Dublin International Film Festival has selected a Limerick-made feature film to open this year’s 2026 edition of the Festival taking place next month.
Once Upon a Time in a Cinema (previously called ‘One Night Only’) was filmed in the iconic former Royal Cinema in Limerick City last year, helping to bring life back to the once bustling site.
Filmed entirely in the city, Once Upon a Time in a Cinema stars Colin Morgan (Merlin, The Fall, The Boy That Never Was) as the manager of a small-town cinema who struggles to keep the peace on a chaotic Friday night at the pictures. Set in 1980's Ireland, this feel-good movie is a loving tribute to the cinema experience and is directed by acclaimed Limerick writer/director David Gleeson.
Gleeson also wrote and directed ‘Cowboys and Angels’, the first feature film to shoot entirely in the city, produced back in 2003. Now more than 20 years on, his latest production sees him return to the place where it all began.
The Director who grew up in the cinema business in Cappamore, Co. Limerick commented:
“The cinema has profoundly shaped my life, and this film reflects three generations of my family’s experiences. Anyone with fond memories of going to the pictures will find something to laugh or cry about in this film.”
‘Once Upon a Time in a Cinema’ also stars Calam Lynch, Niamh Cusack and India Mullen.
Mayor of Limerick John Moran commenting on the production made in Limerick, said:
“We are delighted to see another production made in the region reach the big screen and we look forward to seeing the film screen in Limerick, once it completes its festival run. I am pleased to see our creative industries, particularly in film and TV production, continue to thrive. It is especially exciting to see the release of a feature film that was filmed in the Theatre Royal building, where the Mayoral Fund supported initial renovation work that was delivered through Limerick Twenty Thirty last year. We will continue to work hard to bring the building back into more regular use and I look forward to welcoming more big and small screen productions to Limerick.”
Príomh Chomhairleoir of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr. Catherine Slattery described the production as a fantastic showcase of Limerick talent:
“Having a Limerick-made film open the Dublin International Film Festival is a fantastic showcase of our talent in Limerick. It highlights Limerick as an exciting destination for film production and reinforces that the film and arts industry is growing stronger in Limerick."
Director General of Limerick City and County Council, Dr. Pat Daly added:
“This is a proud moment for Limerick and a strong endorsement of the county as a world-class place to make film. Productions like this demonstrate the depth of local talent, our unique locations, and the momentum behind Limerick as a leading hub for the film industry.”
Head of Innovate Limerick, Dennis Barry commented:
"It’s a remarkable milestone for Limerick to have a locally made feature open the Dublin International Film Festival. Providing the production with the space and facilities they needed is exactly the kind of support Innovate Limerick/Film in Limerick was created to deliver. The transformation of the Royal Cinema during filming shows what’s possible when creativity and opportunity meet, and we’re thrilled to see the film—and the city—shine."
Regional Film Manager, Paul C. Ryan from Innovate Limerick / Film in Limerick commented:
“How fantastic for ‘Once Upon a Time in a Cinema’ to be chosen to open the 2026 Dublin International Film Festival. I’m so excited to see the film and to see it play in Limerick later in the year. We had a wonderful time working with the producers and crew and how wonderful that it was filmed in the Royal Cinema, a palace of special memories for so many people. We are so grateful for all the help we have received from the City to bring this production to Limerick and especially all the support from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board who have helped us at every stage to make this production a reality. Hopefully we will see it screened in the Royal Cinema in the near future too."
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, Producer from Wide Eye Films said:
“We are so delighted to open the Dublin International Film Festival with our new film. We loved making this film in Limerick and being a part of breathing new life back into the Royal Cinema - just a few metres away from our director’s David’s first bedsit! It was a pleasure to work closely with Film in Limerick, LCETB, the Council in Limerick and all our wonderful crew to make this film happen. We look forward to a successful to returning to Limerick to screen the film this year.”
Once Upon a Time in a Cinema opens the Dublin International Film on Thursday 19th February, 2026. It is produced by Nathalie Lichtenthaeler and Judy Tossell for Wide Eye Films, co-produced by Belgian film house uMedia and co- financed by Screen Ireland and Myriad Pictures. It was filmed entirely in Limerick City employing a majority local crew.
