On August 22nd 2025 a mist-heavy day enveloped Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. But it did not stop us from our mission of beginning our Literary Festival as per tradition, with the screening of the shortlist for The 4th Annual International Poetry Film Competition.

There was a change of venue this year, and the festival took place in a repurposed Methodist church. Now illuminated with stunning Venetian glass chandeliers, the space combines the grand with the homely. This feels entirely appropriate for a poetry film event that remains friendly and intimate while continuing to attract an amazing range and diversity of high quality submissions from around the globe.

Inevitably constraints of screening time available prevented including more of the fine crop of films submitted. Certainly all of the 23 films shortlisted deserve recognition for their many intriguing, engaging and inventive qualities. This year’s judge (Steve Smart) chose to highly commend three films, and awarded the competition prize to a fourth.

Steve, who travelled over with his partner, has collaborated on films with Rebecca Sharp and curated the Poems for Doctors Video Anthology, among other exciting projects. It was their first visit to Ireland. He outlined his thoughts on the prize winning films.

Highly commended films

‘Water’ – directed by Manuel Suquilanda, written by Lars Jongeblond 

A lyrical journey of water starting with a single drop and evolving into an ocean. As well as visual experiments with the arrow of time, ‘Water’ also makes innovative use of sound and resonance to deliver a sustained evocation of the motion and idea of flow.

‘The Light You Left Behind’  – directed by Janet Lees, written by Fiona Bennett

The photographic abstraction of the film’s imagery gently echoes the presence of the subjects of the poem. Remembering with delicacy and tenderness, this elegiac and evocative piece is dedicated to Fiona Bennett – poet, director and creative facilitator who died in August 2024.

‘Mum Does The Washing‘ – directed by Iman Omar, performed by Josua Idehen, written by Ehimwenma Idehen and Ludvig Parment.

Bright, humorous and brilliantly shot and performed, the wry satire of this piece grins its way past at speed and with effortless musicality. There are barbs here too, but every one of the quick-fire quips hits bang on target, demanding laughter or a wince, and often both. 

Competition Prizewinner (Best Irish Film, Best Film Drumshanbo 2025)

‘Learning to breathe’  – written & directed by Jessamine O’Connor, filmed and edited by Marek Petrovic

This fundamentally grounded piece struggles to maintain a level head in the face of an onslaught of current news stories of fear and destruction from around the world. The honesty at the core of this heartfelt film emerges directly from the simple act of walking the plain ground of a familiar landscape. 

Thanks again to Steve for judging this year and for travelling to the event. Thanks to Csilla Toldy, Jessamine O’Connor, Christine Mackey and Matek Petrovic, the other film makers who travelled. It was great to meet and talk to you all. Drumshanbo is not the centre of the Universe, so it takes an effort to get here. Thanks of course, to Eileen O’Toole and her team of volunteers, especially Majella, who very kindly hosted me again this year. And to Willie, the sound and visuals man who valiantly overcame the technical glitch we encountered halfway through the second set, first time ever. The rest of the festival went extremely well, with Cormac Culkeen giving a fascinating poetry workshop on Saturday, and readings from The Great Gatsby and from Brian Leydan, with wonderful MCing from Gerry Boland, among other literary magic. As Steve Smart said,

It’s a wee festival, but a very special one.

You can watch most of the films shortlisted this year on our YouTube channel. Here’s the compilation for 2025.

Roll on next year.