At Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, we believe that cinema is for everyone. Since moving to Dublin 8, the Festival has been eager to explore ways of working with the local community, inspiring young people to get involved in film. 

In 2018 we launched Screen8, a free after-school programme run by Virgin Media DIFF and The Digital Hub offering a group of students from inner-city Dublin the chance to work together on a short film alongside a mentor. Designed to give young people of all backgrounds the confidence and skills to pursue a career in the film industry, the first year of the programme was a tremendous success, and several of the participants travelled to Italy as members of the Children’s Jury for the Giffoni Film Festival 2019.

Back for its second year, Screen8 is now open for applications! This year will be led by Helen Flanagan, a talented filmmaker with experience in a plethora of projects.

Help us spread the word by sharing & circulating this Screen8 poster.

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2018-2019

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Award-winning director Mia Mullarkey mentored our inaugural group of Screen8 participants in 2018-2019. On Friday 21 February 2019, the Screen8 filmmakers screened a premiere of their short documentary 'No Place Like Home' at the 2019 Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival. 

In this short documentary, young Dublin 8 film students are on a quest to find out why there’s a homeless crisis in their country, and what can be done. The film includes moving testimonies from people who are homeless and captures a sense of the anger of a nation. It asked the question: how can four thousand children be in emergency accommodation when Ireland is the 14th richest country in the world?

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In the coming years we plan to expand the programme to reach and inspire disadvantaged communities across Ireland. Support us in our mission to grow the project by donating to Virgin Media DIFF!

 

 

For further information about Screen8 and to get involved, contact [email protected]