CIFF Accessible Brochure 2025 by Cork International Film Festival

OPENING GALAS

OPENING GALA

SAIPAN

Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn | Ireland | 2025 | 90 mins | Fiction

THU 6 | EVERYMAN | 19:00

2002, shortly before the FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. The Irish national football team arrives on the Pacific island of Saipan where they are to bond and train before moving to Japan. But the management’s relaxed approach does not match team captain Roy Keane’s expectations. The Man United star player is here to win it.

Filmmakers Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn handle the story with all the respect due to one of the most seismic events in Irish sporting history. A respect for facts, for the protagonists, for all the people of Ireland, really, who found themselves having to take sides. Indeed, the public quarrel between Keane and manager Mick McCarthy rocked the nation and sparked debates on notions that went far beyond sport: loyalty, ethics, identity. Saipan was, and is, a big deal.

Join us for a spectacular 70th Opening Gala celebration which will include special awards presentations and a surprise short film (with an interval for a complimentary celebratory refreshment).

There will be a second screening of Saipan (with Closed Captions) on Friday, 7th November at the Arc Cinema at 16:00.

Courtesy of Wildcard Distribution and Vertigo Releasing.

DOCUMENTARY GALA

SHOOT THE PEOPLE

Andy Mundy-Castle | United States | 2025 | 93 mins | Documentary

FRI 14 | EVERYMAN | 20:15 | WITH Q&A

BAFTA-winning filmmaker Andy Mundy-Castle follows Oscar®-nominated and hugely popular British-Nigerian photographer and activist Misan Harriman, as he documents contemporary protest movements around the world.

The first Black man to shoot a cover of British Vogue, Harriman examines how protest and organised movements can lead to social change, all while capturing the resilience of activism through his lens.

An inspiring, gripping film that delves into the intersectionality of movements for equality, civil rights, and social justice, and the power of collective action.

Followed by a conversation with Misan Harriman and director Andy Mundy-Castle.

FAMILY GALA

LADY AND THE TRAMP

Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske | United States | 1955 | 76 mins | Fiction

SUN 9 | EVERYMAN | 11:00 | DOG-FRIENDLY SCREENING!

In 1909, in a small town, Jim Dear gives his wife Darling a cocker spaniel puppy as a Christmas present. The puppy, named Lady, grows up pampered by her doting owners and befriends her neighbours' dogs, Jock (a Scottie) and Trusty (an elderly Bloodhound). Meanwhile, across town, a stray terrier-mix named Tramp spends his days wandering the streets, feeding on scraps and handouts, and causing trouble for the local dogcatcher.

Like Cork International Film Festival, the tender and thrilling adventures of Lady and the Tramp are celebrating their 70th anniversary! Join us for this rare opportunity to rediscover and introduce your children (and your dog!) to the beloved Disney classic in the beautiful Everyman Theatre, where its great songs and superb, richly coloured animation will shine brighter than ever.

See corkfilmfest.org for dog-friendly details. © Copyright Walt Disney

FRI 14 | EVERYMAN | 20:15 | WITH Q&A

SONG SUNG BLUE

Craig Brewer | United States | 2025 | 133 mins | Fiction

SAT 15 | EVERYMAN | 19:30

Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams. Courtesy of Universal Pictures | This Gala screening will include the presentation of the CIFF Features Awards

CLOSING GALA

IS THIS THING ON?

Bradley Cooper | United States | 2025 | 120 mins | Fiction

SUN 16 | EVERYMAN | 19:30

The Closing Gala on Sunday 16th November will be the Irish Premiere of Searchlight Pictures’ Is This Thing On?, the third feature directed by Bradley Cooper, following A Star is Born and Maestro. As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family — forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.

Loosely inspired by the true story of comedian John Bishop’s personal journey into comedy, Bradley Cooper’s beautiful film is an incisive study of midlife discontent and a modern-day comedy of remarriage. Humour and feeling blend in a harmonious, powerful balance with an exceptional supporting cast including Andra Day, Cooper, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, and Scott Icenogle.

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & GUESTS

Cork International Film Festival is proud to welcome a host of distinguished guests from across the film world - talented filmmakers, industry leaders, and artists who will present their work, discuss their careers, share their ideas, and engage with you, our audience. Stay tuned to corkfilmfest. org and follow us on social media for more exciting announcements in the weeks ahead.

DEFENCE OF THE REALM + IN CONVERSATION

David Drury | United Kingdom | 1974 | 96 mins | Ficton

FRI 7 | TRISKEL | 17:00

Dennis Markahm (Ian Bannen) is forced to resign from the British Parliament after he is linked to a woman serving as an East German dignitary. As reporters Nick Mullen (Gabriel Byrne) and Vernon Bayliss (Denholm Elliott) investigate the case, they discover that there may be more to the incident than meets the eye.

Stay after the screening for an unmissable conversation with two icons of Irish and international cinema.

Academy Award®-winning film producer and educator, David Puttnam, and multi-award-winning actor Gabriel Byrne will share stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Defence of the Realm and beyond - an extraordinary opportunity to experience film history brought to life.

Tickets €15/€13

CIFF HONORARY DISRUPTOR AWARD: JOHN BOORMAN

CIFF’s Honorary Disruptor Award, dedicated to the free spirits of the film world, will be awarded this year to filmmaker John Boorman. The ceremony will precede the screening of Zardoz (see below).

Cherie Lunghi, star of Excalibur, will present the award. The ceremony will also include video messages from Callum Turner, Jamie Lee Curtis, Liam Neeson, Juliette Binoche , Seamus Deasy and other major artists who have worked with John Boorman.

ZARDOZ

John Boorman | Ireland, United States | 1974 | 105 mins | Fiction

TUE 11 | TRISKEL | 20:00 | WITH Q&A

It is the year 2293. A race of humans known as the Brutals worship a flying stone head called Zardoz, who provides them with weapons in exchange for food. But a Brutal Exterminator named Zed (Sean Connery) grows curious, uncovering the mysteries surrounding their society. A visionary sci-fi like no other from John Boorman.

This screening will be followed by a discussion with Cherie Lunghi, Paul Duane and Yal Sadat (Cahiers du Cinéma).

JOHN BOORMAN SHORTS

John Boorman | United Kingdom & Ireland | 2001 & 1991 | 83 mins | Fiction

SAT 15 | TRISKEL | 14:15

We are thrilled to welcome John Boorman’s longtime cinematographer Seamus Deasy, who will present the rare screening of two short films: the delightful and witty Two Nudes Bathing (2001) and I Dreamt I Woke Up (1991). The former, starring a very funny John Hurt, explores the origins of the anonymous Louvre painting “Two Nudes Bathing”, in which two young women sit in a bath, one holding the nipple of the other between forefinger and thumb. The latter explores the home and neighbours of Boorman, and the mystical qualities of the Wicklow Mountains and their influence on Excalibur, Deliverance and Hope And Glory.

DAVID PUTTNAM TALK: FESTIVALS MATTER

THU 13 | TRISKEL | 18:30

“If we get our stories right, if we continue to get our values right, that drip, drip, drip of good movies offers the opportunity to make people feel stronger, more connected, more relevant to the generation that they are part of… Festivals offer a place for us to come together - a chance to reflect upon ourselves in a truly authentic way. They are a vital launch pad for films that support them on their onward journey to reach their audiences.”

A unique opportunity to hear from Oscar®-winning film producer, educator, and CIFF Patron David Puttnam as he delivers an illustrated talk and Q&A with his characteristic mix of energy, anecdote, seriousness of purpose, and infectious humour.

JOAN BERGIN IN CONVERSATION

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 12:30

Join Women in Film & Television Ireland (WFT) in conversation with legendary costume designer Joan Bergin (My Left Foot, The Tudors, Disenchanted) and award-winning director Hannah Quinn (Vikings: Valhalla, The Boy That Never Was, The Stranger).

Part of WFT’s Greater Later Series, supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán, with networking beforehand.

ED GUINEY IN CONVERSATION

SUN 9 | TRISKEL | 11:45

Join us in conversation with Ed Guiney (co-CEO of Element Pictures) for a public talk, an opportunity to hear from one of Ireland’s most influential TV and film producers. With credits ranging from Room to The Favourite and Poor Things (which opened our Festival in 2023), Guiney will share his insights into storytelling, production strategies, and the evolving role of Irish cinema on the global stage. This year he joins us with two debut features: Akinola Davies Junior’s My Father’s Shadow, and Harry Lighton’s Pillion.

Whether they are filmmakers, critics, academics, or industry professionals, our Festival panellists and participants transform screenings into conversations, enriching the Festival experience. See corkfilmfest.org for details of all panellists at this year's Festival. Check out our Industry Events pages for details of filmmakers and film professionals who will be taking part in the 70th CIFF.

TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN (POHÁDKY PO BABIČCE) WITH HILARY ROSE

Cork actor and podcaster Hilary Rose to provide live narration in English for this uplifting stop-motion family film.

BLAME

With guests including Dr. Kellie Dean, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at University College Cork (UCC)

CLIMATE IN THERAPY

With Hannah Daly, Professor in Sustainable Energy at UCC and Dr. Rosemary Keane, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director at Actualise.

HOW TO BE NORMAL AND THE ODDNESS OF THE OTHER WORLD

With Dr. John Goodwin, School of Nursery & Midwifery, UCC.

CIFF LEGACY DAY

Hosted by Dr. Ciara Chambers, Sch of Film & Screen Media, UCC.

FARMING IS MEDICINE

With physician, activist and writer Professor Rupa Marya and agri-food researcher Dr. Ollie Moore.

FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE

We are delighted to welcome the following film artists to our 70th edition:

Janicke Askevold (Solomamma)

Lisa Barros D’Sa (Saipan)

Brendan Canty (Gealtra)

Martin Danneels (Answering the Call)

Sé Merry Doyle (Theocracy, the Emigrants Artist)

Paul Duane (Zardoz - panelist)

Anne Émond (Peak Everything)

Nan Feix (Mam)

Dennis Harvey (Celtic Utopia)

Jacqueline Jansen (Six Weeks On)

Gary Keane (A Quiet Love)

Andrew Keogh (This is a Prison/Mismantler)

Andrew Kötting (The Memory Blocks)

Glenn Leyburn (Saipan)

Lars Loven (Celtic Utopia)

Ruán Magan (Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator)

Alison Millar (The Disappearance of Captain Nairac)

Andy Mundy-Castle (Shoot the People)

Florian Pochlatko (How to be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World)

Marjolijn Prins (Fantastique)

Léonor Serraille (Ari)

Padraig Trehy (Stupid August)

Namik Arslan (protagonist of The Moelln Letters)

Misan Harriman (Shoot the People)

CINE CONCERT: STUPID AUGUST

Padraig Trehy | Ireland | 2025 | 89 mins | World Premiere

THU 13 | MTU - CURTIS AUDITORIUM | 19:45

SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 15:00 | (FILM ONLY)

A cine-concert is often the highlight of any film festival - a spectacular fusion of the breathtaking visuals of a classic film with the immersive energy of live music.

Cork International Film Festival has a proud history of presenting unforgettable cine-concert experiences, Nosferatu (2018), Metropolis (2021), A Trip to the Moon (2022).

This year, we are thrilled to present the world premiere of Padraig Trehy’s new film, Stupid August, a historical fantasy that delves into the depths of our humanity, brought to life with a live musical performance of an original score by Cork composer John O’Brien. An amnesiac clown finds himself exiled to the Ireland of the early 1960s. As the shadows of his past re-emerge, Gus must navigate the present dangers to find himself again and be finally free. Stupid August is a historical fantasy which explores the dangers of burying our collective histories and the lasting traumas of our inhumanity.

Presented in association with the Irish Film Institute, Stupid August was produced under the Arts Council’s Authored Works scheme. Tickets €15/€13

MUSIC FOR DOMES

Róis, Hosta Projects | Ireland, Northern Ireland | 2025 | 60 mins

MON 10 | ST. PETER’S | 18:30

TUE 11 | ST. PETER’S | 13:30, 16:00, 18:30

In this immersive documentary experience, screened in a 360° dome, award-winning Irish artist Róis joins forces with the visionary Hosta Projects for a journey unlike any other. Combining archival footage, sonic folklore and celestial cartography, the film draws uncanny parallels between two ancient cultures – Ireland and Cambodia – and how both map memory, myth and survival across the stars.

RTÉ LYRIC

FM

- MOVIES & MUSICALS WITH AEDÍN GORMLEY

SAT 8 | MTU SCHOOL OF MUSIC - CURTIS AUDITORIUM | 13:00 - 15:00

Join Aedín Gormley for a very special broadcast of her Saturday afternoon radio programme, featuring the very best music from the world of movies and musicals. Aedín will chat with a great selection of the filmmakers taking part in this year’s Festival and will have fantastic live music performances throughout the show from the students of MTU’s Musical Theatre degree. Free but ticketed. All are welcome to drop in to the broadcast from 13:00 to 15:00. Book via corkfilmfest.org or the myCIFF app.

SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVAL COMPETITION

Bringing to you the best of new European cinema. These filmmakers wowed us with their first or second feature film and will compete for the Spiorad na Féile (Spirit of the Festival) Best Film and Best Screenplay awards.

BEARCAVE

THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30

Sat 15 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00

Argyro and Anneta live in a Greek mountain village. They are best friends. When Anneta admits that she’s pregnant from her lame cop boyfriend, Argyro challenges her to embark on an adventure to find a mystical bear cave. Before Argyro has a chance to confess her love, Anneta leaves for the big city.

THE GIRL IN THE SNOW (L’ENGLOUTIE)

TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30

FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30

On the cusp of the 20th century, schoolteacher Aimée arrives at a remote hamlet located on the edge of the Alps. Her goal is to educate the young children of the isolated community, one which is steeped in ancient folklore and tradition. Soon, the winter grows harsher, and the locals grow suspicious of the young teacher.

REEDLAND (RIETLAND)

MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00

SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 14:30

When Johan, a reclusive reed-cutter, discovers the lifeless body of a young girl on his land, he becomes determined to uncover the truth behind this local rural tragedy, all the while being overcome by an ambiguous sense of guilt. A smoldering, thought-provoking drama which is equal parts character study and thriller.

SIX WEEKS ON (SECHSWOCHENAMT)

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 14:30 | WITH Q&A

TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 20:45 ALSO ONLINE

After the death of her mother, Lore must deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in her small former home town in Western Germany, whilst navigating bureaucracy, red tape and traditional family beliefs, all the while finding a path to her own grief and paying her final respects.

SOLOMAMMA

TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30 | WITH Q&A

Edith, a journalist in her 40s, chose to become a single mother through an anonymous sperm donor. But the emotional weight of single parenting begins to wear on her, and when she unexpectedly discovers the donor’s identity, curiosity leads her to meet him on the pretext of an interview.

STRANGE RIVER

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 17:15

Sixteen-year-old Dídac and his family are spending the summer holidays on a cycling trip along the Danube. An unexpected encounter with another boy changes the course of the journey. His enigmatic presence awakens new feelings in Dídac and disrupts his relationship with his family.

WE BELIEVE YOU (ON VOUS CROIT)

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 20:15

THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30

Today, Alice stands before a judge, knowing there’s no room for error. She must speak up for her children and confront their father, as custody is being called into question. A powerful drama, so tense we find ourselves glued to the screen from start to finish.

A YEAR OF SCHOOL (UN ANNO DI SCUOLA)

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 20:30

SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30

2007. Fred relocates from Sweden to Northeast Italy with her father, who has taken a new management job. Feisty and curious, she enrolls in the local high school for her senior year. She quickly becomes the centre of attention, especially for three boys who have been friends for years.

BEST NEW IRISH FEATURE

Profiling fiction and documentary features either fully Irish in story and production or in collaboration with filmmaking talent from across the world. Best New Irish Feature Award is proudly sponsored by the Irish Examiner.

BLUE MOON

Richard Linklater | United States, Ireland | 2025 | 100 mins | Fiction

SAT 8 | EVERYMAN | 20:00

March 31, 1943. It is the opening night of Oklahoma!, a ground-breaking musical play that promises to be a raging success. Legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) is already at the bar that will host the afterparty, reflecting on himself and bitching about his former creative partner and creator of Oklahoma!, Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott).

Introduced by the Irish producer (Wild Atlantic Pictures)

CELTIC UTOPIA (ÚTÓIPE CHEILTEACH)

SAT 8 | EVERYMAN | 17:00 | WITH Q&A

Útóipe Cheilteach tells the story of a new Ireland and its vibrant music scene, but also that of a postcolonial society wrestling with its heritage. A society where folk music carries both the oppression of the past and the dream of a bright future. Musicians in attendance.

POST-SCREENING GIG: DOSE x Útóipe Cheilteach at The Kino, Washington St., 20:00. Don premiere Éireannach de Útóipe Cheilteach, tar le DOSE ar aistear gleomhar ón scannáin go dtín stáitse trín ríocht nua cheilteach. To celebrate the Irish premiere of Celtic Utopia, join DOSE as they bring the film to the stage and explore the sounds of the new celtic realm.

GEALTRA

FRI 7 | EVERYMAN | 20:15 | WITH Q&A

Set in the vibrant heart of Knocknaheeny on the Northside of Cork City, this exhilarating documentary captures the creative spark inside The Kabin Studio as a group of teenagers embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and creative expression through the Irish language, guided by rapper and spoken-word artist Séamus Barra Ó Súilleabháin.

MY FATHER’S SHADOW

Akinola Davies Jr | United Kingdom, Nigeria | 2025 | 94 mins | Fiction

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 14:30

In this semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis, two young brothers follow their estranged father through the massive city of Lagos while political unrest threatens their journey home. A beguiling, superbly shot comingof-age tale centred on father-son bond, both subtle and emotionally powerful. Introduced by producer Ed Guiney (Element Pictures)

SAIPAN

Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn | Ireland | 2025 | 90 mins | Fiction

THU 6 | EVERYMAN | 19:00 (Opening Gala, see p.10)

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 16:00

In 2002, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, Ireland’s training camp in Saipan erupted into a clash between captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy. Filmmakers Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn revisit this seismic sporting moment, exploring its impact on loyalty, identity, and national debate far beyond football. Saipan was, and is, a big deal.

IRISH VOICES

Celebrating Ireland’s broad creative diversity.

ANSWERING THE CALL

Martin Danneels | Ireland | 2025 | 85 mins | Documentary

SAT 15 | TRISKEL | 20:00 | WITH Q&A

Set against the rugged beauty of Ireland’s west coast, Answering the Call follows the struggle to save the elusive corncrake – a journey spanning from windswept Atlantic islands to the heart of the Congo. Along the way, it uncovers the intricate ties between farmland, folklore, and a fragile migratory path. Beautiful and precious. Followed by a q&a with the filmmaker.

A QUIET LOVE

Garry Keane | Ireland | 2025 | 91 mins | Documentary

SAT 15 | TRISKEL | 17:00 | WITH Q&A

Three Deaf couples share their remarkable love stories, in Irish Sign Language: a decades-long forbidden romance across the Northern Irish divide, a lesbian couple navigating parenthood with Deaf and hearing children, and a Deaf boxer and his hearing partner facing a life-altering choice. A cinematic celebration of resilience, connection, and enduring love.

This screening will have Closed Captions and will be followed by a Q&A with an Irish Sign Language interpreter.

DANIEL O’CONNELL: THE EMANCIPATOR

Ruán Magan | Ireland | 2025 | 60 mins | Documentary

SUN 16 | TRISKEL | 16:30

To mark the 250th anniversary of Daniel O’Connell’s birth in 1775, this documentary, produced in association with University College Cork and Notre Dame University, explores his life and legacy, and examines how O’Connell’s achievements continue to shape and impact our world today.

PANEL DISCUSSION: This screening will be followed by a panel discussion. Commissioned by and presented in partnership with UCC and RTÉ.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF CAPTAIN NAIRAC

Alison Millar | Ireland, United Kingdom | 2025 | 90 mins | Documentary

SUN 9 | TRISKEL | 20:00 | WITH Q&A

On the evening of 14 May 1977, in a crowded bar near the Irish border, undercover British soldier Captain Robert Nairac sang a rebel song. He was soon to become known as one of the Disappeared. The Disappearance of Captain Nairac follows the search for his remains by an ex-republican prisoner. Followed by a q&a with director Alison Millar.

THEOCRACY - THE EMIGRANTS ARTIST

Sé Merry Doyle | Ireland | 2025 | 97 mins | Documentary

MON 10 | TRISKEL | 17:00 | WITH Q&A

An exploration of London-based artist Bernard Canavan, who was given up by his unmarried parents to an orphanage in Dublin, Theocracy - The Emigrants Artist charts Bernard’s extraordinary journey in trying to find out who he really is.

Preceded by A PLACE AWAY (Ellie O’Sullivan | United Kingdom | 1989 | 10 mins), introduced by Best New Irish Feature Award juror Charlotte O’Sullivan, daughter of the filmmaker.

THIS IS A PRISON

THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 20:15

The New Women’s Prison in Limerick is regarded, with an innovative ‘trauma-informed’ design, as the most state-of-the-art prison in Europe. But what does success look like in a facility like this and how does it reflect upon a modern Ireland? What is rehabilitation? Next to what social norms?

Followed by a panel discussion. See corkfilmfest.org for more information

WORLD TOUR

International must-sees directed by filmmakers in full control of their artform’s powers.

COEXISTENCE, MY ASS!

WED 12 | TRISKEL | 20:30

Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up the literal poster child for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process before making a hard pivot to stand-up comedy and political satire. But as the region sinks deeper into devastating violence, she must meet the moment by challenging her audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter.

DJ AHMET

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 15:00

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 18:15

Ahmet, a 15-year-old boy from a remote Yuruk village in North Macedonia, finds refuge in music while navigating his father’s expectations, a conservative community, and his first experience with love — a girl already promised to someone else. An audience favourite at festivals all year!

THE ICE TOWER (LA TOUR DE GLACE)

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 20:15

THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 17:45

Jeanne, a 15-year-old orphan, witnesses the shoot for a film adaptation of the fairy tale The Snow Queen and she becomes fascinated by its star, Cristina (Marion Cotillard), an actress who is just as mysterious and alluring as the Queen she is playing. A spellbinding fable of obsession and enchantment.

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (YEK TASADOF-E SADEH)

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 17:45

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 15:15

Eghbal hits and kills a dog by accident at night, damaging his car. At the nearby garage, former political prisoner Vahid recognises the sound of Eghbal’s prosthetic leg as that of the man who tortured him in prison. Vahid kidnaps Eghbal and prepares to kill him. But doubt creeps in.

Winner of the 2025 Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. This film will also screen as part of Super CIne Saturday at Cork County venues.

THE HISTORY OF SOUND

Oliver Hermanus | United Kingdom, United States | 2024 | 127 mins | Fiction

SUN 16 | EVERYMAN | 15:30

In 1917, Lionel (Paul Mescal) meets David (Josh O’Connor) at the Boston Conservatory, where they bond over a deep love of folk music. Years later, they embark on an impromptu journey through rural Maine to collect traditional songs. Their ensuing love affair and the music they preserve will shape the course of Lionel’s life beyond his own awareness.

THE LITTLE SISTER (LA PETITE DERNIÈRE)

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 15:00

SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 20:15

Fatima, 17, the youngest of three daughters, lives in the suburbs in a loving family. As she searches for her own path as a philosophy student, grappling with emerging desires, her attraction to women, and her loyalty to her French-Algerian family. Winner of the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.

NOUVELLE VAGUE

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 13:00 SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 19:45

Paris, 1960. Jean-Luc Godard has built a reputation as a film critic and cannot resist any longer the itch to make his own film. It will be called Breathless. Richard Linklater’s love letter to the French New Wave is both acknowledged as a success by cinephiles and enjoyable by all!

Introduced by Yal Sadat (Cahiers du Cinéma). This film will also screen at Cinemax Bantry.

COMPANION SCREENING

We are pleased to offer two screenings of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 seminal film and Linklater’s inspiration - Breathless (A Bout de souffle)

BREATHLESS (A BOUT DE SOUFFLE)

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 15:15 FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30

In Jean-Luc Godard’s seminal debut film, Jean-Paul Belmondo is Michel, a small-time crook who is hunted by the authorities for a car theft and the murder of a police officer. He attempts to persuade a hip American journalism student (the unforgettable Jean Seberg) to run away with him to Italy.

PILLION

Harry Lighton | United Kingdom | 2024 | 103 mins | Fiction

THU 13 | EVERYMAN | 20:00

A directionless man (Harry Melling) is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker (Alexander Skarsgård) takes him on as his submissive. Harry Lighton’s debut feature is a staggering achievement that is in turn funny, moving, outrageous and of course… wildly erotic.

Introduced by Clare Binns (Picturehouse Entertainment)

Post-Film Show: Krystal & The Queers: The One Night Stand

Inspired by the film, The One Night Stand is a drag performance by Cork’s very own drag collective led by Krystal Queer.

A PRIVATE LIFE (VIE PRIVÉE)

FRI 14 | EVERYMAN | 17:30

Lilian Steiner, an American psychoanalyst living in Paris, is devastated to learn that her client Paula has taken her own life. Or has she? Lilian decides to investigate. Psychological thriller, comedy, A Private Life is a refreshing mix of genres and is led by a wildly entertaining Jodie Foster in her first French-speaking lead role.

RENTAL FAMILY

Hikari | United States | 2025 | 110 mins | Fiction

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30

Philip (Brendan Fraser), a lonely American actor living in Tokyo, starts working for a Japanese rental family service to play stand-in roles in other people’s lives. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he finds surprising connections and unexpected joys within these new families.

THE SECRET AGENT (O AGENTE SECRETO)

TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00

SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30

Brazil, 1977. The final years of the military dictatorship. Marcelo, a university professor in his 40s, is on the run from political persecution. He arrives in Recife during carnival week, hoping to reunite with his son. Little does he know that he is being tailed from São Paolo.

Winner of the Best Director and Best Actor awards at the Cannes Film Festival.

SENTIMENTAL VALUE (AFFEKSJONSVERDI)

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00

TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 17:15

Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), a once-famous filmmaker, offers the lead role in his comeback film, the story of his own mother, to his actor daughter Nora (Renate Reinsve). They are not close though, as he had abandoned his family when Nora and her sister were still young, and she refuses. Hollywood actress Rachel (Elle Fanning), however, is interested.

Winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival

SIRÂT

MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 20:30

FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 20:30

The thundering bass of an illegal rave in the Moroccan desert. A father, with his son, searches among the gyrating dancers for his missing daughter. They follow a group of seasoned ravers across the barren wastes towards one more party, only to be confronted by their own existential limits. Experience the film that shook the Cannes Film Festival!

Introduced by Yal Sadat (Cahiers du Cinéma). This film will also screen at Cinemax Bantry.

THE UGLY

SUN 9 | EVERYMAN | 20:15

Im Yeong-gyu is a visually impaired yet extraordinarily skilled seal engraving master known as a living miracle. When his wife’s skeletal remains, thought to have been missing for 40 years, are finally discovered, his son Im Dong-hwan is determined to uncover long-buried truths surrounding her mysterious death.

THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB

SUN 9 | EVERYMAN | 17:00

THU 13 | EVERYMAN | 15:00

Oscar®-nominated director Kaouther Ben Hania blends actual recordings and scripted performances to tell the devastating true story of Hind Rajab, a seven-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car under Israeli military fire, and the first responders who tried to save her. The longest ever standing ovation at a film festival and a testament to the crucial role cinema can play in amplifying silenced voices. In association with Amnesty International.

THE WAVE (LA OLA)

FRI 7 | EVERYMAN | 17:00

Inspired by the Chilean ‘Me Too’ wave, which saw female students occupy their campus to denounce systemic harassment and abuse, this rousing musical follows Julia, a music student, as she gradually realises what happened to her on a certain night with her teacher assistant, and joins the wave of change.

WHAT MARIELLE KNOWS (WAS MARIELLE WEISS)

FRI 14 | TRISKEL | 20:45

Julia and Tobias seem to be the perfect couple. Yet behind the facade and designer kitchen, trouble is brewing. Their fragile balance is shattered when their daughter Marielle suddenly develops telepathic abilities, giving her the power to see and hear everything her parents say or do, day and night.

MOMENTUM

Wide-ranging cinematic odysseys for curious-minded spectators.

BETTER GO MAD IN THE WILD (RADĚJI ZEŠÍLET V DIVOČINĚ)

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 18:15 THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30 ALSO ONLINE

Is it possible to spend your whole life in a single place? Twin brothers František and Ondrej have made the stubborn decision to do just that. Are they crazy eccentrics or charismatic, possessed storytellers? What is sure is that everything in their ways challenges our learned adherence to society’s conformity.

THE CURRENTS (LAS CORRIENTES)

TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 20:30 THUR 13 | ARC CINEMA | 13:00

At the height of her career, Lina, a 34-year-old Argentine stylist, is driven by a sudden impulse after an award ceremony in Switzerland. Back in Buenos Aires, she says nothing, but something in her has shifted - quiet and invisible, it subtly unravels a past she thought she had left behind.

DANDELION’S ODYSSEY (PLANÈTES)

MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 17:45

Four dandelion seeds band together following a climactic event and travel across space to find a new home, braving the environment, flora and fauna on their quest. Beautifully animated with bright detail, this tale of four fluffy friends tackling the elements is a visually magical treat for all.

FLOPHOUSE AMERICA

Monica Strømdahl | Norway, Netherlands, United States | 2025 | 79 mins | Documentary

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 20:45 THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 17:15

A film so astonishing that viewers may need to be told that it is indeed a documentary, Flophouse America tells the story of Mikal, 12, who is growing up in a home characterised by substance abuse, disorder and chaos - but also love and a dream of a better life.

GOD WILL NOT HELP (BOG NEĆE POMOĆI)

MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 15:00 FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 20:15

A traditional mountain community of Croatian shepherds goes into turmoil when a mysterious Chilean woman arrives, claiming to be the wife of a man who left them many years ago. No one understands her, and a secret language must be mastered in order to communicate.

THE LOVE THAT REMAINS (ÁSTIN SEM EFTIR ER)

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 20:20

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 15:15

An Icelandic family navigates their complicated feelings and absurd impulses over the course of a year, following the parents’ separation. Funny, poignant and playfully unpredictable, Hlynur Pálmason’s gentle film is an inspired ode to family and to the natural world.

THE MOELLN LETTERS

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 14:15 | WITH Q&A

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30

Thirty years after a racist arson attack in Mölln, Germany, the surviving members of the affected families discover hundreds of forgotten letters of solidarity, sent from all parts of Germany, by people of all ages. This deeply moving film won an Audience Award upon its world premiere at Berlinale.

Followed by a q&a with one of the film’s protagonists, Namik Arslan on Sunday 9 Nov. In association with Amnesty International.

PORTRAIT OF A CONFUSED FATHER

SAT 8 | TRISKEL | 17:30

THU 13 | TRISKEL | 20:30 ALSO ONLINE

For over two decades, Gunnar has filmed his son Jonathan’s journey from childhood to adulthood, capturing his drive to conquer the world. As Jonathan grows older, Gunnar does what he knows best to stay connected — he films, he talks, and he tries to understand… until things take an unexpected and tragic turn.

ROMERÍA

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30 SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 13:15

In order to obtain a civil status document for her higher education, Marina, who was adopted as a child, must reconnect with her biological father’s family. Her mother’s diary, which she has always kept with her, appears to bring the past back to life.

SILENT FRIEND

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 17:00

In this enchanting, wildly original ode to the science of plants, the majestic gingko tree of a German university’s garden binds the stories of three people from different eras: a 2020 groundbreaking neuroscientist from Hong Kong (Tony Leung), a 1972 student in love with his roommate, and the university’s first female student, in 1908.

SONGS OF FORGOTTEN TREES

SUN 9 | TRISKEL | 15:00 SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 13:30

Two women, Thooya and Swetha, are brought together when Thooya sublets her apartment. In small rooms, hidden away in chaotic Mumbai amongst so much urban loneliness, they seek connections where they rarely exist. A tender tale of fragile kinship from director Anuparna Roy, the first Indian filmmaker to win Best Director in Venice Film Festival’s Horizon competition.

THAT SUMMER IN PARIS (LE RENDEZ-VOUS DE L’ÉTÉ)

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 18:15 MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 16:00 ALSO ONLINE

Paris, August 2024. The Olympic Games are in full swing. Blandine has just arrived from peaceful Normandy and isn’t used to the city’s chaos. She came to attend the swimming competitions and reunite with a half-sister she hasn’t seen in years. But things don’t go according to plan. Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland and Alliance Française de Cork.

A USEFUL GHOST (PEE CHAI DAI KA)

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00 FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00

March is mourning his wife Nat, who succumbed to dust pollution. But when Nat’s spirit is reincarnated in a vacuum cleaner, their relationship resumes, as passionate as ever. To show to his disapproving family that she can be a useful ghost, Nat offers to rid them of useless ones.

WHAT DOES THAT NATURE SAY TO YOU (GEU JAYEONI NEGE MWORAGO HANI)

THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 20:30

Thirty-something poet Donghwa drives his girlfriend of three years, Junhee, to visit her parents. Donghwa’s surprise at the size of the house is compounded by the unexpected appearance of Junhee’s father, who invites him to spend the day with the family. A subtly humorous insight into class and artistic pretensions in polite society.

THE WORLD OF LOVE

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 14:30 SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 20:30

Enigmatic 17-year-old Jooin is a cheerful friend, a shameless daughter, a mischievous girlfriend… She is hard to predict. But more than anything, Jooin is curious about and baffled by love. One day, some words she speaks in a moment of anger unleash chaos. Her inner volcano has been begging to erupt.

CULINARY CINEMA

Supported by chef, writer and CIFF Culinary Ambassador Rachel Allen, this year’s Culinary Cinema strand journeys from Franco’s Spain to New York’s Vietnamese kitchens, Rioja’s storied vineyards to Californian rooftop farms. Discover immersive dining events and discussions that bring these cross-cultural stories to life. Visit corkfilmfest.org for details.

THE DINNER (LA CENA)

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00

In this biting comedy set in the immediate aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, General Franco invites his top generals for a night of triumph. But in the hotel’s kitchen, a group of defeated Republican chefs are secretly preparing the meal - while also cooking up their last chance to escape the country.

EVENT: Raise a glass to the Republic, at our rebel retreat hosted by Brian’s Wines at Plugd.

FARMING IS MEDICINE

Masha Karpoukhina | USA | 2025 | 37 mins | Documentary

SUN 16 | TRISKEL | 12:30

What do health and poverty, colonialism and climate change, farming and medicine have in common? This compelling documentary reveals how these seemingly separate issues are in fact deeply intertwined.

EVENT: Post-screening discussion with physician, activist and writer Professor Rupa Marya and agrifood researcher Dr. Ollie Moore, followed by a late lunch of traditional Palestinian food at Izz Café.

MAM

Nan Feix | France | 2025 | 81 mins | Ficton

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30

After falling in love with Vietnamese cuisine during a life-changing trip abroad, Jerald, a self-taught chef from smalltown Texas, arrives in New York City with one goal: to open his own restaurant. One night, the young woman who runs a Chinatown food joint finds Jerald secretly practicing his recipe ideas in the basement kitchen.

EVENT: Tiger Balm Club x The Glass Curtain brings you All Killer, No Filler Vietnamese Snacks, Street Food & Drinks.

RIOJA: THE LAST OF A THOUSAND WINES (RIOJA, LA TIERRA DE LOS MIL VINOS)

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of the most well-known of Spanish wines. This captivating documentary boasts the most complete and careful editing of interviews, gorgeous landscapes, immersive music, and never before seen access to the wine making process, highlighting the relationship between the tradition’s origins and its powerful global appeal.

EVENT: Rioja Wine Masterclass with delicious bites to match at L’Atitude 51. SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 12:30

EVENT: Special Regional Screening + Rioja Wine-tasting with jamon and cheese at Ballymaloe Grainstore. SAT 8 | BALLYMALOE GRAINSTORE | 18:30

ILLUMINATE

Cinema casts a light on a subject that matters: mental health. Illuminate presents films that explore mental health and wellbeing, and invites professionals, service users and filmmakers to respond, and engage in dialogue inspired by the films.

ARI

MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 20:30 | WITH Q&A FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 14:00

Ari, a 27-year-old student teacher, collapses in the middle of a school inspector’s visit. As he reconnects with old friends in a quest for recovery from depression, he discovers that other people aren’t doing as well as he imagined. The Berlinale competition’s gem on Generation Z’s search for meaning.

HOW TO BE NORMAL AND THE ODDNESS OF THE OTHER WORLD

WED 12 | TRISKEL | 17:30

Pia returns home to live with her parents after a stay in a psychiatric hospital. Coping with the effects of her medication, and juggling between a failed relationship, returning to work and the trials of family life, Pia desperately seeks her own form of normalcy whilst everything around her implodes.

PANEL DISCUSSION

A talk will follow the screening, hosted by Dr. John Goodwin, UCC School of Nursing & Midwifery.

PAUL

Denis Côté | Canada | 2025 | 87 mins | Documentary

FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 16:00 SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00 ALSO ONLINE

Struggling with depression and social anxiety, Paul has found refuge in serving dominant women who invite him to clean their homes. By sharing his gently eccentric routines on social media under the name Cleaning Simp Paul, he combats loneliness and takes it one day at a time.

SCREEN GREEN

Discover more about the particular relationship between humans and their living environment. How they affect it. What can be done.

BLAME

Christian Fei | Switzerland | 2025 | 122 mins | Documentary

MON 10 | TRISKEL | 20:15

When the world is engulfed by the COVID-19 pandemic, three scientists who long-predicted its arrival must battle not only the virus but also a wave of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and political blame that threatens to eclipse the truth. This is their story. Part investigation, part thriller, Blame investigates the relationship between science, politics and the media.

PANEL DISCUSSION

A panel discussion will take place following the screening. See corkfilmfest.org for details.

CLIMATE IN THERAPY

Nathan Grossman, Olof Berglind, Malin Olofsson | Sweden, Norway | 2025 | 65 mins | Documentary

SAT 8 | TRISKEL | 14:30

WED 12 | TRISKEL | 15:30 ALSO ONLINE

Climate in Therapy is a humorous, inventive and serious experiment in which seven climate scientists meet in a godforsaken meeting room to engage in circle therapy about their shared climate anxiety. Can emotional honesty be part of the solution?

Screened with the short film Black Tide (Kim Yip Tong | France | 2025).

Followed by a discussion with UCC Prof Hannah Daly (renewable energy) and Dr Rosemary Keane (clinical psychologist) on Saturday 8 Nov. An activity organised by the filmmakers will follow both screenings. In partnership with UCC.

PEAK EVERYTHING (AMOUR APOCALYPSE)

Anne Émond | Canada | 2025 | 65 mins | Ficton

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00 | WITH Q&A

THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 15:15

Adam (45) is a kind-hearted kennel-owner. Hypersensitive and borderline depressed, he struggles to hide his existential fears. To help combat his climate anxiety, Adam orders a therapeutic solar lamp. Through the lamp’s supplier’s technical support line, he meets Tina, a radiant woman with a voice that soothes all of his worries. Filmmaker in attendance.

RETROSPECTIVE: THE RIGHT THING

These Retrospective films explore the sense of what’s right with acts of moral strength great or small.

ARMY OF SHADOWS

MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00 FRI 14 | EVERYMAN | 14:00

Gerbier, a civil engineer, gets trapped and tortured in a Nazi camp but manages to escape with the help of a friend. Back in Marseille, he looks for the traitor who reported him. This masterful suspense drama examines the inner workings of World War II resistance efforts.

DO THE RIGHT THING

Spike Lee | United States | 1989 | 120 mins | Fiction

FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 17:45

Spike Lee’s masterpiece on the simmering racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighbourhood, primed to explode during the hottest day of the summer, is just as relevant today as it was on its 1989 release, and packs as much of a punch as the beats pumping out from Radio Raheem’s ghettoblaster.

DOGFIGHT

Nancy Savoca | United States | 1991 | 89 mins | Fiction

SUN 9 | TRISKEL | 17:30 TUE 11 | TRISKEL | 15:00

San Francisco, 1963. On his last night before being shipped to Vietnam, young marine Eddie (River Phoenix) invites waitress Rose (Lili Taylor) to be his date at a party with his friends, as part of a secret cruel game called a ‘Dogfight’. A bittersweet tale of forgiveness sparked from the chemistry between two souls.

THE EMPEROR’S NAKED ARMY MARCHES ON

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 12:00 WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00

Kenzo Okuzaki made it his life’s mission to expose the crimes committed against his World War II military comrades by their own officers. No measures were too extreme for this furiously determined anti-establishment agitator. One of the most striking documentaries ever made.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST

Sergio Leone | Italy | 1968 | 175 mins | Fiction

SAT 15 | EVERYMAN | 14:00

A railroad tycoon hires a cruel mercenary (Peter Fonda) to kill a man who owns prime estate. But when the man’s widow (Claudia Cardinale) inherits the land, only an outlaw and a mysterious gunslinger (Charles Bronson) can protect her from being killed. A timeless masterpiece, magnified by Ennio Morricone’s haunting, iconic music.

SAMBIZANGA

FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 15:00

Angola, 1961. The onset of the War of Independence. A woman searches for her husband, who was abruptly taken by the colonial authorities. The first ever feature film directed by a woman in Africa, Sambizanga is both gorgeous and a landmark work of political filmmaking through fiction.

TONI ERDMANN

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 13:30

Convinced that his daughter has forgotten how to laugh, practical joker Winfried shows up unannounced at her work place abroad, disguised as the flashy Toni Erdmann, a “life coach” with a particular taste for outrageous humour. Starring the great Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall).

WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE

THU 13 | EVERYMAN | 17:30

A schoolboy realises, as he is getting ready to do his homework, that he has mistakenly brought home a classmate’s notebook. Knowing that his friend risks being expelled if he does not hand in his homework in his own notebook, he sets off to find him. An unforgettable work of beauty.

DISRUPTORS

Cinema’s mavericks, past and present. Disruption comes in many forms, but one thing is sure: demands to conform are not welcome here.

BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL

David Kittredge | United States | 2025 | 112 mins | Documentary

TUE 11 | TRISKEL | 17:15

After the success of Point Blank and Deliverance, Warner Brothers offered John Boorman the chance to direct a sequel to their smash hit, The Exorcist. The result was a critical and financial failure that nearly ended Boorman’s filmmaking career. But to be an artist is to be a risk-taker.

See p. 15 for details of the presentation of the CIFF Honorary Disruptor Award 2025 to filmmaker John Boorman followed by a screening of Zardoz.

DEAD LOVER

Grace Glowicki | Canada | 2025 | 82 mins | Fiction

FRI 7 | TRISKEL | 20:30

MON 10 | TRISKEL | 14:45

A lonely gravedigger, reeking of the corpses she buries, finally meets the man of her dreams in a dandy who is excited by her odour. But when their romance is cut short by a tragic accident, the gravedigger will stop at nothing to bring her lover back. Reanimation has never been so hilariously inventive.

EXCALIBUR

John Boorman | United Kingdom, United States | 1981 | 141 mins | Fiction

SUN 16 | EVERYMAN | 12:00

Arthurian mythology was never better portrayed on the big screen than by John Boorman in his epic retelling of the legend of Arthur Pendragon, the wizard Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table. A visually breathtaking tale of swords and sorcery, to which a whole genre of cinema owes a great debt.

See p. 15 for details of the presentation of the CIFF Honorary Disruptor Award 2025 to filmmaker John Boorman followed by a screening of Zardoz.

HONEY BUNCH

Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli | Canada | 2025 | 113 mins | Fiction

SAT 8 | TRISKEL | 20:00

Following a traumatic incident, Diana and Homer arrive at a remote clinic deep in the woods, hoping the radical therapy will cure Diana’s memory loss. But then Diana begins to see things that aren’t there. Are these her memories returning, or something else?... A rollercoaster of a film where nothing is as it seems.

IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

Mary Bronstein | United States | 2025 | 113 mins | Fiction

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 20:15

With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Rose Byrne in a towering – and awarded - performance) tries to navigate her daughter’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist (Conan O’Brien).

Introduced by Clare Binns (Picturehouse Entertainment)

LINDA LINDA LINDA

SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 17:15

Following the break-up of their band three days before the school festival, Kei, Kyoko and Nozomi recruit Korean exchange student Son (Bae Doona) to sing in their new line-up, despite Son’s slim grasp of Japanese. But can they learn the songs in time? An infectiously punky-pop cult classic, with a fresh 4K restoration.

MAG MAG

WED 12 | ARC CINEMA | 15:00 SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 20:45

Local legend tells of a curse where a two-metre tall female ghost known as Mag Mag haunts the men she falls in love with, terrifying them to death. Japan’s comedy sensation Yuriyan Retriever takes the traditional J-horror tropes and gives them an invigorating shake in her surreal, hilarious debut.

PHANTASM

Don Coscarelli | United States | 1979 | 114 mins | Fiction

SUN 16 | TRISKEL | 20:00

Orphaned teen Mike uncovers more than he bargained for when spying on his older brother’s friend in the local graveyard, plunging himself and brother Jodie into a supernatural battle with a mysterious mortician. A lowbudget, surreal classic which has become a huge influence on modern horror and launched its own franchise.

PARALLAX

Striking works by experimenting filmmakers and artists.

THE MEMORY BLOCKS

Andrew Kotting | United Kingdom | 2025 | 77 mins | Subtitled

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00 | WITH Q&A

Beautiful and profound, The Memory Blocks feels like the apotheosis of Andrew Kotting’s collaborations with his daughter Eden. Set in some almost forgotten factory, a plucky band of neurodivergent workers help Eden navigate the murky waters of memory, while a motley bunch of fantastical figures accompany her somewhere over the rainbow.

MISMANTLER

Andrew Keogh | Ireland | 2025 | 79 mins | Fiction

FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 21:00 | WITH Q&A

A dark, stream of consciousness fever dream, gathering all that is decrepit in this world, and reflecting it all back to those who have reduced the Earth to what it is. Director Andrew Keogh collaborates with Steve Stapleton and Nurse With Wound to take us deep into the heart of darkness.

FREE RADICALS

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 21:00 | 86 mins

Experimental work from Irish and international filmmakers.

Please note: This programme contains sequences of fast flashing lights. It may affect people who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.

CLASSIF. & ME (LAIRD’S CONSTRAINT)

Alan O’Leary | Ireland | 2024 | 6 mins

ALICE HARDY

Chris O’Neill | Ireland | 2025 | 1 min

THE PRICE OF EXTRACTION

Ian Helliwell | United Kingdom | 2025 | 10 mins

THE ANGUISH OF PAOLA MENARD

Chris O’Neill | Ireland | 2025 | 5 mins

SPHEROID FEEDBACK

Ian Helliwell | United Kingdom | 2025 | 5 mins

BREATH

Vivian Papageorgiou | Greece | 2024 | 4 mins

LES RITES DE PASSAGE

Florian G.M. Fischer, Johannes Krell | Germany | 2025 | 15 mins

THE THIRD CIRCUIT

Yin Wrong | United Kingdom, Hong Kong | 2025 | 3 mins

ACOUSMATIC THROUGH ABSTRACTION

Oonagh O’Brien | Ireland | 2024 | 4 mins

ON THE HIGH SEAS, PART 1: THE BURGEONING

DECISION TO GO ON A JOURNEY WILLY-NILLY

Ralf Petersen | Austria | 2024 | 10 mins

COMMUTE

Henry Hills | Austria | 2024 | 9 mins

THIS ARROW POINTS

Siegfried A. Fruhauf | Austria | 2025 | 2 mins

THE GARDEN OF ELECTRIC DELIGHTS

Billy Roisz | Austria | 2025 | 12 mins

AEMI EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS

LANDSCAPES EXPANDING

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 13:00 | 66 mins

Films from key figures, including Gunvor Nelson, John Skoog, and Claes Söderquist this programme offers a concise overview of their deep catalogue through the frame of landscape. Filmform’s Andreas Bertman will join us after the screening for a discussion about the role of artist film distributors.

Moons Pool

Gunvor Nelson | 1973 | 15 mins

Shadowland

John Skoog | 2015 | 15 mins

Landskap

Claes Söderquist | 1987 | 36 min

A TRIBUTE TO GUNVOR NELSON

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 15:30 | 62 mins

Gunvor Nelson (1931–2025) is a key figure in the history of experimental film who sadly passed away earlier this year. This programme provides a fitting overview of the filmmaker’s practice through the lens of family relations.

My Name is Oona

Gunvor Nelson | 1969 | 10 mins

Red Shift

Gunvor Nelson | 1984 | 47 mins

Time Being

Gunvor Nelson | 1991 | 5 mins

All titles courtesy of Filmform

STOLEN SEALSKIN PARALLAX EMERGING FILM ARTIST

FRI 14 - SAT 29 | Lord Mayor’s Pavilion | 11:00 - 16:00 | FREE

OPEN DAILY: 11:00 - 16:00, TUE-SAT OPENING RECEPTION: 13:00, FRI 14 NOV

Stolen Sealskin is a solo exhibition by Sarah Lou Kinneen, recipient of the Parallax Emerging Film Artist Bursary 2025, a collaboration between CIFF, National Sculpture Factory and Sample-Studios to champion emerging film artists and moving image work. Stolen Sealskin reimagines the enduring Selkie legend through an immersive installation that drifts between myth and memory. The legend follows a shapeshifting seal-woman who becomes bound to land and severed from sea when her sealskin is stolen. Through moving image, sculpture and sound, Stolen Sealskin navigates autonomy, coercion, and biopolitics, drawing from folklore and cultural memory.

FAMILY & YOUNG PEOPLE

We invite you to explore our hand-picked collection of magical stories designed to spark curiosity and delight in younger audiences. From adventures in Japan and magical stories to tender tales of growing up, these films open doors to new worlds See p. 11 for our dog-friendly Family Gala: Lady and the Tramp! Each film includes an age recommendation to help guide your choice. For details on accessibility and relaxed screenings, please visit corkfilmfest.org/access

LITTLE AMÉLIE (AMÉLIE OU LA MÉTAPHYSIQUE DES TUBES)

Liane-Cho Han Jin Kuang, Mailys Vallade | France, Belgium | 2025 | 75 mins | Subtitled

SUN 16 | ARC CINEMA | 13:30

Recommended Age: 8+

Amélie, a Belgian child in Japan, explores life with her nanny Nishio-san. Her third birthday becomes a turning point, marking the beginning of life-altering events that shape her understanding of the world.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHORTS

2025 | 52 mins | Recommended Age: 4+

SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 11:30

A selection of films for tots up to teens. From ancient Irish tales to sci-fi. Featuring lost sheep, silly birds and... monsters!

THE HIGH KING’S DAUGHTER - Joël Gibbs

LITTLE CAESAR - Amy Tierney

FIRST FLIGHT - Adrian Jaffé

BIRDS OF PARADISE - Tomek Ducki

MONSTER - Eric Glessmann

JUST IMAGINE - Karolis Kveselis GLITCH - Bonnie Dempse

TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN (POHÁDKY PO BABIČCE)

David Súkup, Patrik Paššl, Leon Vidmar, Jean-Claude Rozec | Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, France | 2025 | 71 mins | Fiction

SAT 15 | EVERYMAN | 11:30

Recommended Age: 6+

Three kids spend the night at their grandpa’s house. To fill the silence after losing their grandma, the family’s storyteller, they create their own stories and discover the power of imagination. This uplifting stop-motion film celebrates creativity and its healing magic.

With live narration in English by Hilary Rose.

REEL TEENS: FOR 13-18 YEARS FANTASTIQUE

SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30 | WITH Q&A

FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00

Recommended Age: 13+

Fanta, a 14-year-old Guinean contortionist, juggles between care for her mom, school and what she loves the most – training in an acrobatic group. Does she want to redouble efforts and join the group’s tour, or move on from her childhood’s passion? A tender look at the age when one starts to make big decisions.

SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

MON 3 - FRI 7 | MON 10 - FRI 14 | ARC CINEMA

MON 10 - FRI 14 | REGAL CINEMA YOUGHAL

Presented in partnership with IFI Education, our Schools Programme supports film and languages in school curricula with specially selected feature films for Junior and Senior Cycle French, Spanish and German.

SENIOR FRENCH: The Marching Band (En Fanfare)

JUNIOR FRENCH: Savages (Sauvages)

SENIOR GERMAN: Two to One (Zwei zu Eins)

JUNIOR GERMAN: Winners (Sieger sein)

SENIOR SPANISH: Germany (Alemania)

JUNIOR SPANISH: Jump! (¡Salta!)

Accompanying Study Guides available at ifi.ie/studyguides For enquiries and to book, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org

INTINN

MON 11-TUE 12 | TRISKEL | 10:30 & 11:40

THUR 13-FRI 14 | ST PETER’S | 10:30 & 11:40

Intinn is a free, unique film and mental health programme that offers Transition Year students the opportunity to explore mental health, personal well-being and strategies of resilience through film and related workshops.

Developed in collaboration with Dr. John Goodwin, School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC. Intinn offers students the opportunity to watch specially selected short films followed by a workshop session delivered by mental health experts.

Please note that a limited number of free sessions is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For enquiries and to book, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org

LOOK@ME OUTREACH FILMMAKING PROJECT

SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 11:00

CIFF is proud to present a programme of short films created by young people at Cork Migrant Centre with the support of Rethink Ireland’s Impact for Munster Fund. Look@Me is a film education outreach project pioneered by CIFF with local DEIS primary schools in Cork City. It offers young people a unique opportunity to develop tools to express themselves through filmmaking.

FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST CUT! YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

JUNIOR FILMMAKING WORKSHOP (8-12 y.o.)

SAT 15 | UCC | 10:00 - 13:00

Experience the fun and creativity of filmmaking!

SENIOR FILMMAKING WORKSHOP (13-17 y.o.)

SUN 16 | UCC | 11:00 - 16:30

For teens with a passion for filmmaking, working with professionals. Free but ticketed. To book: education@corkfilmfest.org

CINESPARK: FILM & EDUCATION DAY

THU 13 | MTU CURTIS AUDITORIUM | 10:00-15:40

FREE - BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Join us for a day designed to inspire, inform, and spark creativity. Aimed at Transition Year and Senior Cycle students, CINESPARK combines the excitement of youth-made films with insider insights into the film and animation industries, and thought-provoking discussions on climate action.

Across screenings, panels, and workshops, students will:

• Discover award-winning short films created by their peers in Cork and beyond.

• Meet professional and emerging animators and learn how to take their first steps into the animation industry.

• Engage with urgent issues of climate change through film, discussion, and creative response.

This free, one-day programme offers an ideal opportunity for teachers to bring students out of the classroom and into a dynamic learning environment where art, education, and social change meet.

CINESPARK SCHEDULE (10:00 - 15:40):

FIRST CUT & FRESH FILM SHORTS

10:00 - 11:00

A selection of award-nominated short films made by young people from Cork, selected by First Cut! Youth Film Festival and Fresh Film Festival

NEXT GENERATION PROGRAMME

15 – 19 NATIONAL ROADSHOW

11:00 - 12:30

Learn how you can take your first steps towards a future in the animation industry. The panel, featuring The National Talent Academy for Animation, young and established award-winning animators, including Will Sliney (Marvel Comics, RTÉ), is ideal for class groups and individual young filmmakers and animators and will include a Q&A.

Free but booking is essential. For enquiries and to book, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org.

Please note: for ages 15-19, TY students. Presented in partnership with the IFI Next Generation (15-19) Programme.

AERÁID: YOUTH FILM & CLIMATE ACTION

13:00 - 15:40

Aeráid is CIFF’s unique youth film and climate action programme, designed to inspire young people about the positive changes they can make to protect our future.

Join us for a special screening of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey by Rúan Magan and narrated by Liam Neeson, a documentary that explores how water cycles are disrupted by climate change, sparking droughts, floods, and biodiversity loss while visionary relationships with water can inspire positive change.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and workshop with climate experts, encouraging discussion and positive action.

Presented in partnership with BlueTech Research®

Free but booking is essential. For enquiries and to book, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org.

UCC PUTTNAM SCHOLARS 2025: CARDBOARD OCEAN

THU 13 | TRISKEL | 17:00

Presented by UCC’s Puttnam Scho lars: a seascape painter reflects on her past lives whilst grappling with her art and activism. Followed by a Q&A with the Scholars and David Puttnam. In partnership with University College Cork.

Join us after for the CIFF Shorts Awards, presented by David Puttnam.

COUNTY SCREENINGS & SUPER CINE SATURDAY

CIFF hits the road! During our 70th anniversary edition, we’re bringing a special selection of Festival highlights to cinemas across Cork County. Join us at Cinemax Bantry, Regal Cinema Youghal, and Briery Gap Macroom for a rich programme that celebrates Cork on screen and showcases international titles, including the Palme d’Or winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Don’t miss this chance to experience the Festival closer to home - book early via corkfilmfest.org or the myCIFF app to secure your seat.

NOUVELLE VAGUE

TUE 11 | CINEMAX BANTRY | 18:00

Richard Linklater’s love letter to the French New Wave. Also screening in Cork City as part of our World Tour strand.

SIRÂT

TUE 11 | CINEMAX BANTRY | 20:15

A visually stunning, pulse-pounding odyssey that electrified audiences at Cannes. Also screening in Cork City as part of our World Tour strand. Also screening in Cork City as part of our World Tour strand.

SUPER CINE SATURDAY

SAT 15 NOVEMBER

Enjoy a curated programme of Festival archive films and the 2025 Palme d’Or winner in Bantry, Macroom and Youghal.

IFI CORK ON CAMERA

Ireland | 1935–1965 | 82 mins | Documentary & Fiction

BRIERY GAP MACROOM | 12:00

CINEMAX BANTRY | 14:30

REGAL CINEMA YOUGHAL | 14:30

Step back in time with a rare programme that shines a light on Cork’s cinematic and literary heritage. In partnership with the Irish Film Institute, we present two short films adapted from the works of Frank O’Connor, alongside newly uncovered archival footage from the 10th Cork International Film Festival.

• Cork Film Festival, 1965 / Féile Scannán Chorcaí Pádraig Ó Maidín | Ireland | 1965 | 17 mins

• Larry Shelah Richards | Ireland | 1935 | 25 mins

• Guests of the Nation Dennis Johnston | Ireland | 1935 | 40 mins

Also screening in Cork City as part of our Cork Lens strand.

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (YEK TASADOF-E SADEH)

BRIERY GAP MACROOM | 14:00

CINEMAX BANTRY | 17:00

REGAL CINEMA YOUGHAL | 17:00

Eghbal hits and kills a dog by accident at night, damaging his car. A small mishap triggers a chain reaction of evergrowing problems in this darkly humorous thriller.

Winner of the 2025 Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival, this gripping new drama from master filmmaker Jafar Panahi is a must-see event.

Also screening in Cork City as part of our World Tour strand. See p.24

CIFF, UCC and IFI present EXPANDING PERSPECTIVES

ARCHIVES, ACCESS AND CREATIVE REUSE

WED 12 | UCC FSM AUDITORIUM B.10B KANE BUILDING | 10:00 - 18:00

Marking the Festival’s 70th edition, Legacy Day invites audiences to reflect on the moving image as both cultural treasure and fragile historical record. This symposium brings together filmmakers, archivists, academics, and film practitioners to consider how amateur films, newsreels, and overlooked footage capture everyday lives, while raising questions about preservation, access, and creative reuse.

The day opens with restored footage of CIFF 1965, introduced by Ciara Chambers (UCC) and Don O’Mahony (CIFF). This is followed by Archiving the Alternative, where Ellen Scally (UCC), Sarah Arnold (NUI Maynooth), Kasandra O’Connell (IFI), and Sunniva O’Flynn (IFI) examine pioneering women filmmakers, Cork’s cine-enthusiasts, and community-driven clergy filmmakers.

After a light lunch, Preserving Community Archives explores local projects, including The Ballymun Community Films Project and Cork Community Media Hub, with Andrew Keogh (producer, The 4th Act), Emma Bowell (Frameworks Films), and Niall Anderson (IFI), chaired by Kasandra O’Connell.

The afternoon continues with a screening of Aikaterini Gegisian’s Third Person (Plural), a collage essay film made from 200 postwar American newsreels, followed by a Q&A with Gegisian.

Legacy Day closes with In the Opinion of the Censor, a screening and discussion with director Andrew Gallimore and producer John Kelleher, and Ciarán Kissane of the Irish Film Classification Office. Full details and schedule on corkfilmfest.org. Tickets: No set price - Pay What You Can. Every contribution helps keep events like this accessible to all.

CIFF LEGACY DAY CORK LENS

Spotlighting the creative diversity of our local community, past and present, through film, conversation, and the panoramic screen of the city itself.

IFI CORK ON CAMERA

SUN 16 | TRISKEL | 14:00

In association with the Irish Film Institute (IFI) we present two films adapted from the work of the great Cork author, Frank O’Connor. Born Michael Francis O’Donovan on Douglas Street in 1903, O’Connor was a prolific writer and translator, having published novels, poetry and journalism. It is as a short story writer he has earned an international reputation. Much of his writing was shaped by his impoverished Cork childhood and his experiences of the Civil War.

Preceding these will be a screening of newly discovered film from the Festival archives, covering the 10th edition of the Cork International Film Festival. Directed by Cork County librarian and local historian Pádraig Ó Maidín, it captures the great and the good on the red carpet as well as pulling back the curtains on the behind the scenes activities.

CORK FILM FESTIVAL, 1965 /FÉILE SCANNÁN CHORCAIGHE

Pádraig Ó Maidín | Ireland | 1965 | 17 mins

Featuring, amongst others, CIFF founder Dermot Breen, Jack Lynch TD, actors Trevor Howard, James Mason, Cyril Cusack and Noel Purcell, and filmmaker Louis Marcus.

LARRY

Shelah Richards | Ireland | 1959 | 25 mins

The cosy relationship between Larry and his mother is disrupted when his father comes home from the war.

GUESTS OF THE NATION

Denis Johnston | Ireland | 1935 | 40 mins

During the Irish War of Independence in 1921, two British soldiers captured by the IRA form bonds with their guards. But their captors face a stark dilemma. Acclaimed pianist Josh Johnston, grandson of Shelah Richards and Denis Johnston, will provide musical accompaniment for Guests of the Nation.

Discover the story of Cork’s cinematic heritage with the Cork Film Trail.

Between Festival screenings, explore a series of vibrant, interactive installations across Cork city centre. From the very first Cork International Film Festival in 1956, through seven decades of evolving projector technology, to the famous filmmakers and industry icons who have visited Cork, the Trail brings the city’s film history to life in a fun and immersive way.

Follow the Trail through iconic locations such as Cork City Hall, ARC Cinema, To Have & To Hold at The Metropole Hotel, The Irish Examiner, Cork Airport, and Cork Kent Train Station, among others. Each stop offers short podcasts and QR codes linking to the CIFF Digital Archive, so you can dive deeper into Cork’s cinematic past and explore decades of Festival brochures, programme highlights, and quirky historic insights.

Along the way, enjoy Cork’s renowned hospitality - stop for a coffee, a pint, or a snack at nearby pubs and cafés (our map has all the best spots!). Don’t miss our popular Film Quiz, happening during the Festival - details on corkfilmfest.org and social media. Share your discoveries with friends using #CIFF2025 and let the world see Cork through the lens of film.

The Cork Film Trail is presented in collaboration with our Creative Partner, Babelfís, sponsored by Murphy’s and supported by Cork City Council.

CORK FILM TRAIL: PROJECTING FILM AND CORK OUT TO THE WORLD CIFF WALKING TOURS

Immerse yourself in the full city and CIFF heritage experience! Explore the Festival and our city on foot with additional CIFF Walking Tours to complement the Cork Film Trail during the Festival. For more information, tour dates and times, see corkfilmfest.org.

Supported by Cork City Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme.

CIFF DIGITAL ARCHIVE

Our Festival’s unique Digital Archive is a treasure trove of precious materials, including photographs, programme covers and posters from previous Festival editions, tracking the history of modern film and Cork amassed over 70 years. Developed in collaboration with the Department of Digital Humanities, UCC. View the archive online at corkfilmfest.org.

IRISH SHORTS

Films in competition are eligible for the Grand Prix Irish Short Award [GP]. Films eligible for the Grand Prix Documentary Short Award [D], Redbreast UNHIDDEN Short Award [RU] and Pure Cork Award [C] where stated. All films 2025, except where indicated. Awards presentation supported by Murphy’s.

IRISH SHORTS 1: IN COMPETITION

88 mins SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 20:15

A programme of Irish and world premiere shorts encompassing documentary and fiction. Featuring some formidable familiar talents and exciting new voices. An exploration of places and people, blending the serious and the comic.

TIN CITY - Feargal Ward [RU][D]

MARY IS MISSING - Aisling Byrne

MARGUERITE - Paul Webster

NO MEAN CITY - Ross McClean [D]

DAWN OF THE ICK - Nell Mercier

IRISH SHORTS 2: IN COMPETITION

95 mins SUN 9 | ARC CINEMA | 12:00

Extraordinary new voices and an accomplished practitioner presenting playful, poetic and idiosyncratic portraits, and haunting and sublime drama.

ONGOING - Jack Hogan

BODYVERSES - FRANCES MEZZETTI:

2ND LOCK - Juan Robles

SCOITHEADH - Aoise Tutty Jackson [D]

SWIMMER - Helen Warner

I THOUGHT I HATED U, MOON SNAIL - Jack Hogan [RU] [D]

IRISH SHORTS 3: PURE CORK IN COMPETITION

86 mins SUN 9 | EVERYMAN | 14:30

A selection of Cork, Cork-based, and Cork-visiting talent, viewing Cork and the world through their eyes with compassion and humour.All shorts in this programme are eligible for Best Cork Short Award.

HEAD FIRST - Sean Breathnach, Matt Sullivan ARE YOU THERE? - James O’Callaghan

MOAN - Neil O’Driscoll, Róisín O’Donovan

CHATTER - Stephen Canty

CULCHIE - Richard Lennon [RU]

FÁINLEÓGA - Luke O’Donoghue [D]

GLEN FOLK - Annie Mar Forrester, Aaron Ross [D] (2024) THROUGH YOUR EYES - Yelyzaveta Zvarych [RU]

IRISH SHORTS 4: OUT OF COMPETITION IRISH SHORTS

79 mins FRI 7 | ARC CINEMA | 17:30

A selection of some of the shorts that caught our eye from those already released this year. Documentary work that confronts who we are, and who we were, and exciting new voices in fiction.

THE NEW POLICY REGARDING

HOMELESS ASYLUM SEEKERS - Dennis Harvey BOOBS - Nicola Leddy

DANCE ME CLEAN - Hildegard Ryan (2024)

DANCE TO REMEMBER - Dónal Dineen

UPPER CURRENT - Gregory O’Reilly (2024)

WOULD YOU RATHER - Sophie O’Donovan

FÍS ÉIREANN/SCREEN IRELAND SHORTS

82 mins SAT 8 | EVERYMAN | 14:00

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is proud to present Irish short films funded under the Focus film schemes, along with Cork picks of recent Screen Ireland short films. (WP) indicates World Premiere status.

PUNT - Nicky Larkin

LIKE ME - Aisling Brady (WP)

A SONG - Ellius Grace

MAGIC MARKERS - Jason Branagan (WP) THE AFTERS - Jamie O’Rourke (WP)

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS

International premieres are eligible for Grand Prix International Short Award and Grand Prix Documentary Short Award. Films eligible for the Redbreast UNHIDDEN Short Award are indicated with [RU]. See p.42 for our Familyfriendly Shorts Programme (Irish and international films). All films are from 2025 except where indicated.

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 1: DOCUMENTARY

91 mins MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 16:00

From small steps taken in a museum in Kyiv to giant steps in Neil Armstrong’s ancestral home, stories of evolution and revolution.

PALEONTOLOGY LESSON - Sergei Loznitsa

BLIND, INTO THE EYE - Atefeh Kheirabadi, Mehrad Sepahnia

I’M RECORDING - Ina Knap

HAPPILY EVER AFTER - Élodie Beaumont Tarillon

NEIL ARMSTRONG & THE LANGHOLMITES - Duncan Cowles [RU]

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 2:

91 mins MON 10 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00

Behind the surface of the world we see, there is another world…

WHAT IF WE RUN OUT OF STONES? - Nora Štrbová [RU]

WORLD AT STAKE - Susanna Flock, Adrian Jonas Haim, Jona Kleinlein [RU]

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF LOVE - Gabriel Abrantes [RU]

S THE WOLF - Sameh Alaa

WONDERWALL - Róisín Burns

LITTLE REBELS CINEMA CLUB - Khozy Rizal (2024)

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 3: DOCUMENTARY

91 mins TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 14:00

Stories in which the world isn’t always what it seems. Perception and reality collide in extraordinary ways.

THEIR EYES - Nicolas Gourault

CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG - Hao Zhou [RU] I SAW THE FACE OF GOD IN THE JET WASH - Mark Jenkin THE CLOUD FACTORY - Hannes Lang [RU]

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 4:

91 mins TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 16:00

Life in the city...

A BRIGHTER SUMMER DAY FOR THE LADY AVENGERS - Birdy Wei-Ting Hung (2024)

NEKO - Inês Oliveira

INFLATABLE BEAR, HOURLY - Elisabeth Werchosin

RAW + POROUS - Ágata de Pinho

HOT PINK - Angie Polkovich

FROM GROUND ZERO+

THU 13 | ARC CINEMA | 20:00

A selection of three striking short films from the “From Ground Zero+” collection of untold stories from Gaza, portraying life in the besieged territory, through the eyes of local filmmakers.

France-based Coorigines Production collaborates with the Masharawi Fund for Films and Filmmakers in enabling Gazan directors and film crews to illustrate the continuity of the effects of war, not only with numbers and grim news, but with faces, names, and with art. Making these films becomes resistance, and an act of survival for the many people trapped in Gaza for almost two years.

VERY SMALL DREAMS

Etimad Washah | France, Palestine | 2025 | 21 mins

In a refugee camp in Gaza, women strive to preserve their dignity and health in inhuman living conditions, where even the most basic needs become unattainable dreams.

HASSAN

Muhammad Al-Sharif | France, Palestine | 2025 | 30 mins

A teenager breaks the siege of Gaza to save his family from starvation, facing arrest, the horrors of war, and forced separation, all the while dreaming of returning home and rebuilding his shattered life.

COLOURS UNDER THE SKY

Reema Mahmoud | France, Palestine | 2025 | 20 mins

Two young women, Amal and Aya, use art and music as silent weapons against the war in Gaza, finding refuge in their creations while dreaming of peace and returning home.

EUNIC SHORT SHORTS FROM EUROPE FILM FESTIVAL 2025

90 mins TUE 11 | ARC CINEMA | 18:00 | FREE BUT TICKETED

Shorts from 10 EU countries from the EUNIC Ireland cluster.

CROATIA PRESENTS:

GAMER GIRL - Irena Jukić Pranjić

CYPRUS PRESENTS: THE PARROT LADY - Michalis Kalopaidis

FRANCE PRESENTS: QUELQU’UN DE SPÉCIAL (SOMEONE SPECIAL) - Alice Gervat

HUNGARY PRESENTS: FROM THE CORNER OF MY EYES - Domonkos Erhardt

IRELAND PRESENTS: THE KEEPER - Martha Scanlon

ITALY PRESENTS: GHOSTLY | IL MIO FANTASMA - Carlotta Maria Correra

POLAND PRESENTS:

MAGDA - Adela Kacmarek

PORTUGAL PRESENTS: AMÉLIA & DUARTE - Mónica Santos and Alice Guimarães

SLOVENIA PRESENTS: THREE BIRDS (TRI TIČICE) - Zarja Menart

SPAIN PRESENTS:

PERIQUITOS (PARAKEETS) - Alex Rey

INDUSTRY EVENTS

IN THE FRAME: SAIPAN

FRI 7 NOV | Republic of Work | 14:00 - 17:00 | €10 (€8)

To coincide with our Opening Night Gala celebration of Saipan, the Festival will present a special event focusing on the craft of the film, which will comprise three conversations with key creative players behind the project, and include in-depth explorations of their individual processes.

Saipan co-directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn will join X-Pollinator to discuss their directorial vision for the film, and the journey from inception, through collaborating with the screenwriter, casting, prep, production and post.

Irish Screen Editors will examine the editorial process with editors John Murphy and Gavin Buckley. Finally, the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland will analyse the score of the film with its composer David Holmes, a long-standing collaborator of the filmmakers.

The event will be followed by a networking drinks reception, and is supported by Coimisiún na Meán: Sound and Vision, in collaboration with X-Pollinator, Irish Screen Editors and the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland.

FIRST TAKE

THU 13 NOV | TRISKEL | 10:30 - 16:00 | TICKETS €20* | INCLUDES LIGHT LUNCH

First Take is a training and development platform for newly established film professionals, film and media students and the wider film industry, which comprises case studies, presentations and panel discussions.

This year’s event will include a focus on the art of editing short film, in collaboration with Irish Screen Editors, and present a case study of the new short film Mary is Missing (see p.48), which features a cast and crew of adults with intellectual disabilities.

We will also delve into the initiatives and players aiding in the development of sustainable regional film production in Cork city and county, in partnership with Screen Producers Ireland, and host a conversation with leading Irish writers about carving a career in screenwriting, in collaboration with Storyhouse.

A light lunch will be provided, supported by the National Talent Academies.

All First Take sessions will be accompanied by Closed Captions on screen.

*Tickets €20 (includes lunch).

For groups of 10 or more, tickets: €15 each.

Full day package: First Take, Puttnam Scholars, CIFF Short Awards, and David Puttnam Talk: Festivals Matter (18:30, Triskel): €25

Visit corkfilmfest.org/industry for further details and to book.

DOC DAY LIVE

FRI 14 NOV | TRISKEL | 11:00 - 17:00 | TICKETS €20 | includes light lunch

CIFF continues to develop its focus on high-quality Irish and international documentary cinema with Doc Day, connecting emerging and established non-fiction filmmakers with industry professionals and the wider documentary sector.

Doc Day 2025 will pull focus on Irish feature documentary A Quiet Love, a ground-breaking non-fiction film that captures the remarkable love stories of three Deaf couples through Irish Sign Language. The film will have its Irish premiere at the Festival at 17:00 on Saturday, 15th November at the Triskel (see p.22)

The event will also delve into the work of filmmaker Dennis Harvey and his new feature Celtic Utopia (Irish premiere at 17:00 on Saturday, 8th November at The Everyman), and examine director Andy Mundy-Castle’s Shoot the People (20:15, Friday 14th November at the Everyman), a film about photojournalist Misan Harriman.

The event will conclude with a keynote career conversation with documentarian Sinead O’Shea, director of Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story, which won both the Best Irish Feature and Audience Awards at Cork International Film Festival in 2024.

All Doc Day sessions will have Closed Captions and Irish Sign Language will be provided by a sign language interpreter (see p.57 for more information on Access at CIFF or visit corkfilmfest.org/access).

A networking reception will conclude the event from 17:00 to 18:00, followed by the Documentary Gala screening of Shoot the People at 20:15 at the Everyman.

DOC DAY ONLINE

14 NOV - 12 DEC | FREE BUT TICKETED

In addition to the in-person offering for Doc Day 2025, the Festival will host a series of online sessions, complimenting this year’s non-fiction programme and encompassing in-depth filmmaker conversations and case studies.

This year’s sessions will focus on documentary films from the Festival programme, including Flophouse America (see p.30 for film details); The Moelln Letters, (see p.30); and Coexistence, My Ass!

Visit corkfilmfest.org/industry for further details and to book.

MENOPAUSE AND THE SCREEN SECTOR: DUAL LENS - FROM PERCEPTION TO REPRESENTATION

SAT 15 NOV | NANO NAGLE PLACE | 10:00 - 14:00 | FREE OF CHARGE (BOOKING ESSENTIAL)

Part of the National Talent Academies Menopause Awareness Programme for the Screen Sector, this in-person event will explore how menopause is portrayed - and often misunderstood - both culturally and creatively. The session will begin with a hands-on creative workshop led by industry experts, empowering participants to reimagine menopause narratives through storytelling and screenwriting. It will be followed by a live-streamed panel featuring leading voices from film, television, academia, and health, examining how menopause and mid-life women are framed in screen culture.

Complementing the theme, Solomamma, a film about a woman in her 40s who becomes a single mother via sperm donation, will screen at CIFF following the workshop, at 15:30 on Saturday 15 November at the Arc Cinema (see p.19).

Visit nationaltalentacademies.ie for further details and to book.

A partnership between National Talent Academies, Women in Film & TV Ireland, Screen Guilds of Ireland, and Cork International Film Festival.

IGNITE-DOCS

IGNITE-Docs is a bilingual talent development programme led by Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland, directed towards emerging Irish and Northern Irish documentary filmmakers embarking on their first or second non-fiction feature film.

A joint initiative of Cork International Film Festival & Docs Ireland, Belfast, supported by TG4, the Arts Council of Ireland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme, Coimisiún na Meán, Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet, and Northern Ireland Screen.

OUT OF FRAME

ROUND 26: PURE CORK

SUN 9 NOV | THE ROUNDY | 18:00 | FREE ENTRY

For two years now, Out of Frame has provided a platform to showcase Cork’s talented and diverse film community and become a space for exchange and connection among filmmakers. Every month, the film talk upstairs in The Roundy follows a different theme and invites local filmmakers to talk about their work, their background and specific roles in the industry.

In collaboration with CIFF, this month Out of Frame will feature filmmakers from the Irish Shorts programme, Pure Cork (see p. 49).

Website: www.outofframecork.com Instagram: @outofframecork