The 2023 Dublin International Film Festival kicked off on Thursday (February 23rd) with a gala premiere of the highly anticipated film God’s Creatures, set to be released in Ireland on March 24th.

Lighting up the red carpet were the film’s stars – Emily Watson, Paul Mescal, Aisling Franciosi and Toni O’Rourke. God’s Creatures directors Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer were also attendees, along with writer/producer Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly and screenwriter Shane Crowley.

Also present at the event were Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, Trish Long, Vice President & General Manager, Disney Ireland and Board Chair of the Dublin International Film Festival and Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Screen Ireland.

Described as a "quietly devastating drama set on the north-west coast of Ireland", God’s Creatures is finally coming to Dublin after acclaim at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight.

According to a press release, the movie focuses on a windswept fishing village, where "a mother is torn between protecting her beloved son and her own sense of right and wrong": "A lie she tells for him rips apart their family and close-knit community in this tense, sweepingly emotional epic.”

Gráinne Humphreys, Festival Director said: “I’m so honoured to open the festival with the wonderful ‘God’s Creatures’, a richly rewarding drama with great emotional depth with an impeccable cast led by Emily Watson and our own Paul Mescal.

"I must acknowledge the support of all our partners and especially venues who have helped us to bring the programme together," Humphreys continued. "I have a thousand people to thank but on opening night I will focus on just three key groups, the wonderful festival team, the incredible filmmakers whose work we celebrate and the audiences who have already signed up in great numbers to share this year’s event.”

Running until 4th March, with a diverse programme of in-person features, documentaries, shorts and special events, the festival also has a number of screenings available to watch online. The touring programme that will see The Ordinaries screen across Ireland.