Set to take place over Easter weekend 2025, this festival will bring together creatives and visitors, near and far, offering an immersive experience through screenings, networking opportunities, industry talks and an Easter Sunday concert. By creating this event, we aim to attract tourists, boost local businesses, and showcase Naas as a vibrant cultural hub.   The festival’s main venues, Lawlors of Naas and Dara Cinema, are centrally located, allowing attendees to experience the town’s shops, restaurants, and attractions. Holding the festival over Easter will further encourage extended visits, benefiting the local economy. The Naas Film Festival is committed to supporting young talent and engaging families. We will host a variety of industry workshops with working professionals such as “How to Get into the Film Industry,” where aspiring filmmakers can learn directly from professionals and gain valuable insights and connections.

To inspire creativity among local youth, we are inviting senior-cycle students to participate in a short film competition. Students will create short films, with awards presented on the same day as the workshop, making it a valuable and inspiring event for schools and families. In addition, we’ll hold a special screening of a family classic at Dara Cinema and also a music concert (with film awards ceremony) on the night of Easter Sunday, helping to raise some charity funding for the foodbank and Tíglín. This screening will offer a family-friendly activity, and the music event will give a lively energy for the festival goers, while supporting meaningful causes in the community.   Through the Naas Film Festival, we hope to create an event that not only celebrates film but strengthens tourism and community spirit, establishing Naas and a unique  and welcoming destination for culture and creativity.