Irish talent is at the forefront of the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, with gala screenings and premieres all part of the programme from February 20 to March 3.

The festival opens on Wednesday, February 20 with Irish director John Butler's (Handsome Devil, The Stag) acclaimed new comedy-drama Papi Chulo, which follows the unlikely friendship between a down-on-his-luck weather presenter and the migrant worker he hires to decorate his home.

Papi Chulo

Another Irish gala screening at the festival is Ian Fitzgibbon's (Moone Boy, Paths to Freedom) Dark Lies the Island, which stars Charlie Murphy, Moe Dunford, Tommy Tiernan and Charlie Kelly and sees short story characters created by author Kevin Barry coming to the big screen.

Dark Lies the Island

Among the many other Irish films screening at the festival are Neil Jordan's psychological thriller Greta; the documentary When Hitchcock Met O'Casey; the Dublin coming-of-age drama Dub Daze; writer and politician Mannix Flynn's personal story Land Without God and the Brendan Gleeson-directed short Psychic, which stars the actor alongside sons Brian and Domhnall.

(L-R) Brian, Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson in Psychic

International highlights include actor and writer Stephen Merchant's wrestling true story Fighting with My Family; actor Jonah Hill's directorial debut with skateboard comedy Mid90s; Australian sporting comedy The Merger; Kenyan love story Rafiki and Wild Rose, the closing gala screening which showcases the singing talents of its Irish star, Jessie Buckley.

To see the full festival programme - including masterclasses and special guests - and to book tickets, visit diff.ie.

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