Drifting stars Mescal and illustrates the effects of emigration on friendship.

At this point, we are all accustomed to enjoying things virtually. Whilst it isn’t the same as spending the evening at the cinema, having a whole film festival at the click of a mouse isn’t too shabby. From March 3 to March 14, Dublin International Film Festival will feature online and they’ve announced a slew of exciting films to whet the appetite for the return of cinemas.

A notable inclusion in this year’s virtual festivities is Drifting, a short film directed by Robert Higgins that features the star of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, Paul Mescal.

It focuses on two best friends that are feeling the effects of emigration on their friendship as they are at loggerheads for the first time. Mescal plays Cian, a young man who according to a synopsis “is content to coast through a life of booze and casual hook-ups”. Whereas his best friend Pat who is played by Dafhyd Flynn is tired of the mundane cycle of his familiar surroundings.

The 14-minute film is scored largely by Irish electronic producer Daithi and premiered in the Summer of last year at Galway Film Fleadh.

Paul Mescal has been busy since Normal People became a cultural phenomenon, featuring in a music video with Phoebe Bridgers and taking up interpretative dance in a new campaign with Samsung.

Ahead of Dublin International Film Festival, you can catch the trailer for the short film below:

Click here to view the programme and purchase tickets. The full lineup will be announced February 3.

Elsewhere, Sally Rooney, the author of Normal People, shared the title of her next book and revealed details of its release.