Docs Ireland returns to Belfast from 23-29 June for its seventh edition, offering a compelling mix of Irish and international documentaries that speak to urgent social, political and personal issues. The festival brings a strong focus on new Irish voices, landmark retrospectives and special events that celebrate some of documentary’s most influential figures. This year’s programme also shines a light on Palestine, Poland and Kenya through a wide-ranging selection of films and curated programmes.

The festival opens with the world premiere of The Negotiator by Trevor Birney (the producer of Kneecap [+lee también:
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The Pull Focus Irish Documentary Competition remains a key highlight, showcasing some of Ireland’s best new documentaries. Among the selected films are Alison Millar’s Hunting Captain Nairac, which investigates a disappearance tied to Northern Ireland’s troubled past, and Operation Bogeyman by Simon Aeppli, a documentary that explores folk horror in 1970s Northern Ireland. Adrian Duncan’s Latina, Latina, voiced by Wendy Erskine, follows an Irish geologist who discovers the diaries of her estranged father from fascist-era Italy, while Éamon Little’s Born That Way reflects on disability, care and the final years of music journalist Patrick Lydon. Notably, two Irish-language films are included: Paddy Hayes’ David Keenan: Focla Ar Chanbhás / Words on Canvas explores a career at a crossroads, while Ag Taisteal Siar / Travelling Back focuses on the music in the Irish Traveller community. The festival is also introducing the Ross McDonnell Award for Best Cinematography in an Irish Feature in memory of the late Irish cinematographer, who tragically lost his life in 2023. Belfast Docs, a collaborative project supported by The Hearth (commissioned by Belfast 2024), will world-premiere three short documentaries made with local community groups: Seeking Home by Gillian Callan, Stranded Dreams by Alison Millar and Ardoyne Youth Club by Seán Murray.

The Maysles Documentary Competition brings an international perspective to the gathering, featuring films from six countries and four continents. Highlights include the poetic coming-of-age tale Always by Deming Chen; Bogancloch [+lee también:
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Docs Ireland’s international spotlight focuses on Palestine, Poland and Kenya. The Palestine programme presents From Ground Zero [+lee también:
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ficha de la película], a collection of short films documenting destruction and resilience amid Gaza’s ongoing genocide, and A State of Passion by Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi, which follows doctor Ghassan Abu Sittah during his sixth war in Gaza. Hailing from Kenya are How to Build a Library by Maia Lekow and Christopher King, which explores the hidden industry of essay writing, and The Shadow Scholars [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Tetyana Dorodnitsyna and Andrii Lytvynenko, which follows the life of athlete and animal rights activist Anna Kurkurina; and the short film Talking Heads by Krzysztof Kieślowski.

Indeed, short film remains a vital part of the festival, with two competitive shorts programmes and four curated showcases exploring subjects from Belfast’s lamplighters to queer nightlife in Dublin and British Sumo wrestling. The festival also features the return of aemi’s programme of artists’ films and a selection presented by Ulster University and the Centre for Documentary Research at Queen’s University Belfast.

In addition to the new work on screen, Docs Ireland celebrates documentary legends. Editor Joe Bini, known for his collaborations with Werner Herzog, will provide a live-commentary screening of Herzog’s Grizzly Man. Pioneering Irish documentarian Bob Quinn will be honoured with an Award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Documentary, accompanied by screenings of his films The Family and Atlantean. The festival also delves into the world of David Lynch with “The Pink Room”, an event that includes talks and screenings exploring the filmmaker’s work. The special world premiere of Music for Domes by Dawn Richardson will be screened at the Armagh Planetarium, and finally, the festival’s Night for Palestine will combine live music, poetry and talks, culminating in a DJ set by David Holmes to raise funds and awareness.

Docs Ireland is supported by Northern Ireland Screen through the Department for Communities, Belfast City Council, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the BFI/Film Hub NI and the British Council, and is sponsored by TG4, BBC NI, Yellowmoon, FinePoint Films and Stellify Media.