Although the Film Fleadh has more of an industry - and related socialising - focus than its Dublin or Cork peers, the festival still has a lot to offer those who just want to spend a week gorging on a wide selection of film, both local and international.

Two of the hottest tickets for the festival will be the events with Zachary Quinto (best known as Spock in the two most recent Star Trek films) and Saoirse Ronan. Quinto will take part in a duo of Q&A sessions following screenings of Star Trek (Wednesday) and Margin Call (Saturday). Sunday will see the “afternoon with Saoirse” event, which will include a public conversation with the actress and a screening of Hanna.

A significant number of Irish productions will premiere over the course of the festival. Some of the most anticipated include a preview screening of Life’s a Breeze (a ‘feel-good’ recession comedy, starring Pat Shortt and Fionnula Flanagan) and closing film The Sea (an adaptation of John Banville’s Booker Prize winning novel).

The festival also offers a programme of international cinema. Galway will host the first Irish screenings of several upcoming releases, such as the much-hyped New York set comedy Frances Ha (the latest from Noah Baumbach, director of The Squid and the Whale) and the brilliant sci-fi mind-bender Upstream Colour (director Shane Carruth's follow-up to cult hit Primer).

As ever, the Fleadh will put a strong emphasis on short films, with eleven dedicated short showcases. There are also animation and documentary selections (ranging from Monsters University to the director’s cut of powerful documentary An Act of Killing), strands dedicated to human rights and gay cinema, and a country spotlight on the cinema of Luxembourg.

The Galway Film Fleadh runs from Tuesday 9th to Sunday 14th. You can find out more details on the festival’s website.