Irish cinema is heading back to Brisbane this October, with the Irish Film Festival Australia returning to Palace Barracks Cinema, Petrie Terrace, from Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, 2026.

The Queensland Irish Association is once again supporting the festival, continuing its longstanding sponsorship of the event. The Queensland Irish community is being encouraged to get along, support Irish cinema and enjoy a weekend of new films celebrating Irish stories, talent and culture.

Chasing Millions to open Brisbane festival

The first film announced for this year’s festival is Chasing Millions, which will headline the Opening Night Extravaganza.

Described by the Irish Film Festival as one of the biggest Irish-Australian feature films in years, the dark comedy takes its inspiration from the infamous 2004 Northern Bank robbery in Belfast, when £26.5 million was stolen in one of the largest bank robberies in British history.

The film puts an Australian spin on the extraordinary story and stars Australian actor Madeleine Madden, alongside British actor Christopher Eccleston and a host of Irish talent.

Brisbane audiences will get the chance to see the film at the festival’s opening-night celebration, with the event promising live music, Irish food and drinks, and plenty of atmosphere, with cast and crew joining the celebrations.

The festival describes the film as a distinctly Australian take on the Belfast heist – making it a particularly interesting choice for an Australian audience with an interest in Irish stories.

More films to come

Chasing Millions is just the beginning. The festival is currently announcing its 2026 films one at a time, with organisers promising their biggest programme yet, including numerous premieres and a first for Irish-Australian film.

The Irish Film Festival was established in 2015 by Drogheda-born Dr Enda Murray and has grown from its beginnings into a national festival screening across five Australian cities, as well as an online programme. It showcases new Irish feature films and documentaries, Irish-language cinema, comedy, drama and stories exploring the Irish experience around the world.

For Brisbane’s Irish community, the festival has become a regular part of the city’s cultural calendar, and the QIA is pleased to continue supporting it.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, September 10, with the full programme and booking information being released as further films are announced.

Irish Film Festival Australia – programme and tickets

Irish Film Festival Australia – Brisbane 2026

When: Friday, October 16 – Sunday, October 18, 2026
Where: Palace Barracks Cinema, 61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane
Opening film: Chasing Millions
Tickets: On sale September 10

This is a good one to put in the diary now – get a group together, head along to Palace Barracks and make a weekend of it.