(L-R) Jean McDonald, Irish Ambassador to Luxembourg; Eleanor O'Brien, Irish actress; Geoff Thompson, festival organiser;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
The 17th British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg (BIFFL) 2026 Spring Edition came to a close at Ciné Utopia in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg on Sunday 22 March.
In his speech, festival organiser Geoff Thompson reflected on five days of "unique storytelling" from Britain and Ireland. The programme included eleven feature films across various genres, as well as four short films exploring themes of the environment and cultural heritage. He also highlighted the third edition of the Young Filmmakers Competition. Geoff noted that attendance had increased compared to last spring, with four sold-out screenings. He thanked the special guests, sponsors and partners, as well as the festival volunteers and audiences.
Irish Ambassador Jean McDonald noted that the Embassy of Ireland in Luxembourg was proud to once again support BIFFL and highlighted a "rich week of film screenings", which bookended the Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in Luxembourg. She also referred to recent Oscars successes as "special moments" for Irish cinema, reflecting years of investment and effort, and noted that the audiovisual sector supports around 16,000 jobs in Ireland. The ambassador further mentioned Luxembourg-Irish collaboration in the sector, including in emerging areas such as immersive technologies.
Luxembourg film critic Christian Spielmann then awarded the Critics' Award to the opening film I Swear, an emotional BAFTA-winning drama addressing the stigma surrounding Tourette Syndrome.
The Audience Award went to Testimony, a documentary about survivors' fight for justice following decades of abuse in Ireland's Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries. Another documentary, From That Small Island, came second, followed by I Swear.
The festival organisers also drew two winning voting slips for the Audience Prize, with the winners respectively receiving a hamper from Home from Home and a magnum of crémant from Bernard-Massard.
The closing film on Sunday evening was Báite (The Drowned), Ruán Magan's Irish-language mystery thriller-drama, adapted by Sheena Lambert from her novel The Lake. Set in September 1975, the film follows Peggy Casey, a hard-working young woman, as she struggles to keep her family pub afloat. The last thing Peggy - and the local community - needs is the arrival of a detective from Dublin after a woman's body is discovered in a nearby lake. Community relations are tested as long-hidden secrets begin to unravel. Báite has previously received awards at the Galway Film Fleadh and the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA).
The screening was followed by a Q&A session with Eleanor O'Brien, who plays Peggy Casey. She spoke about landing and preparing for the role.
The evening concluded with a reception hosted by the Irish Embassy, including a whiskey tasting.
The BIFFL 2026 Autumn Edition is scheduled to take place from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 September. In the meantime, BIFFL plans to screen The Choral, a drama starring Ralph Fiennes set during the First World War, on Tuesday 7 April 2026.
