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film · Saturday 8 August 2026 · 8:00pm 
BVIFF 2026 - This is England Screening and In Conversation
At Droichead Arts Centre · Stockwell Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
At Droichead Arts Centre · Stockwell Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
The Boyne Valley International Film Festival turns five in 2026, and to mark the occasion it has pulled off something genuinely special - a gala screening of Shane Meadows’ BAFTA-winning This is England, timed to the film’s 20th anniversary, followed by a live In Conversation with Meadows and actress Helen Behan. This is a one-off evening for anyone who cares about British and Irish cinema. Tickets have sold out, but check the booking link for returns.
This is England (2006) won Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs and Best British Independent Film at the BIFAs. Set in 1983 and following a boy who falls in with a skinhead gang, the film launched a beloved TV series - This is England ‘86, ‘88 and ‘90 - that Helen Behan became a core part of, playing Rachel. Behan, from Laytown in Co. Meath and a BVIFF patron, will join director Shane Meadows on stage after the screening for what should be a candid conversation about the film, its characters and the series it spawned.
Meadows is in Drogheda for the full festival weekend (7-9 August). Elsewhere in the programme he is due to host a masterclass and take part in panel discussions. BVIFF has also renamed its short film bursary - awarding €500 to four emerging filmmakers - the Shane Meadows Short Film Bursary for 2026.
The screening takes place at Droichead Arts Centre, a well-run arts venue in central Drogheda with a 169-seat raked theatre equipped with a full cinema screen and projector. The building is a short walk from Drogheda’s main shopping streets, with a café bar on site.
Drogheda is 50km north of Dublin on the M1 motorway, about 40 minutes by car. Irish Rail runs frequent services on the Dublin Connolly to Belfast line, with Drogheda MacBride Station on the south side of the Boyne - the arts centre is a 10-15 minute walk across the river. Bus Éireann routes 100 and 101X connect Dublin to Drogheda regularly. Parking is available in the Drogheda Municipal Centre car park beside the venue, and on-street elsewhere in town.
Drogheda has a strong arts and music scene, and an August weekend here coincides with the rest of the BVIFF programme. There is more to see in Drogheda and across Co. Louth.
Heading to Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda? Louth has plenty more to see. Read the Drogheda area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.