Two films from the island have been selected for the CinéFIL programme at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, which starts on Friday (July 31)

The festival is the world’s largest gathering of Celtic cultures, with more than 950,000 visitors attending the event annually.

Among the selected works is Yn Shenn Dooinney as ny Ferrishyn (The Old Man and the Fairies), a stop-motion animation by filmmaker Lily-Joy Lancashire.

Based on a traditional Manx folktale collected in Jurby by folklorist Karl Roeder in the 1880s, the film tells the story of the old man of Ballacaine, who is kept awake by the sound of fairies tuning their fiddles before joining them in a magical midnight dance.

Narrated entirely in the Manx language and voiced by Jamys Harrison, the film offers a contemporary interpretation of a much-loved story while celebrating the island's linguistic heritage.

Also representing the Isle of Man is Yn Arbyl, created by Manx artist and filmmaker Maeve Callister-Wafer.

Inspired by the landscape of Niarbyl, the short film combines striking cinematography with field recordings, archival Manx voices, music and song to create an immersive portrait of one of the island's most iconic locations.

The film explores the connections between landscape, language, memory and identity, highlighting the cultural significance of place.

Both productions were supported by Culture Vannin and created as part of Blein ny Gaelgey 2026 (Year of the Manx Language), an island-wide celebration promoting the use and visibility of Manx through arts, education and community initiatives.

CinéFIL is the film strand of the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, which attracts performers, artists and audiences from across the Celtic nations and diaspora each year.

The programme features documentaries, feature films and short films celebrating Celtic languages, heritage and contemporary life.

Its aim is to provide an international platform for filmmakers to share stories that reflect the diversity and creativity of Celtic communities.