Waterford Filmmaker Stephen Byrne founded the festival in 2007. The festivals objective is to add to Waterford's arts and cultural scene, promoting local, national, and international filmmakers & writers but in particular independent film.
Since the foundation of the festival, we have screened 700+ films from filmmakers around the world, as well promoting writers with the short screenplay competition. The WFF is the first film festival in the Republic of Ireland to hold a short screenplay competition. We are a big supporter of independent films and student/1st time filmmakers.
The festival presents short films of a wide range of genres including drama, thrillers, horrors, comedy, Sci-Fi and films that engages with social, political and cultural issues. Each year we produce a series of events that are creative, intriguing, fun and entertaining. The festival also encourages networking social meet ups and for the audience to meet the filmmakers.
Filmmakers from across Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Greece and as far as Canada and USA have attended the festival. It is estimated that since the festival was established in 2007 that the local economy have benefited from the festival in excess of €700,000 in tourism.
In 2020 the festival will be celebrating its 14th Annual Event ,however due to covid will be hosting the event online from Friday 20th November to Monday 23rd November om www.waterfordfilmfestivalonline.com
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.