Mystery Matinee at the IFI

What to Expect

Mystery Matinee is a weekly strand at the IFI built entirely around not knowing what you are about to watch. The IFI’s own description invites audiences to “take a chance with us on a Sunday afternoon,” with the film selection kept secret right up until it appears on screen. Past choices have ranged across the whole history of cinema, sometimes an early preview of an upcoming release, sometimes a rediscovered classic, sometimes something unexpected from an entirely different genre. It has built a loyal following among regular IFI visitors who enjoy the format precisely because there is nothing to research beforehand, and it gives the IFI’s programmers a way to slot in a title that would not otherwise fit a themed season.

Good to Know

• Screens every Sunday at 1:00pm; the next date is Sunday 13 August 2026.
• The film title is not published in advance and only becomes clear once the screening begins.
• Standard IFI weekend ticket prices apply, around €13 for the early afternoon slot, plus a small online booking fee through shop.ifi.ie.
• An archive of past Mystery Matinee selections is available on the IFI website for anyone curious about the range of films previously shown.
• The strand is a fixture of the IFI’s regular weekly programming rather than a one-off, so it continues on the following Sunday and every Sunday after that with a new, unannounced title each week.

Getting There

The Irish Film Institute is on Eustace Street in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, a five-minute walk from College Green. Dublin Bus routes run along Dame Street nearby, Tara Street and Pearse DART stations are within fifteen minutes on foot, and the Luas Red Line stop at Jervis is a short walk across the Ha’penny Bridge.

While You’re in Dublin

A Sunday afternoon screening pairs easily with a wander through Temple Bar’s galleries and cafes before or after, or a longer visit to Dublin and the rest of Co. Dublin.