The festival returns to Drogheda's Droichead Arts Centre from Friday, August 11, to Sunday, August 13, following a successful debut in 2022. It will feature films by filmmakers such as Mia Mullarkey, Hannah Mamalis, Derek Ugochukwu, Pollyanna McIntosh, Myles O'Reilly, Aaron Monaghan, and Clare Monnelly, among others.

Businesses in Drogheda have been asked to decorate their windows with a movie theme to promote regional talent and welcome tourists.

The Made in the Boyne Valley award will honour shorts from the area as part of the festival's lineup of domestic and foreign short films.

There will also be presentations of the prizes for Best Irish Narrative Short, Best International Narrative Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Documentary Short.

The following filmmakers have made the festival's 2023 bursary shortlist: Fionnuala Gygax (The Island), Tania Notaro (Men of Fighting Age), Katie Murphy (The Queen of Puck), and Conor McCormick (Baby Bunker).

Aaron Monaghan and Clare Monnelly's films will be highlighted throughout the festival this year.

“We have been impressed by their work as actors, writers, and directors over the years, both individually and together,” festival co-directors Frank W Kelly and Collette Farrell said in a statement.

They continued: “Impressive are their talent, hard ethic, and ability to work together. Their capacity to produce high-caliber work that advances the short film genre is motivating.

“Also, as a couple, who are parents working in this industry, we hope to discuss how creative families navigate an artist's life, especially in the film industry.”