Geoff Thompson, Festival Director, addressing the BIFFL 2026 Closing Screening and Awards;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Sunday 27 September 2026, the British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg 2026 Autumn Edition held its Closing Screening at Ciné Utopia in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg.
Following a pre-formalities reception hosted by the British Embassy in Luxembourg, the Closing Speeches and Awards took place at the screening room.
Festival Organiser Geoff Thompson spoke about enjoying nine days of eleven feature films, including four documentaries and six short films, at both Luxembourg’s arthouse Ciné Utopia, as well as the Cinémathèque at the Cercle Cité’s Cité Auditorium.
He talked about the Young Filmmakers Competition, including both launching the 4th edition as well as seeing the result of last year's competition winners’ ten-minute documentary “Galway: A City That Shaped Ireland” which different perspectives of the West of Ireland city. "We are delighted to have given young filmmakers Theo Fedorov and William Murray from Lenster Lycée an opportunity to showcase their creativity" he stated.
He thanked everyone, from the Special Guests (Lance Daly and Megan McGinley from Trad, and Billy McGrath from Ballroom Boom), those who helped finance the festival, partners and Community Partners, the embassies and audiences, as well as the festival volunteers.
He confirmed that plans were already underway for next year's 18th annual festival and its Spring Edition for which he mentioned the dates of 18-24 March 2027, and a number of films for which he hopes to secure the rights to screen.
The Ambassador of Britain to Luxembourg, Joanne Olivier, then addressed the Official Closing and thanked the organisers for their work behind the scenes. She recalled the Opening Screening, Trad, and was delighted that British and Irish cinema could attract full houses.
Awards
Critics' Award: The Siege of Paradise by Gar O’Rourke - Geoff Thompson explained that "this film looked at the challenge of over tourism in Cinque Terre in Italy blending different perspectives, giving a balanced viewpoint from the mayor’s office, a restauranteur, a wine grower and a fisherman, as well as an influencer. The audience went away understanding much more about the challenges they all face".
Audience Award: 1st Trad; 2nd 500 Miles; 3rd Pressure.
Audience Prize: Patricia Angoy and Bernard Biggar who won a hamper from Home from Home and a magnum of Crémant from Barnard-Massard.
The audience were then treated to a screening of Finding Emily, a feel-good comedy drama.
The next screening within the context of the festival (outside the core Spring Edition and Autumn Edition) will be the BIFFL Presents... screening of Wicker, on 13 October at Ciné Utopia.
