The National Film Institute of Ireland was officially incorporated on June 2nd 1945, so this year marks the 60th anniversary of the organisation that developed into the present IFI. Its origins go back to a 1936 papal Encyclical, Vigilanti Cura, and the desire expressed by Pope Pius XI that the medium of cinema be put to the services of human morality.

Guided by these principles, the founders of the Institute, under the patronage of Dr Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin, established an organisation that would spend the next three decades producing, distributing and exhibiting educational films in both the Irish and English languages to schools and other groups. Its eclectic output included the production in 1945 of A Nation Once Again, marking the centenary of the death of Thomas Davis, and the filming of GAA finals from 1948 onwards.

By the 1980s, the moral impetus behind the establishment of the Institute had faded and television had taken over many of its activities. 1982 heralded a new approach to the functions and ambitions of the Institute, which now received active support from the Arts Council. With Arts Council and lottery funding, this phase of development culminated in the purchase in 1987 of the old Quaker Meeting House premises at 6 Eustace Street, which was named the Irish Film Centre.

In the interim, the Irish Film Institute, as it was now called, took over the running of the Irish Film Theatre and subsequently became involved in the acquisition of the former Curzon Cinema in Dublin’s Abbey Street and its refurbishment as an arthouse venue. The Light House cinema was run in association with the IFI until the Institute launched the Irish Film Centre in September 1992. I992 also saw the IFI establish the Irish Film Archive and Tiernan MacBride Library to preserve and make available to the public Ireland’s film heritage. At the same time, a hugely active Education department was developed to bring an informed and broad experience of cinema to young audiences throughout Ireland. In 2001, the Institute played a central role in the establishment of Ireland’s travelling cinema or Cinemobile.

After 60 years we can proudly say that the IFI is now one of the most active cultural bodies in Ireland. Our mission is simple: to both promote and preserve film culture in Ireland. We have many ambitions for the future, but for now we wish to say thank you to our principal supporter, The Arts Council, and most importantly to you, our audience, customer and loyal member.

Mark Mulqueen,

IFI Director.



Mission Statement

The Irish Film Institute preserves, presents and promotes film culture in Ireland. It achieves this objective by:

* Maintaining the Irish Film Archive to the highest international standards;

* Making available, through its programming and its facilities, the best film experience possible for Irish audiences;

* Assisting in the extension of such experience to the other regions of Ireland;

* Promoting recognition of film and television studies in curricula at all levels, and in life long learning, and exemplifying best film educational practice;

* Through its research and information programmes, being the principal source of information in Ireland on film culture and in particular Irish film, and on the policies relating to it;

* Working for the development of Irish film and of the audience for film;

* Being an informed and effective advocate of the art and culture of film;

* Running and maintaining the Irish Film Centre so that its facilities and resources are of an excellent standard and are accessible to all.