New Film Festival 'Hidden Tide' to Launch in West of Ireland
Hawk's Well Theatre is delighted to introduce the Hidden Tide Film Festival, a new and ambitious celebration of bold, original storytelling set to launch in County Sligo in the West of Ireland. The first dedicated film festival of its kind in the county.
Created with a deep respect for cinematic craft, Hidden Tide aspires to become a distinguished national platform where creativity, collaboration, and industry excellence converge. Hosted in the beautifully restored Art Deco Cinema & Theatre in the rural town of Ballymote, the festival offers a rare and atmospheric setting that honours both the heritage and future of filmmaking. Stepping inside the Art Deco is like travelling back in time, with its speakeasy-inspired elegance, vintage glamour, and intimate cinematic charm.
Designed to unite emerging voices and established professionals, Hidden Tide presents high-spec screenings alongside a curated programme of industry-led workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions, fostering meaningful dialogue between creators and audiences. Our mission is to shine a light on exceptional storytelling while nurturing the creative community that sustains it. The festival offers a unique platform for networking, professional development, and cultural exchange, and will recognise outstanding achievements through prestigious awards and substantial cash prizes, celebrating talent at every stage of the professional journey.
As we prepare for our inaugural edition, we look forward to welcoming artists and industry leaders who share our passion for storytelling and the transformative power of cinema. We are also excited to welcome our audience - everyone who loves cinema and is open to new experiences. Stay tuned for updates, as the program will be announced soon.
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Awards & Prizes
The Hidden Tide Film Festival awards are designed to celebrate the creators behind the work, regardless of where they are in their professional journey. We believe that bold storytelling deserves to be honored, whether it comes from an emerging filmmaker making their mark or an established professional pushing the boundaries of their craft.
Best Short Film €5 000 + Official Trophy
Best Documentary €2 000 + Official Trophy
Best Feature Film - Official Trophy
Best Director - Official Trophy
Best Screenplay - Official Trophy
Best Cinematography - Official Trophy
Audience Choice Award - Official Trophy
Rules & Terms
1. Eligibility & Submissions
Genre & Format: We accept all genres. Short films must be under 40 minutes. Feature films must be over 60 minutes.
Completion Date: Films must have been completed after January 1, 2024.
Premiere Status: We do not require strict premiere status, but priority may be given to films that have not yet been widely released online or screened extensively in the West of Ireland.
Language: All non-English language films must have hardcoded English subtitles.
2. Judging & Selection
All submissions will be viewed by our pre-selection committee. Finalists will be judged by an independent panel of industry professionals.
The €5,000 Short Film Prize and €2,000 Documentary Prize will be awarded to the individual named as the submitter on FilmFreeway. The judges' decision is final.
3. Technical Requirements
If selected, filmmakers will be asked to provide a DCP by the requested deadline. (If you have any technical questions or requirements, please email us)
4. Rights & Clearances
By submitting, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights (including music clearances) for the film to be screened publicly. Additionally, you grant the Hidden Tide Film Festival the non-exclusive right to use excerpts, clips, stills, and press materials from your film for promotional purposes across social media, press, and our website ect.
The festival will never use your film in its entirety for any purpose other than public screenings during the official event, nor will we sell or license your content to third parties.
5. Attendance & Logistics
We strongly encourage all selected filmmakers to attend the festival in person to participate in Q&As and networking events.
6. Withdrawal
Once a film is officially selected and the invitation is accepted, it cannot be withdrawn from the festival program. If the filmmaker wishes to withdraw before the official selection announcement, they must provide written notice at least 30 days prior to the event.
Code of Conduct: We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and professional environment for all participants. Any form of harassment or discriminatory behavior toward staff, volunteers, or other filmmakers will result in immediate disqualification and removal from the festival premises without refund or recourse.
We only accept finalized, release-ready versions of films. Works-in-progress, re-edits, and post-submission updates are not accepted under any circumstances.
The festival does not pay screening or other fees for submitted films.
If you have any questions regarding your submission or eligibility, please contact us at mariia@hawkswell.ie
Dates & Deadlines
Earlybird Deadline - June 30
Regular Deadline - July 31
Late Deadline - August 29
Notification Date - October 30
Event Date - November 27 – 29, 2026