The 8th edition of Light Moves Festival took place at Dance Limerick and Belltable, Limerick city from 6-8 November 2025.
Festival trailer edited by Nathan Campion.
Introduction: Light Moves Festival 2025 offered an adventurous programme, showcasing bold and innovative work at the intersection of dance, film, sound, and new media. Artists and audiences came together in Limerick from 6–8 November to explore movement, creative collaboration, and screen-based practices that reflected diverse perspectives from Ireland and across the globe.
The festival’s programme encouraged dialogue, participation, and experimentation, highlighting the moving body as a unifying thread across varied artistic approaches.
Curated by Jessie Keenan and Laura Murphy, Light Moves 2025 received over 300 submissions (film and Beyond Screen) from five continents, resulting in a programme that spanned live performances, screendance, installations, workshops, talks, and participatory events, engaging audiences with both established and emerging artists.
Opening Events: The festival launched on the evening of Thursday 6 November with a combined screening and live performance programme at Dance Limerick. Highlights included screenings of:
Invein by Limerick-based street dance artist Tobi Omoteso, Nothing Exists Until It Moves (premiere) by Sophie Hutchinson and Billy Kemp, Carmen by Andrew Margetson, and Until… by Iranian director Tanin Torabi, filmed during the 2022 ‘Woman Life Freedom’ protests in Tehran.
The short film programme was followed by the SPIRAL commission GROUNDWORK, bringing together Limerick-based improvised noise group Péist, movement by Aoibhinn O’Dea, and visual work by Billy Kemp.
Performances & Installations: Friday 7 November featured two further SPIRAL commissions in a double bill:
Radio Caroline and the Mi Amigo: Composer and viola player Sebastian Adams and choreographer Cindy Cummings explored pirate radio’s legacy using dance, video collage, and portable radios.
AUTOMATA: A Myth Reawakened: Georgian electronic artist Natalie Beridze and choreographer Jessie Thompson combined movement and digital media to reimagine ancient Greek myths in a contemporary context.
Lake Burst: Live by Maïa Nunes saw the artist performance a live film score of the original soundtrack and screening of their short film Lake Burst.
Across Friday and Saturday, Dance Stories: Installation by Laura Murphy presented multi-media portraits of three Irish women in dance: Lisa Cliffe, Mary Nunan and Angie Smalis. The installation is part of Murphy’s Dance Stories portfolio project, exploring the lives of eight women in dance in Ireland. Laura also presented a talk and screening as part of the project on Friday 7 November.
Palestine Focus Events: On Saturday 8 November, the festival presented two significant events in collaboration with Palestinian artists:
The Palestinian Movement Festival and SUMUD Performance (Dance Limerick): A short, live performance by Catherine Young Dance and El Funoun Dance Company combining Irish and Palestinian dance, followed by screenings of seven short films documenting dance and activism in Palestine. The festival was developed by Stereo48 and choreographer Amir Sabra.
they shoot horses (Belltable): A long-form video installation by Turner Prize-nominated artist Phil Collins, capturing an eight-hour disco dance marathon with young people in Ramallah. The screening highlighted dance as an act of resistance and raised funds for Palestinian civil society. A special festival closing event was held at Belltable in the closing hours of the installation.
Participatory events led by guest artists:
Ways of Doing Things by Anna Macdonald: One-to-one hand duet performances exploring giving, receiving, and consent. Anna also presented a screendance and consent roundtable alongside alongside Marie-Andrée Jacob, and her film Changes in Light screened as part of Film Programme 2.
Sound Bath by Maïa Nunes: Vocal toning and healing instruments to promote balance and relaxation.
City Listening: a workshop in (found) choreography for the camera by Lucy Cash and Chloë Sayers: A workshop creating movement portraits of Limerick’s streets, parks, and waterside.
Listening Bodies: Walking session by Roberto Santaguida: A participatory exploration of care, presence, and connection through non-verbal movement.
Talk to Me About It guided critical dialogue session led by Philip Szporer and Kathleen Smith.
Short Film Programme: The 2025 short film programme included a wide range of Irish and international works, featuring:
Sunken Works/Don’t Bite by Ghaliah Conroy, An Choróin (premiere) by John Conway, Rincí Ros a’ Mhíl by Dervla Baker, Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín, Ríonach Ní Néill, Heathen (premiere) by Vivian Brodie Hayes, Breakin’ Brothers by CoisCéim, directed by David Bolger, Let’s Spraoi by Mia DiChiaro and students of St. Mary’s Primary, Nenagh, Kryla by Anastasiia Lapko, and Reverse (premiere) by Naomhan Joyce & Kat Cooley.
The programme explored diverse narratives, human relationships, and innovative approaches to movement on screen.
Light Moves Awards: Following the festival, awards were presented to works demonstrating artistic excellence across dance, film, and multimedia practice.
Light Moves Innovative use of Music and Sound Award sponsored by Contemporary Music Centre Winner: 100 M Directed by Monika Szpunar, Music by Joanna Wabik
Light Moves Student Merit Award, sponsored by Irish World Academy of Music & Dance Winner: AETERNA Directed by Hannah Goodman
Light Moves Choreography and/or performance Award sponsored by Dublin Dance Festival Winner: BOLERO.S Directed and Choreographed by Mehdi Kerkouche
Light Moves Overall Film Award Winner: Until… Directed by Tanin Torabi
The festival was funded by the Arts Council & Limerick City & County Council. It was supported by DMARC, Belltable, Dance Ireland, Stereo48, Catherine Young Dance, Irish World Academy of Music & Dance, CSIS, University of Limerick, Contemporary Music Centre, Dublin Dance Festival, The George Hotel, The Limerick Post, I Love Limerick and RTÉ Supporting the Arts.
Images 1-14 credit Maurice Gunning, 15 credit Shane Vaughan.
Recap Video by Shane Vaughan