Now that Killarney is back to business as usual following the vibrant cinematic windswirl of the Kerry International Film Festival, our correspondent Yuliia Riabova takes a deeper look at her top picks of the short films that screened there.
Trasna na Líne (Ireland)
Let’s kick off with the funny one. An absolute highlight of this year’s KIFF Comedy Shorts programme, this is the story of student teacher Emma (Heather O'Sullivan) taking up a job in a Gaelscoil. There’s just one little hitch: she lied on her CV and can’t speak a word of Irish. A mockumentary in the best traditions of The Office unfolds rapidly, and with the help of her colleagues (terrific performances by Ste Murray and Shauna Harris), Emma bumbles through the madness of her first day – but will it be enough?
Directed by Niamh Bryson, who also co-wrote the script, Across the Line doesn’t let your attention slip or drift away. The characters overreact, swear, and occasionally break the fourth wall. The handheld camerawork from cinematographer Philip Blake, captured alongside camera operator Tommy Fitzgerald, adds nicely to both the dynamism and the comic effect.
Trasna na Líne is one of those rare cases when all the pieces click together perfectly. A hilarious idea, a smart script, and the director’s clear vision provide a solid foundation for the emotional arcs to shine. With the supporting cast delivering such strong performances, Heather O'Sullivan’s lead only stands out even more – earning her this year’s KIFF Taking Flight Rising Talent Award.
Live Fast, Live Free (Ireland)
Kerry Connections is traditionally one of KIFF’s most attended events. Possibly the biggest revelation on this year’s programme was this documentary about Philip Moore – a young man who uses a skateboard as his tool to glide through the ups and downs of life.
It’s a one-man story, told in a single voice – but with such honesty that it leans to the almost surreal. Phil opens up discussing things people don’t usually talk about, the simple things: bad days, good days, solitude, escapism, ignoring problems, and finding solutions. His sincerity is what makes this piece so special.
Directed and produced by Griffith College graduate Ciara O'Connor, the film flows smoothly through fragments of interviews, stitched together with glimpses of Phil’s life – always on his board, always trying new tricks, always falling and getting back up. Captured cinematically by Gabriele Bradley, these moments give a visual sense to the romantic feeling Phil describes in words, Live Fast, Live Free is highly relatable and empathetic.
Little Goodbyes [Original title: Les Faux Sapins] (Canada)
From the opening film Horseshoe to the Audience Choice Spilt Milk, this year’s KIFF explored sibling relationships in many forms – and the beautiful Canadian short Les Faux Sapins (Translation: Fake Christmas Trees) offered yet another perspective.
On a busy, cold December night, two little sisters wander through the closing Christmas market. Florence (Florence Séguin) and Simone (Simone Bellemare Ledoux) meet an elf who gives them his hat, and a fairy as charming as she is cynical. Finally, there’s a Santa (Luc Thiffault) who seems very tired and unwell…
Writer-director Justine Martin captures gracefully that moving, fragile moment when childhood perceptions shift under the weight of a reality. It’s all the more touching to see the older sister, disappointed but shielding little Simone from the same realisation. Through a warm haze, Alexandre Nour Desjardins’s cinematography elevates this story celebrating the beauty of hope.
His House, Home (Ireland)
Luke (Oskar Smith) is torn between his full-time job at a grocery store and his obligation to care for his dad, Malcolm (David Layde), who has multiple sclerosis. Finally resigning himself to getting some help, Luke witnesses Malcolm’s homophobic behaviour towards his new carer Hermes (Rodrigo Ternevoy), which deepens his fear of coming out.
Based on writer Philip Emo’s personal experience, the story explores a relationship full of deep, mutual shame: a parent who feels guilty about requiring constant assistance, and a child who’s afraid to show his true self to his own family.
The team shared at KIFF that it was co-producer Killian Casey’s idea to pitch His House, Home to Screen Ireland. With their support, the project came to life under the direction of Aisling O'Regan Sargent. Aisling herself gives much of the credit to the cast, saying, “It’s where the magic happens.” A lot of thought went into the preparation process: for instance, a movement coach helped ensure the accurate representation of MS on screen. Rehearsals gave the actors space to shape their own authentic dialogue and dig deeper beneath the skin of their characters. In the end, they needed barely any words at all – that silence and subtext underpinning some of the best performances of the festival weekend.
Refuge (Ireland, UK)
There’s a tent in the woods, and there are two boys living in that tent. For displaced cousins Assem (Ahmad Albayati) and Nadim (Belal Stitan), this is a harsh reality. Amid rural UK landscapes, they try to navigate the unwelcoming world around them, as well as the doubts between them.
Writers-directors Sami Assahli and David Winn explain that the idea for the film grew from a “desire to humanise, during a time when dehumanisation has not only become commonplace, but is in a lot of ways encouraged”.
Such sensitive topics require a thoughtful and respectful approach. At KIFF, David shared that while working on the script, they interviewed a number of displaced people to gain a better understanding of their struggles. Uncertainty, fear of unacceptance, constant battles against various barriers, and incurable homesickness – in its 14-minute runtime, Refuge manages to grasp the feelings we don’t often see on screen.
Created with care, the short feature won the KIFF 2025 Trua (Irish for “compassion”) Award, which celebrates filmmakers who explore social issues and inspire positive change. With 123 million people displaced worldwide, that positive change is much needed – and Refuge gives hope that more of those stories will finally be told.
A vibrant four-day event held every October, dedicated to showcasing a carefully curated selection of Irish and international short films and feature films, the 26th Kerry International Film Festival took place 16th - 19th October 2025.
