FASTNET Film Festival 2026 attracted thousands of visitors to West Cork last weekend.

More than 8,000 film lovers descended on Schull for an unforgettable programme of screenings, masterclasses, live music, workshops, industry events, and late-night celebrations.

Festivalgoers filled cinemas, cafés, pubs, gardens and indoor and outdoor venues across the village.

The festival welcomed over 70 special guests from the worlds of film, television, music, and animation, including Frank Miller, John Crowley, Niamh Algar, Robert Sheehan, Pom Boyd, Éanna Hardwicke, Róisín Gallagher, and David Wilmot.

At the heart of the festival were the 123 competition short films screened across 27 free one hour programmes, culminating in the award ceremony on Sunday night.

Best Irish Film went to Rory Hanrahan’s Wife of the Future, where love-sick 18-year-old Liam encounters a masked middle-aged woman who claims to be his future wife, travelling back in time through an old fridge to prevent him from making a bizarre decision.

Ballincollig native Owen Warren took home the Best in Cork award for his short film Decide Decide,  which details a husband and father, who is overwhelmed with life, and is driven to the edge.

The award for Best International Film went to Afrikaans- language movie Vultures. Director Dian Weys also took home the Jack Gold Prize for Best Direction

Newtown Boys collected three awards from the festival, including Best Actor for leading man Leo Earley, Best Screenplay and Best Original Music.

Best Irish Language Film went to COGAR directed by Elaine Kennedy from Dingle.