About us
The Waterford International Film Festival (WIFF) was founded in 2007 by filmmaker Stephen Byrne, who continues to serve as the Festival Director. Now entering its 19th edition, WIFF returns 15th – 22nd November 2025 with a hybrid format featuring both in-person and online screenings.
A Platform for Emerging & Established Talent
WIFF is dedicated to showcasing a diverse range of short films, screenplays, and photography from Ireland and around the world. Our goal is to celebrate creativity across genres and mediums, giving voice to newcomers and award-winning artists alike.
Each year, WIFF receives hundreds of submissions across a variety of categories, including:
Short Films
Short Screenplays
Cinematic Photography
Documentaries
Animations
Music Videos
Student & Debut Works
Trailers and Movie Posters
Selected works are featured online and at our live events, with all selections eligible for awards.
Competitions & Awards
WIFF proudly hosts three annual competitions:
Short Film Competition
Short Screenplay Competition
Photography Competition
The festival offers a range of prizes including Waterford Crystal-designed trophies, certificates, laurels, and cash awards such as the €250 Virtual Audience Award for Best Irish Short, sponsored by Éiretainment.
Festival Venues & Online Platform
Our physical screenings take place at:
The House of Waterford
SETU Granary – School of Architecture
Online screenings are hosted on Éiretainment's streaming platform, with geo-blocking available for entries that require Ireland-only access.
Networking & Community
We believe in building connections with the creative community. WIFF hosts:
A live networking mixer at the House of Waterford
An online networking event (Zoom), co-hosted by Éiretainment
A celebratory Awards & Reception Night
These events allow filmmakers and artists to meet peers, producers, and other creatives in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Championing Creativity Since 2007
As Ireland’s first film festival to launch a dedicated short screenplay competition, WIFF remains committed to championing creativity, supporting emerging voices, and showcasing high-quality storytelling through short-form content. From comedy to horror, drama to sci-fi, and everything in between — WIFF offers something for every film lover.
About Waterford
Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, founded by Viking raiders in AD 914. It has played a pivotal role in the economic, political and cultural life of the country and its motto Urbs Intacta (the untaken city) bears witness to the many power struggles and conflicts in which it has been embroiled through the centuries.
Throughout the medieval period and up until the end of the seventeenth century, Waterford remained the second city in Ireland. Today Waterford is the cultural, economic, educational, technological and industrial capital of the South East region.
Waterford is a historic and cultural city. It is a city of colour and excitement. Above all it is a rapidly developing and progressive city.
There are many attractions to Waterford – its Gallery and Museum, its busy streets full of fascinating shops, small lanes to stroll through with 1,000 years of history meeting you on virtually every street corner.
The communication and organisation from beginning to end was excellent and it was a pleasure to be part of such a welcoming and professional festival. I was delighted to receive a Special Mention Award for my film. As a first time filmmaker, it really gave me the encouragement to carry on learning my craft.
Luci Kershaw-Filmmaker
★★★★★