"2014 is going to be a big year for Irish cinema." That's what Grainne Humphries, director of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, said to us last month when we had a quick chat with her, and to be honest, she's spot on.

Recently, there was the cup-overfloweth level of love given to two Irish films at the Sundance Film Festival - Calvary (which will open the JDIFF), and Frank (which'll hit cinemas in May) - and then there's a whole heap of films like 'Run & Jump', 'Stalker', 'Jack & Ralph Plan A Murder', 'Trampoline and Out Of Here' which will all be getting some major attention when they get released to the public.

But for right now, we're going to focus on four Irish releases that you can hope to enjoy in the not too distant future.

PATRICK'S DAY

This is the second feature by director Terry McMahon, following 2011's highly controversial Charlie Casanova, and just like that movie, it's getting its world premiere at the prestigious SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas this March.

Patrick's Day tells the story of a young man, named after the day he was born on, who suffers from mental health issues. Over the course of the movie he meets and falls in love with an air steward, who comes complete with her own emotional baggage, much to the upset of Patrick's mother, who is assisted by a slightly off-kilter policeman in breaking them up.

It looks to be of a much lighter tone than McMahon's incendiary debut, but also doesn't appear to be pulling any punches with its tale. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one when it shows in front of an audience for the first time next month.

LIMP

From director Shaun Ryan, who you may know from The Juan Mata Proposal (if you haven't seen the short about the football fan who gets nekkid for a bet, you can catch it here), but if you're expecting something light-hearted and funny, think again.

An ethereal, eerie horror film about a man who falls in love with the corpse of a dead woman, so yes, this is probably going to upset as many as it astounds, but it may also single-handedly force the future of Irish horror films into a new, more interesting direction.

The premiere is taking place on Tuesday the 11th of February in The Sugar Club, with tickets available in advance or on the door, and for only €6 you'll get to see the movie before everyone else, as well as be involved in a post-screening Q&A with the movie's director, producer, more cast & crew and its leading actor.

LEAN ON ME

At less than two and a half minutes, this is short and sweet, but also it's about suicide, so maybe that should be short and bittersweet. Written and directed by first-timer Gavin Butler, and starring Paddy C. Courtney (Milo from Shameless) and Joe Rooney (who play Father "Damo" Lennon in Father Ted), this is the story of two best friends, one of whom wants to kill himself, and the other trying to figure out if and how he can help.

The short film has been screened in festivals all over the world, from Galway to Texas, and has found fans in the famous likes of Lenny Abrahamson (director of What Richard Did) and Johnny Vegas.

The film will be screened at the upcoming Dingle Film Festival (March 14th to 17th), and in the mean-time, Butler and co. are currently developing further adventures for the depressed duo.

THE FIRST WAVE.

If you've got seven minutes to spare, then do yourself a favour and watch this startlingly smart and profoundly scary short film, which - much like Alive In Jo'Burg went on to become District 9, and last year's horror film Mama was based on a short - will be a prelude to the eventual feature, The Third Wave (see what they did there?).

Writer/director David Freyne has had great success with the script to the feature - which has won awards all around the world - and is currently deep into the process of development on the movie. Freyne decided to make the short film The Third Wave to show the potential in the project, not to mention garner excitement and interest in the finished product, which the short has managed to do in spades, having received over 100,000 views in less than a month.

More than just 'another zombie movie', this looks like it's going to be a unique take on the well-told sub-genre, and if the The Third Wave has the same level of smart scares that the short film does, we're all going to be in for a great time.