunday March 22nd a special screening of I Hope We Can Still Be Friends will be followed by a Q&A with Director Aisha Tyler, Actor Caroline Morahan, and Producer Jordan Lee McGrath, Christy closes the festival with a discussion led by writer Alan O’Gorman.

The festival is also proud to present the award-winning documentary Listen to the Land Speak, featuring the late Manchán Magan, alongside the acclaimed feature The Reckoning of Erin Morrigan, and vertical short film Pizza Guys with writer Mat Raney in attendance.

Across four curated shorts programmes, the festival celebrates over thirty short films, with a wide range of attending filmmakers and creatives. New Voices includes the Oscar Nominated short film Retirement Plan and a Q&A with Joe Conlon, composer of Dive, and Enda Gallery, composer of Anziety. The Auteurs features Kevin Ryan, Richie Stephens, and David Golden from Divorce Roulette. The Futures welcomes Joseph Jones and Patrick Sheldon of I Do, alongside George Hutton, Nathan Ward, and Chris McKenna from Scáth. The Contemporaries shorts programme features a Q&A with Alan O’Gorman, writer of Mouse, and John Christopher, director of The Axe Forgets.

The festival will host three panel discussions; on Friday 20th, we host AI: The Future of Filmmaking?, a panel exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry, featuring Ben Hansford, moderated by Mat Raney. On Saturday 21st, Vertical Format Film: Just Hitting America, Is It Here to Stay? examines the rise of vertical storytelling, with panelists Dana Protsyshak, Daniel Cotroneo, and Paige Compton, moderated by Kristin Matthews. On Sunday 22nd, Stunts in Film explores the world of stunt performers and screen action, featuring Rick Avery, Quartay DeNaya, Josh Mabie, and Kendall Wells, moderated by Zegan Doyle.

Beyond the Screenings: The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles serves as an important gathering place for filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences. In addition to screenings, Q&As, and panels, each evening ticket holders were invited to after-evening social events, offering a relaxed space for networking, discussion, and celebrating Irish cinema.

Festival Director Matthew Nevin shares his excitement about this year’s program, stating: “From powerful dramas to bold new voices and standout short films, this year’s Irish Film Festival Los Angeles celebrates the range, ambition, and creativity of contemporary Irish cinema. Irish filmmakers continue to gain international recognition, and we’re proud to bring these award-winning stories and artists to audiences in Los Angeles. We’re really looking forward to welcoming audiences for a few great days of film, conversation, and celebration.”

IrishFFLA26 is currently Directed by Matthew Nevin, Managed by Jenny Minniti Shippey and Coordinated by Jenn McGuirk. Kindly Supported By: The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Screen Ireland, ELMA, TG4, MART Gallery & Studios, LA County Arts & Culture, The Irish Film Institute’s IFI International programme in connection with Culture Ireland and Arts Council Ireland.

To support our community IrishFFLA26 offers senior and unemployed discounts, please email info@ciacla.com for more info.