Waterford International Film Festival is set to celebrate its 20th edition this November, capping two decades of growth from a local passion project to a truly global showcase for filmmakers.

Founder Stephen Byrne, whose background is in producing and editing, first conceived the festival in 2006 when he struggled to find a local venue to screen his own film. After months of research and a detailed business plan, support from the Waterford Chamber and the local arts office helped get the inaugural festival off the ground in 2007.

Since then, the festival has expanded dramatically. Last year saw a record 621 submissions from 40 countries, with entries arriving from across Europe, North and South America, Australia, the Middle East, and an increasingly strong Asian presence, including China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. Some past winners have gone on to BAFTA and even Oscar recognition.

Programming remains a ‘labour of love’ for Byrne, who puts in 15–25 hours a week on the festival, rising sharply as November approaches. A commission and independent judges use a detailed scoring system to whittle hundreds of projects down to a limited number of live and online slots.

The 20th Waterford International Film Festival will run 14–15 November, with live events at The Chapel on College Street and the House of Waterford, including a family day, a new Irish language strand, networking events and awards. All live selections will then be available online from 15–21 November via media partner EricTainment.com.