37th edition of the British and Irish Film Festival
From October 7 to 11, 2026, Dinard will host the 37th edition of the British and Irish Film Festival. For five days, the Breton seaside town will transform into a privileged meeting place to discover new talents from the cinema across the Channel and from Ireland. We will be able to see them in the competing films, debut feature films, documentaries, short films, and meetings.
Founded in 1990, the festival has gradually broadened its scope to include Irish cinema, which has been officially integrated into its identity since 2024. The 2026 edition continues this opening with a program that brings together 30 feature films, divided into several thematic universes, as well as two short film programs.
Amira Casar as Jury President
Actress Amira Casar will preside over the jury for this 37th edition. Having grown up between France, England, and Ireland, the actress has a career particularly linked to the cultures represented by the festival. Her work in film, theater, and international series has led her to collaborate with directors such as Catherine Breillat, Bertrand Bonello, Carlos Saura, and Luca Guadagnino. She is already familiar with Dinard, having awarded the Hitchcock d'Or to Billy Elliot in 2000.
Alongside her will be Stephen Woolley, British producer, Thibault de Montalembert, French actor, Ben Hardy, British actor, and Zoé Adjani, French actress. The jury will notably award the Hitchcock d'Or CINÉ+ OCS, the Hitchcock for Best Performance, and the Special Jury Prize Barrière.
A second competition, "Talent of Tomorrow," dedicated to the debut films of young directors, will also be offered. Its prize will be awarded by a jury composed of young spectators aged 18 to 25.
A Program Between Creation, Society, and Literature
The 2026 program is organized around four main themes: Creative Forces, Kick and Punch, Families! and Page to Screen. These themes allow for the exploration of portraits of British and Irish personalities, family narratives, social issues, and adaptations of literary works. Special screenings and events dedicated to young audiences complete the lineup.
The official competition includes H Is for Hawk, Rose of Nevada, Skintown, The Education of Jane Cumming, and I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning. Several of these films are also associated with the different thematic sections of the festival.
Among the other events in the program are Trad, Guggi, Mission, Saipan, Broken English, Out There, The Son and the Sea, All That Glitters, and The End of It. The "Shortcuts" section will allow for the discovery of a selection of short films.
The festival will also feature screenings dedicated to Virginia Woolf, a program from the London Film School for its 70th anniversary, documentaries, and several special screenings.
A Dazzling Closing
The closing film, Madfabulous, directed by Celyn Jones, will be presented on Saturday, October 10. The film revisits the spectacular life of Henry Cyril Paget, the fifth Marquis of Anglesey, a figure of British aristocracy known for his costumes, parties, and performances. The cast includes Callum Scott Howells, Ruby Stokes, and Rupert Everett.
With its screenings in several venues in Dinard, its meetings, special sessions, and its competition dedicated to young filmmakers, the festival aims once again to foster dialogue between British and Irish cinema and the French public.
Program and practical information: official website of the Dinard British and Irish Film Festival: https://www.dinardfestivaldufilm.fr
