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Waterford International Film Festival Becomes the First Irish Festival to Present The Tarkovski Grant
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Winner of the Best Short Film Award to receive The Tarkovski Grant during WIFF's landmark 20th edition
The Tarkovski Grant is proud to welcome the Waterford International Film Festival (WIFF) as the first film festival in Ireland to present The Tarkovski Grant. Beginning with the festival's 2026 edition, the winner of WIFF's Best Short Film Award will also receive the international submission fee waiver package, helping them continue the festival journey of their work through a network of more than 25 participating film festivals worldwide.
The collaboration will debut during Waterford International Film Festival's 20th edition, taking place 14–15 November 2026 in Waterford, Ireland, followed by an online festival programme running from 15–21 November.
Founded in 2007 by filmmaker Stephen Byrne, WIFF has spent two decades championing independent storytelling and creating opportunities for emerging filmmakers, screenwriters and photographers. Over the years, the festival has grown into one of Ireland's leading celebrations of short-form storytelling, attracting submissions from across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and South America.
The festival's commitment to artistic quality has been recognised through the EFFE Label from the European Festivals Association, an honour awarded to remarkable arts festivals across Europe for their artistic excellence and community engagement.
Each year, WIFF presents a carefully curated programme of short films, documentaries, animation, experimental cinema and music videos, alongside dedicated competitions in short film, screenwriting and photography. Its hybrid format combines live screenings and networking events in Waterford with an online programme that allows audiences around the world to discover the festival's official selections.
Physical events for the 2026 edition will be hosted at the House of Waterford and the South East Technological University (SETU) Chapel on College Street, creating opportunities for filmmakers and audiences to connect in one of Ireland's most historic cities.
"We are delighted to welcome the Waterford International Film Festival to The Tarkovski Grant," said Kris De Meester, founder of The Tarkovski Grant. "For twenty years, WIFF has demonstrated a strong commitment to discovering and supporting independent filmmakers from Ireland and around the world. It is a pleasure to see them become the first Irish festival to present The Tarkovski Grant, and we look forward to supporting the winner of their Best Short Film Award this November."
Stephen Byrne, Creative Director of the Waterford International Film Festival, welcomed the collaboration:
"As we celebrate the 20th edition of the Waterford International Film Festival, we're delighted to introduce The Tarkovski Grant as an additional prize for our Best Short Film winner. Supporting independent filmmakers has always been at the heart of our festival, and this wonderful opportunity will help one of our winning filmmakers continue their festival journey on the international stage. We'd like to sincerely thank Kris De Meester and The Tarkovski Grant team for making this possible, and we look forward to celebrating our first recipient together this November."
By presenting The Tarkovski Grant, WIFF will provide the winner of its Best Short Film Award with complimentary access to an international network of participating film festivals through a submission fee waiver package valued at approximately USD $500. Beyond its financial value, the grant recognises artistic achievement while helping filmmakers bring their work to new audiences and continue building an international festival presence.
The collaboration reflects a shared belief that support for filmmakers should not end with a festival award. By extending opportunities beyond a single screening or competition, the Waterford International Film Festival and The Tarkovski Grant aim to encourage filmmakers to continue sharing their stories on the international festival circuit.
As The Tarkovski Grant continues to expand its international network of participating festivals, the addition of the Waterford International Film Festival marks an important milestone—not only as its first collaboration in Ireland, but also as a partnership with a festival that has spent twenty years fostering creativity, celebrating independent voices and connecting filmmakers with audiences from around the world.
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