Film Ireland are delighted to partner on this brand new event. Taking place on 30th - 31st January at Griffith College Dublin, the Imbolg: Women Who Terrify Film Festival will celebrate women who terrify, both on screen and behind the camera. As winter draws to a close, this coven of creatives and connoisseurs will gather to mark the Celtic festival of Imbolg.
Filmmakers with work on this theme are invited to submit their short films by the regular deadline of 24th December or the late deadline of 10th January via FilmFreeway.
This two-day film festival focuses the lens on the rage, resilience, and creative work of women storytellers. The Imbolg Women Who Terrify Film Festival warmly welcomes the work and stories of trans women, gender-diverse, non-binary, and intersex creatives.
About Imbolg
The midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, Imbolg symbolises the return of life under the frost and the start of spring. Imbolg also marks the return of serpents from their winter dens, when Cailleach - the divine hag of Gaelic tradition - awoke to gather her firewood. This is marked by St Brigid, the goddess of fire, poetry, healing, fertility, and creativity.
Imbolg Women Who Terrify Film Festival peers beneath the surface to see what horrors have become re-animated after hibernation - in Ireland and in the world beyond.
What to Expect
The line-up features carefully curated programmes of shorts, followed by live talks, and then concluding with a feature screening of iconic, award-winning reanimation feature Birth/Rebirth. This will be preceded by a live podcast recording with the film’s co-writer and director Laura Moss.
“I’m delighted we’re receiving such a dynamic and experimental range of cinema from all over the world. It will give Gemma and I and all our fantastic support an amazing opportunity to make Imbolg into an exciting celebration of all things women and horror! I hope we can do everyone justice!,” says Festival Co-Founder and Sarah Cullen Film Editor of Head Stuff
“We look forward to welcoming you all there! Horror, as a genre, offers one of the most effective ways to externalise and safely process the fears and anxieties we face as a society. In a world undergoing such rapid shifts, and let’s be honest, not all of it is great, this is exactly the right time to celebrate women’s stories on screen.” Gemma Creagh, Festival Co-Founder, Filmmaker, Assistant Editor Film Ireland
This event is supported by Film Ireland and Griffith College's wonderful film department.
Follow Imbolg: Women Who Terrify Film Festival now on socials for announcements
The Regular Deadline is 24th December and Late Deadline is 13th January 2026.
Griffith College
Founded in 1974, Griffith College is Ireland's largest independent third-level institution, with campuses in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick. Located just a mile from Dublin’s St. Stephen’s Green, the main campus blends historic charm with modern amenities. Recognised by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), Griffith offers internationally accredited degrees, professional courses, and corporate training to over 7,000 students. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024, the College continues its legacy of academic excellence, producing graduates who excel in fields such as business, law, media, engineering, and the arts. Read more about their programmes here.
