Jameson Dublin International Film Festival II

Origins of the Festival

The Dublin International Film Festival was established in 2003 by film critic Michael Dwyer and producer David McLoughlin, with Jameson Irish Whiskey serving as its title sponsor from the beginning. The idea behind the festival was to create a major annual cinematic event for the Irish capital, bringing together international and domestic filmmaking in a single curated programme. The first edition took place over eight days and screened 66 films from 30 countries in several central Dublin venues, including the Savoy Cinema, the Screen Cinema and the Irish Film Institute.

The second edition of the festival was held from 12 to 22 February 2004. It expanded significantly in duration, programme and number of venues, adding screenings at the large UGC multiplex on Parnell Street in addition to the original cinemas. The 2004 festival offered a broader schedule and a larger international selection, reflecting the organisers’ intention to develop the event into a major cultural fixture for the city.

Under the name Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, the event continued until 2015 in Ireland. Beginning in 2016, with the introduction of a new title sponsor, the festival adopted the name Dublin International Film Festival, which it still uses today as an annual event in Ireland’s cultural calendar.

Non-Competitive Festival Philosophy

JDIFF is proudly non-competitive—there are no awards, red carpets, or VIP zones. There's also no formal dress code; the focus is on a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere for all. Everyone from casual filmgoers to devoted cinephiles is invited. By fostering open access and direct interaction with filmmakers, the festival offers something beyond the standard cinema experience—a true sense of community.

JDIFF II: Programme, Guests, Venues

The second edition of the festival took place from 12 to 22 February 2004, running for 11 days. The programme expanded significantly compared to the inaugural year and included a broad international selection. The festival opened with Timbuktu, directed by Alan Gilsenan, and closed with The Halo Effect, directed by Lance Daly.

In 2004, the festival welcomed well-known actors such as Stephen Rea, Kerry Condon, Ian Hart, Linus Roache, Colin Farrell and Gerard McSorley. It also hosted directors including Alan Gilsenan, John Furse, Lance Daly and Julie leBrocquy. Among the special guests were Brian Keenan, John McCarthy, John O’Donoghue and Julio Medem.

During the eleven days of the 2004 festival, films were screened across several central Dublin venues, including the Savoy Cinema, the Screen Cinema, the Irish Film Institute and the UGC multiplex on Parnell Street.

Special Strands 

The 2004 festival programme included a number of curated thematic sections that complemented the main screenings and highlighted specific strands of international and Irish filmmaking. These sections brought together films linked by shared cultural, regional or artistic contexts and offered audiences a structured way to explore different areas of contemporary cinema. Below are the principal programme sections presented that year.

Welcome to Europe

This section was organised to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union and the accession of ten new member states. It featured films from several of the countries joining the EU in 2004, with titles including Somnambuul (Estonia), Pupendo (Czech Republic), Under the Stars (Cyprus), Spare Parts (Slovenia), Close Your Eyes (Poland), The Lease (Lithuania) and The Python (Latvia). Directors and creative teams behind a number of these works were invited to attend the festival and present their films.

Julio Medem Retrospective

The festival hosted a retrospective dedicated to Spanish filmmaker Julio Medem, who attended the event to present his work. The retrospective offered an overview of his filmography to date and provided audiences with an opportunity to engage with a significant body of contemporary Spanish cinema through a focused selection of his films.

Cinema Paradiso! – A Season of Italian Film

The Italian film season presented a selection of contemporary works from established and emerging Italian filmmakers. The programme included Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers, Marco Tullio Giordana’s The Best of Youth—screened in full—alongside My House in Umbria, My Brother in Law, The Last Kiss, I’m Not Scared and Good Morning, Night. Together, these screenings highlighted a wide range of Italian cinematic styles and themes represented at the festival.

Partners and Organisation

The festival was supported by its title sponsor, Jameson Irish Whiskey, whose multi-year partnership played a central role in establishing and developing the event during its early editions. Xtra-Vision also contributed to the 2004 programme through its support of the Irish Premiere Season, which featured a selection of new Irish films screened throughout the festival.

The organisation of the festival relied on the work of its programming, technical and administrative teams, who coordinated scheduling, venue operations and guest participation across the eleven days of screenings. In addition, the festival worked closely with its venue partners — the Savoy Cinema, Screen Cinema, the Irish Film Institute and UGC on Parnell Street — as well as film distributors and producers who provided access to the titles presented that year.

This network of sponsors, partner cinemas and industry collaborators made it possible to deliver the expanded 2004 programme and ensure the smooth operation of the festival.