For the first time in the 51 years of the Cannes Film Festival there are two Irish movies in competition at Cannes. Following the premiere of The General on Tuesday, today it's the turn of Martin Mahon's Happy Birthday To Me, which is one of just 14 short films selected from an enormous international entry to compete for the Palme d'Or for best short film.
It's Martin Mahon's eighth visit to Cannes, and he's wearing his third different hat at the festival, having been here in the past as a journalist and as programme director of the Dublin Film Festival, and now as a film director in his own right.
"I got the festival address and sent in a video copy of the film," he said. "The biggest moment was when I was shortlisted. It was shocking - and euphoric. So when I was told it had actually been selected, it was more a matter of practicalities, such as getting the print sub-titled in French."
The movie, which stars Joan Sheehy and Brendan Coyle, was shot in Dublin in just three days on a minuscule budget of £7,000.
Joan Sheehy in Happy Birthday To Me, directed by Martin Mahon