Kilkenny’s Young Irish Makers Achieve Recognition at Cannes Film Festival

Kilkenny County Council is proud to announce that Young Irish Filmmakers (YIFM), based in Kilkenny, are up for a major award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Nominated in the Social and Economic Impact category, YIFM has been recognised for their outstanding work in promoting the film industry in Ireland.

This year’s festival has been particularly successful for local filmmakers. Kilkenny-based animation studio Cartoon Saloon recently screened their new film “Julian,” adding to the excitement and achievements of the Irish contingent.

The trip for Young Irish Filmmakers has been funded by Kilkenny County Council. Garry McHugh, Director at YIFM, expressed his gratitude for the support, highlighting the stiff international competition they face in their category. “We’re up against some of the biggest names in the world, including ‘Blood Legacy’ from Netflix and ‘Walking Dead: Daryll Dixon’ season three. These are all industry greats,” he noted.

The Cannes Film Festival, running from 13 to 24 May, remains the most prestigious event in the global film calendar, with a highly selective programme. The inclusion of several Irish-backed productions underscores the continued international interest in work coming from Ireland.

YIFM’s nomination for a Global Production Award at Cannes is a significant recognition of their contribution to youth engagement and creativity in film.

The festival continues until Saturday, 24 May, with many other excellent Irish filmmakers in contention.

The event is attended by top Hollywood talent, including Robert DeNiro, Tom Cruise, Scarlett Johansson, and Ireland’s own Paul Mescal. Over the next week, the jury, led by Juliette Binoche, will evaluate the 21 films in competition and award the Palme d’Or, Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor. The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on 24 May.