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Rathmullan Film Festival 2026
Time & Location
18-22 February
At Different Venues, Rathmullan
About The Event
Welcome to the 9th Rathmullan Film Festival!
Established in 2017, our vibrant four-day event takes place during the February mid-term break in the heart of Rathmullan, Co. Donegal. The festival celebrates creativity and showcases the talent of filmmakers, from local schools and university students to seasoned professionals.
Join us from Thursday 18 to Sunday 22 February for our biggest programme yet, featuring workshops for all ages, panel discussions, and a rich selection of films including documentaries, animations, Irish shorts, new releases, and much-loved classics. There’s truly something for everyone!
Note that the events below do not require pre-booking. Entry is subject to venue capacity on the night, so admission cannot be guaranteed. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Sea Angling Festival (1972) - Thursday 19 February, 7-8pm, White Harte Pub
Movie Music & Family Quiz - Saturday 21 February, Beachcomber Beergarden.
Tickets
Gala Night (Child/Adult)
Venue: Ray Community Centre Time: 6-8pm This year’s Gala Night celebrates out-of-this-world films made by pupils from St Joseph’s and St Garvan’s! Come in your best space-inspired costume for free treats, a fun Oscars-style ceremony and activities, and the launch of our new Local Film Hero Award.
From €5.00 to €7.00
€5.00
€7.00
Gala Night: Family Ticket
Venue: Ray Community Centre Time: 6-8pm Family ticket is valid for max 2 adults 2 children. This year’s Gala Night celebrates out-of-this-world films made by pupils from St Joseph’s and St Garvan’s! Come in your best space-inspired costume for free treats, a fun Oscars-style ceremony and activities, and the launch of our new Local Film Hero Award.
€20.00
Collage Workshop
Venue: St Joseph’s N.S. Time: 10am-12pm Join Print Barn Folk for a fun, hands-on collage adventure! Explore colour, texture, and pattern while cutting, layering, and glueing your own creative masterpiece. All materials are provided, just bring your creativity! (6–9Yr)
€7.00
SFX Make Up Workshop
Venue: St Joseph’s N.S. Time: 10am-12pm Learn the art of special effects makeup with Anna Czajak and transform your imagination into movie magic. (10–15 Yr)
€7.00
Donegal History On Screen
Venue: SVP Time: 2-4pm Rathmullan Pier Opening (Arthur Lynch) - The film takes us back to 1957 to celebrate the opening of the Rathmullan Pier. Innistrahull (Arthur Lynch, 27min) - In memory of an island almost forgotten in Ireland (except for the people of north Inishowen) Patsy: Man of Stone (Michael McMonagle) - The film introduces us to farmer Patsy McInaw, a master of dry-stone wall building in South Donegal.
€0.00
Youth Club Movie & Pizza Night
Venue: RDRC Time: 7-10pm Ages: 12-17 Join the Youth Club for a fun evening of Sing Street (John Carney, 16, PG), a coming-of-age story set in 1980s Dublin about a boy forming a band to impress a girl, plus music and pizza!
€4.00
Foley Sound Workshop
Venue: St Joseph’s N.S. Time: 10am-12pm Age: 6-9Yr Discover the secret world of work behind the little (or big) sounds that bring stories to life and create some foley sounds with musicians James McCabe and Luc Kelly. Sponsored by Northern Ireland Screen.
€7.00
Stunt Acting Workshop
Venue: St Joseph’s N.S. Time: 10am-12pm Age: 10-15Yr Learn the secrets of screen action with stunt performer Edward Mohan. Discover how to safely perform stage combat, falls, and dramatic reactions. Sponsored by the National Youth Film and Animation Network.
€7.00
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Venue: SVP Time: 4-6pm We are pairing Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner with a comforting bowl of homemade soup in a relaxed, cosy atmosphere. The film follows Joanna, a young woman raised with liberal values, who brings home her fiancé John, a widowed, black physician.
€7.00
Kickboxing (Adult/Child)
Venue: Ray Community Centre Time: 6-7pm Take a break from watching films and join Mayhem Martial Arts for one hour of kickboxing fun for children (5+) and adults.
From €5.00 to €7.00
€5.00
€7.00
Night Photography Workshop
Venue: Beachcomber Beergarden Time: 6-8pm Back by popular demand! Discover the magic of night photography with John Harding (Ulster University). Learn long exposures and light painting to create stunning images under Rathmullan’s night sky. This is a family-friendly outdoor event and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Equipment is provided. Wear high-visibility clothing for short walks between locations. Weather-dependent (check your email for updates).
€7.00
Tapas & Movie Karaoke
Venue: An Stad Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm A fun night of veggie tapas paired with movie-themed karaoke! Sing your heart out to iconic movie tunes. A perfect blend of food, fun, and film!
€15.00
Film: Dogspiracy (+ Q&A)
Venue: SVP Time: 8-10pm Dogspiracy (2025) - The documentary follows Dr. Marc Abraham OBE as he fights puppy mills, smuggling, and US pet stores selling puppies, traveling from Wales to Washington DC while uncovering conspiracies in Britain and America. Post-screening Q&A with the director Paul Crompton.
€7.00
Prop Making & The Wild Robot
Venue: St Joseph’s N.S. Time: 10am-12.15pm Age: + 3 Yrs Make your own mini prop with Aimee Mckee-Heany before settling in with tea and treats to enjoy The Wild Robot, a beautiful film about a stranded robot who befriends island animals and cares for an orphaned goose. This event is in fond memory of Amelie O’Sullivan, who loved Rathmullan and the Film Festival. Pre-booking is required and donations will go to Concern.
€0.00
Stop Motion Animation Workshop
Venue: St Joseph’s N.S. Time: 10am-12pm Age: 10-15 Yrs Explore storytelling, character movement, and creative techniques to make your own short animations with artists Dylan Butter and Matthew Donnelly. This workshop is funded by the National Youth Film and Animation Network.
€7.00
Mobile Filmmaking for Adults
Venue: St Joseph’s N.S. Time: 10am-12pm Turn your smartphone into a filmmaking tool in this practical workshop with filmmaker TJ Harvey Kelly. Explore filming and editing techniques to create professional-looking videos.
€7.00
Youth Film Showcase Event
Venue: Rathmullan House Time: 10.30am-12pm Come along to an inspiring showcase where young filmmakers from Loreto Letterkenny and PCC Falcarragh share their work and take part in a Q&A. The workshops were delivered by Carol Wilson and Póca Productions, with support from The Tomar Trust. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the young filmmakers and emerging filmmakers Jessica Buchanan and Rose Sheridan, who will also screen their films.Refreshments included. Prebooking is essential.
€0.00
INSPIRE Industry Event
Venue: Rathmullan House Time: 12.30-4pm Step into the world of filmmaking at our inspiring industry event, which includes: Panel 1: Paul Crompton, Sara Gunn-Smith and Dorothy Duffy Screenings: Short films by students from ATU and Ulster University Panel 2: Student filmmakers and industry guests Networking lunch included. Pre-booking is essential. The event is sponsored by Screen Ireland
€0.00
Made in Donegal 1
Venue: Rathmullan House Time: 4:30pm- 6:30pm Celebrate Donegal’s filmmaking scene with a selection of short films, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. Galar (Niall Duffy) Battle of Assaroe (Emer O’Shea) Morning After (Dorothy Duffy) The Wait (Fergus Friel) White Lobster (Shaun Doogan and Ciaran McCann) This event is sponsored by the Donegal Film Office
€7.00
Film: Betânia
Venue: SVP Time: 4-6pm This award-winning film follows 65-year-old midwife Betânia, who, after losing her husband, is persuaded by her daughters to leave her remote village and start a new life near the sand dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses in northern Brazil. A rarely seen region of Brazil, offering a unique glimpse into its landscapes and communities.
€7.00
Live Soundtrack: Sunrise 1927
Venue: Presbyterian Church Time: 8:30pm - 10pm | The talented Vincent O’Callaghan will present a live score to give this cornerstone of German cinema a new breath of life. The film follows a young city woman on vacation who falls for a villager and tries, unsuccessfully, to convince him to kill his wife. A revitalised screening of an old classic not to be missed!
€7.00
Photo Heritage Tour
Venue/Meeting Point: Beachcomber Beergarden Time: 12pm-1.30pm Explore Rathmullan’s rich history and heritage with guide Deirdra Friel. Snap your favourite spots with your phone or camera and help us create a shared online photo map. An event for all ages. Weather-dependent (check your email for updates).
From €3.00 to €5.00
€3.00
€5.00
Spotlight on Sudan & Palestine
Venue: SVP Time: 2-4.15pm Karthoum (2025) & A Day in the Tent (2024), post-screening discussion with special guests In partnership with the Disappear Here Film Club, an initiative by ChangeMakers Donegal at the Inishowen Development Partnership, the Disappear Here Film Festival and Concern Worldwide. Box office proceeds will support the Disappear Here Film Club’s Donegal Short Documentary Bursary, with donations encouraged on the day for humanitarian campaigns in Sudan and Palestine.
€5.00
Made in Donegal 2
Venue: SVP Time: 4.45-6.45pm Celebrate Donegal’s community filmmaking and university partnerships, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. Be The One (Matt McDonagh) Rathmullan Makers Market (Jessica Buchanan and Bonnie Hegarty) Leading the Way Forward (Connor Bond) Still He Waits (Paul McGuckin)
€7.00
Reel Inspirations
Venue: Mary Macs Time: 7pm-9pm Join us for our closing event, celebrating Ireland’s rich storytelling and music traditions. Over the years, our Film Challenge, in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen, has opened up the Digital Film Archive to inspire Donegal and Derry creatives. This year, writers have turned these archives into short stories. Join us to hear their work, enjoy Irish music, and celebrate cross-border creativity.
€7.00
Total
€0.00