This year's Generation Fleadh Programme is Launched
Generation Fleadh, announces Irish Premieres, Fleadh Faves, retrospectives, short films and special events for this year’s festival, taking place 4th-8th November in Pálás Cinema, Eye Cinema and beyond.
Festival Programmer of the Galway Film Fleadh, Charlene Lydon said, “Generation Fleadh is an opportunity to bring all generations together to experience some very special films together on the big screen and we aim to create a space for discussion and reflection. Experiencing films in this communal way reminds us all that cinema is more than “content” and is a valuable resource for thoughtful examination of the human condition, of society and creativity. It was an honour to work with our Generation Council to bring a youthful voice to the programme and fully understand what feels relevant to their generation. This year’s programme was designed to spark ideas and creativity, challenge the next generation of film fans and promote discussion.”
Generation Fleadh will host two Irish premieres – Beth De Araujo’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, JOSEPHINE, starring Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan and Kade/Megan Rico’s SXSW hit punk coming-of-age comedy EDIE ARNOLD IS A LOSER.
This year’s Opening Film will be a special preview of Anton Corbijn’s A TALENT FOR MURDER, a fictionalised thriller about a literary executive who gets caught in a game of cat and mouse with renowned crime author Patricia Highsmith, starring Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich. This preview will be followed by a screening of Highsmith’s most beloved work THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY.
Our Closing Film this year is LEARNING TO BREATHE UNDER WATER, Rebekah Fortune’s smash hit festival favourite and winner of the Galway Film Fleadh AUDIENCE AWARD 2026.
We will also be bringing back another Fleadh favourite, with Isabel Daly’s triumphant LGBTQIA+ selkie romance, WASHED UP.
The 2026 GENERATION Council has worked with the programming team to put together a programme of retrospective films. This year they have selected David Lynch’s masterful, Hollywood noir MULHOLLAND DRIVE and Jonathan Dayton and Valerie
Faris’s LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and the Irish-language version of Cartoon Saloon’s animated classic THE SECRET OF KELLS.
The Generation Council also selected three programmes of Irish, international and animated short films from a selection of submissions.
The Generation Fleadh also features a number of Workshops and discussion, including a PRODUCTION DESIGN MASTERCLASS with Deirdre Bolger, HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU TELL A STORY in collaboration with Film Corner and John Huston Film School alongside a screening of RUN LOLA RUN, DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD, an illustrated introduction to the work of John Ford, tracing his influence on modern masters such as Spielberg and Scorsese. This is in association with Feile John Ford. And finally, we will host a post-screening discussion after the Irish Premiere of JOSEPHINE, led by Adult and Adolescent Psychotherapist Martha McKeon Lynch about the impact of trauma on young people and how cinema can express ideas about support and understanding.
As with previous years, we will bring a selection of films to Clifden, Co. Galway as part of our GEN BEYOND programme and we look forward to welcoming over 500 students joining us for screenings, workshops and discussions as part of our SCHOOLS PROGRAMME.
For full information, including screenings, workshops and more, go to https://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/generation-fleadh/
The Galway Film Fleadh is supported by, The Arts Council, Fís Éireann, TG4, Coimisiún na Meán, Galway City Council, Fáilte Ireland.