Paul Rowley’s documentary Gays Against Guns has won the audience award at the Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF), as well as a special mention in the documentary category.
The film explores gun violence in the US through the eyes of Rowley, an activist who left Ireland for the US at a time when being gay was illegal in Ireland. But the US he found on arrival was very different to the one of which he had dreamed.
DIFF closed on March 1 with the world premiere of John Carney’s Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. Admissions to festival screenings and events were up 11% year- on-year, said organisers.
Further awards handed out at the festival included the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) human rights film award, which was presented to Felipe Bustos Sierra’s Everybody To Kenmure Street.
The documentary portrays the moment when Glasgow residents united to prevent the deportation of their neighbours, sparking a grassroots movement that reshaped their community. The film made its world premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at Sundance earlier this year.
The best documentary award was won by Rachel Fleit’s The Slightest Touch, about a woman who lives with a rare and painful skin condition. The film sees her turn 40 and accept an offer from her friend Colin Farrell to complete the Dublin Marathon together, with Farrell pushing her wheelchair for the final miles. The Slightest Touch is produced by Ireland’s Fine Point Films and Chapel Place Productions.
Fang Liang’s Water Can Go Anywhere was the winner of the Avolon World Cinema award. The film about the people who work in a Shenzhen factory debuted at the 2025 Shanghai film festival.
“It’s been an incredible year for DIFF,” said festival director Grainne Humphreys. “We presented a world-class programme that has reached more people, spotlighted more Irish films, and celebrated more international guests than ever before.”
The festival is now looking ahead to its 25th anniversary edition in 2026.
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