DFF aims to celebrate original and innovative fimmaking from Ireland and around the globe. Unlike many other film festivals, we pledge to remain egalitarian. Films will be considered for selection not based on budget or star power but on the quality of the final product. We strongly believe that filmmakers should not be locked out of participating in film festivals because of financial limitations. For this reason we promise to keep our submission fees low.

We love films that push boundaries and that don’t play by the rules. We want to showcase films that don’t shy away from hard truths.

There are no theme or genre restrictions, DFF is open to selecting films about anything. The only exception to this is that we do not accept pornography or any other exploitative films in which real people or animals have been physically harmed or unwillingly exposed to materials or situations that could cause distress.

We intend to stay true to our student film festival origins and guarantee that at least 50% of the selected films will be made by students.

At DFF, we consider documentary filmmaking just as important as traditional scripted narrative films. Our hope is that 50% of the films that are selected for the 2027 edition of the festival are documentaries.

Full submission fee waivers will be granted to films from Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan and Rojava. Films from any other country or region in which people are being affected by unjust persecution or war will also by granted a full submission fee waiver. Please get in contact with us if your film fits the above statement.

As we believe strongly in celebrating original art, no film that contains AI generated work will be accepted. This rule extends to AI generated posters and other supporting materials.

DFF will always remain an AI free festival.