Issuu

AK – Anna Kopecká

DOM – Don O’Mahony

FC – Fiona Clark

RG – Roisin Geraghty

SE – Si Edwards

SOF – Sunniva O’Flynn

INTRODUCTION

CIFF2020 is a ‘blended’ festival, showcasing the latest and best films both in cinema in Cork (from 4 to 8 November) and to audiences nationwide online (from 9 to 15 November).

Most of the programme is available to enjoy in both formats – first in cinema and later @home online – but some films are ‘cinema exclusives’, and with limited capacity in venues we encourage you to book early.

Some things will be different this year - we can’t gather in the foyer to chat - but we can still come together, safely, to experience great stories on screen. We can still meet the filmmakers, both in cinema and online. And we can still lose ourselves, for a few precious hours, in the magic of cinema.

For further details download our app or visit corkfilmfest.org. Thank you for joining us in celebrating 65 years of film in Cork.

STAYING SAFE AT CIFF

The safety of our customers is of the utmost importance. That’s why we’ve made some changes this year to ensure that you have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable Festival experience. Full details at corkfilmfest.org/safety

Pre-book your tickets. There will be no pop-up venue box offices so you must book in advance.

Our Festival app allows you to buy and manage your tickets in one place, saves on unnecessary paper and minimises contact. Search for CIFF2020 in the App Store.

When booking your tickets you will be asked to select your seats. Once booked, all surrounding seats will be blocked off to allow for 2m social distancing. Please sit in your allocated seats.

Bookings are limited to groups of 6 people from up to 3 different households. This is subject to change as per government regulations.

Hand sanitising stations are positioned at the entrance and throughout key points in venues. Please use these when entering venues and wash your hands when visiting bathrooms.

Face coverings are mandatory* in our venues. Please check the face covering policy on individual venue websites before arrival.

Screening times are staggered to allow plenty of time to enter and exit and allow for social distancing. We ask that you arrive on time and exit promptly and do not gather in foyers or hallways.

We are regularly cleaning throughout venues, particularly high-contact touch points, and venues are well ventilated.

If you are unwell, have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days or have been in close-contact with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19, you must not come to the cinema.

* Exemptions include children under 13 and some health conditions. For further information on exemptions please visit hse.ie/coronavirus

BOOK ONLINE NOW

BOOK ONLINE AT corkfilmfest.org

Customer Service: help@corkfilmfest.org

Or call our Customer Service

Phone Line on +353 (0) 21 4271711

30 October - 15 November 10 - 6 every day

TICKET PRICES

unless otherwise stated

IN CINEMA

Opening Night Gala: Nomadland

Galas

Irish Gala: The Bright Side

Documentary Gala: Castro’s Spies

1920 Commemoration Gala: Irish Destiny

65th Anniversary Gala: The Racer

Family Gala Pass (2 adults + 2 children)

Additional Adult

Additional Child

Standard Screenings

Family Pass (2 adults + 2 children)

Additional

*Family films only. Not applicable to Family Gala.

CIFF2020 @HOME ONLINE

(includes Opening Gala, concession price for other Galas, access to all digital screenings and 10 standard screening tickets in cinema) Double

ACCESS

Cork International Film Festival is committed to ensuring that the Festival, its venues and events, are accessible and inclusive. For more information about venue accessibility, visit corkfilmfest.org/access. If you have any specific access needs or queries, we would be happy to help: access@corkfilmfest.org +353 (0) 21 427 1711

Cork International Film Festival CLG 6 Castle Street, Cork, T12 T25W corkfilmfest.org

Tel: +353 (0)21 427 1711

Email: info@corkfilmfest.org

Company Number: 081633

Charity Number: CHY20218

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For full details of our ticketing terms and conditions, and for additional information, please visit our website at corkfilmfest.org

Please note that all information contained in this brochure is correct at the time of printing but that changes may occur.

FOR NEWS, UPDATES AND SPECIAL OFFERS, FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

WELCOME

CLLR. JOE KAVANAGH

ARDMHÉARA CHORCAÍ - LORD MAYOR OF CORK

It is with immense pride that we invite you to join us in celebrating the milestone 65th Cork International Film Festival. In a year that has wrought unrecognisable change for all, we recognise the huge value and strength of Cork’s cultural community. Our international film festival reflects the city’s pride in commemorating the important events of 1920 with a special programme at City Hall, whilst championing the discovery of new voices from across the globe, as well as supporting future generations through an innovative film and mental health education programme. Cork is renowned for its resilience, solidarity and creativity, attributes unquestionably embodied by this unique annual cinematic celebration, which Cork City Council is truly proud to support.

BARNEY WHELAN - CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Welcome to the 65th Cork International Film Festival, this year presented both in cinema and online, bringing the latest and best Irish and international films to audiences in Cork City, County and nationwide. Our priority is to connect audiences and filmmakers in a safe and enjoyable way; from booking tickets online via our dynamic seating system with automatic 2m social distancing, to working with our experienced principal venue partner, The Gate Cinema, whose expertise and exceptional support will ensure a safe and happy experience for the public. On behalf of the Festival Board, I wish to thank all our stakeholders, especially principal funder, the Arts Council, Cork City Council, and the many funders, sponsors, partners, Corporate Members and Festival Friends whose invaluable support has enabled the Festival to deliver a remarkable and reimagined event in Cork.

FIONA CLARK - FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND CEO

Cork International Film Festival’s mission is to present Ireland’s most exciting, diverse, and ambitious annual film festival, connecting and stimulating audiences and artists through a carefully curated selection of the best films, to create a unique shared cultural experience, rooted in Cork, open to the world. The world may have changed, but our mission remains resolute, and it is from a position of strength, confidence and pride that we have been determined to imaginatively and safely deliver the Festival this year. We hope you will enjoy watching films in cinema and from home, take our wonderful Costume Trail around the city and dip into 65 years of Festival archival gems in our new Digital Archive. 65 years young, the spirit of the Festival is alive and well and, to quote the Echo, ‘a beacon of light at the end of the year’.

ANNA KOPECKÁ - DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

My first year in Cork, and in Ireland, has been extraordinary! The world nowadays may seem stranger than fiction, but nothing can change our passion for film. Our ambition stands firm: to curate the most compelling programme, and to provide a platform from which aspiring filmmakers can launch their careers. This year we are excited to share with you new films by established auteurs such as Philippe Garrel, Frederick Wiseman and Abel Ferrara; strong female voices like Zeina Durra, Talya Lavie and Chloé Zhao, and no fewer than 18 first and second features. We are extremely proud to be presenting nine new Irish films, four of which are world premieres, and I hope to meet many of you during the Festival, both in person and online. Thank you for your support.

AWARDS

For 65 years, Cork International Film Festival has celebrated excellence in ﬁlmmaking, championing new and emerging voices, as well as established ﬁlmmakers, through its prestigious awards. Three of our awards – the Grand Prix Irish Short, the Grand Prix International Short and the Grand Prix Documentary Short – are Academy Award ®-qualifying, ensuring that the winners in Cork will be automatically longlisted for the Oscars ® .

SHORT AWARDS

GRAND PRIX IRISH SHORT

Academy Award®-Qualifying Category

Jurors:

Rose Baker (Belfast Film Festival)

Sharon Cronin (Producer)

Tristan Heanue (Director/Actor)

The winning film receives a prize of €1,500

Proudly presented by RTÉ

GRAND PRIX INTERNATIONAL SHORT

Academy Award®-Qualifying Category

Jurors:

Premysl Martinek (Febiofest Bratislava IFF)

Valentina Piva (Milano Film Festival)

Katharina Stumm (Connecting Cottbus)

GRAND PRIX DOCUMENTARY SHORT Academy Award®-Qualifying Category

BEST DIRECTOR: IRISH SHORT

Supported by Screen Directors Guild Ireland

BEST CORK SHORT AWARD

Proudly presented by Red FM

Cork International Film Festival is the official Irish representative for:

EUROPEAN SHORT FILM CANDIDATE (EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS 2021)

FEATURES AWARDS

GRADAM SPIORAD NA FÉILE

(SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVAL AWARD)

Presented by The Gate Cinemas

Jurors:

Arnaud Gourmelen (Festival Premier Plans d’Angers)

Louise Hojgaard Johansen (Athens International Children’s Film Festival)

Lorraine Maye (Cork Midsummer Festival)

GRADAM NA FÉILE DO SCANNÁIN FAISNÉISE (AWARD FOR CINEMATIC DOCUMENTARY)

Jurors:

Mia Mullarkey (Ishka Films)

Bernard Payen (La Cinémathèque française)

Chloe Traynor (Independent programmer)

AUDIENCE AWARD

Chosen by you, the audience.

All Festival features that have their Irish premiere in cinema or online are eligible for the award

CORK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL YOUTH JURY AWARD

Selected from the Spirit of the Festival and Cinematic Documentary Awards. The jury is comprised of students from UCC, CIT and St John’s Central College.

2020 AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT

CIFF2020 Award winners will be announced online on Sunday 8 November. The Audience and Youth Jury Award winner will be announced online on Sunday 15 November at the end of the Digital Festival.

FILMS BY CATEGORY

CINEMA SCHEDULE

THU 5 FRI 6 SAT 7 SUN 8

Pink background denotes film also available online

17:00

Opening Gala: Nomadland (see p. 8) 18:30

WED 4 ONLINE WORKSHOPS

Maddy the Model 11:00 Gate (see p. 14)

International Shorts 1: Family Ties 11:30 Gate (see p. 35)

International Shorts 2: Worlds of Possibility 11:00 Gate (see p. 36)

House of Cardin 11:20 Gate (see p. 17)

Working Girls 12:30 Gate (see p. 14)

La Fortaleza 12:45 Gate (see p. 14)

Irish Shorts 1: Love & Friendship 13:45 Gate (see p. 33)

I Love You I Miss You I Hope I See You Before I Die 14:15 Gate (see p. 15)

A Common Crime 15:15 Gate (see p. 15)

Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story 15:30 Gate (see p. 15)

FREM 16:30 Triskel (see p. 16)

The Salt of Tears 16:45 Gate 17:35 Gate (see p. 16)

Irish Shorts 2: Altered States 12:30 Gate (see p. 33)

I am Samuel 13:00 Gate (see p. 18)

International Shorts 3: Free Radicals 13:45 Gate (see p. 36)

Vivos 14:00 Gate (see p. 18)

Rascal 15:00 Gate (see p. 19)

Assassins 15:30 Gate (see p. 19)

Ashes and Diamonds 16:00 Triskel (see p. 19)

Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness 16:45 Gate (see p. 19)

Family Friendly Shorts 11:00 Gate (see p. 38)

Irish Shorts 3: Eerie Irelandia 11:30 Gate (see p. 34)

Luxor 17:15 Gate (see p. 16)

The 8th 18:00 Gate (see p. 16)

The Crime of Monsieur Lange 19:30 Triskel (see p. 17)

Irish Gala: The Bright Side 19:30 Gate 20:00 Gate 20:30 Gate 20:45 Gate (see p. 9)

My Brother Chases Dinosaurs 17:15 Gate (see p. 20)

The Trouble with Being Born 17:30 Gate (see p. 20)

Documentary Gala: Castro’s Spies 18:00 Gate (see p. 10)

AEMI Shorts: Signals and Circuits

19:30 Triskel (see p. 32)

Another Round 19:45 Gate

20:30 Gate

20:45 Gate (see p. 21)

The Edge of Chaos

20:15 Gate (see p. 21)

Castro’s Spies - Second Chance 12:00 City Hall (see p. 10)

Summer White 12:15 Gate (see p. 22)

Norma Rae 12:30 Triskel (see p. 22)

Summerwar 13:00 Gate (see p. 22)

International Shorts 4: Documentary Shorts

13:45 Gate (see p. 37)

An Impossible Project 14:15 Gate (see p. 23)

The Castle 14:30 City Hall (see p. 23)

City Hall 10:30 City Hall (see p. 26)

Family Gala: Soul 11:00 Gate

12:30 | 13:15 Gate (see p. 10)

My Name is Baghdad 11:45 Gate (see p. 27)

Irish Shorts 4: Tension Structures 12:15 Gate (see p. 34)

All the Dead Ones 12:30 Triskel (see p. 27)

International Shorts 5: Certainty & Doubt 14:45 Gate (see p. 37)

l’abordage 15:30 Gate (see p. 28)

Paris is Burning 16:15 Triskel (see p. 28)

Undine 15:00 Gate (see p. 23) The Human Factor 15:00 Gate (see p. 28)

H is for Happiness 15:15 Gate (see p. 23)

Into Dad’s Woods 16:00 Triskel (see p. 24)

The Last Shift 16:45 Gate (see p. 24)

Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland Shorts 17:00 City Hall (see p. 24)

Songs of Repression 17:15 Gate (see p. 25)

Honeymood 17:30 Gate (see p. 25)

County Lines 18:00 Gate (see p. 25)

1920 Commemoration Gala: Irish Destiny

19:30 City Hall (see p. 11)

Wildfire

19:45 Gate

20:15 Gate (see p. 26)

Crock of Gold

20:00 Triskel (see p. 26)

Falling 20:30 Gate 20:45 Gate (see p. 26)

Irish Shorts 5: Stories from Cork 16:30 City Hall (see p. 35)

Bad Tales 16:45 Gate (see p. 29)

Rebel County 19:30 City Hall (see p. 30) Siberia 19:30 Triskel (see p. 30) Undine - Second Chance 14:15 Gate (see p. 23)

Games People Play 17:15 Gate (see p. 29) Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets 19:15 Gate (see p. 30)

OPENING GALA

WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER

NOMADLAND

Chloé Zhao

18:30 | GATE

19:00 | 19:45 | 20:00 | 20:30 | 20:45 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Following the economic collapse of a small company town in Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand), a middle-aged widow and former substitute teacher, is forced to become a modern-day nomad, travelling around the American West in her van. This third feature film from award-winning director Chloé Zhao (The Rider) features real nomads as Fern’s friends and mentors. A powerful story of hope, solidarity and beauty from a land that does not take care of its elders, Nomadland deservedly won both the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. AK

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

IRISH GALA

THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER

THE BRIGHT SIDE

WORLD PREMIERE

Ruth Meehan

19:30 | GATE

20:00 | 20:30 | 20:45 | GATE

IRISH FICTION

Stand-up comedian Kate (Gemma-Leah Devereux) thinks her life has no meaning and is not worth continuing. When she’s diagnosed with breast cancer, even the universe seems to agree with her. However, a close encounter with death – and four other women on the chemo ward – might just change her mind and even her life. Ruth Meehan’s directorial debut offers black humour, cynicism and trust in the power of friendship and love in a perfect blend only found in Irish films. AK

DOCUMENTARY GALA

CASTRO’S SPIES

Ollie Aslin, Gary Lennon

SOUL WORLD PREMIERE

Courtesy of Disney•Pixar

Castro’s Spies recounts the experiences of an elite band of Cuban spies who led dangerous double lives in the 1990s, living and working in Florida with fabricated identities. Told from the perspective of these men and their families, the film provides impressive unprecedented access to the so-called ‘Cuban 5’, weaving a fascinating narrative of intrigue, intelligence and espionage, set within the context of the highly fraught US-Cuban diplomatic relationship. RG

FAMILY GALA

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

18:00 | GATE 11:00 | GATE

Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers

12:30 | 13:15 | GATE

When music teacher Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in New York City, a fateful mishap sets him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery to The Great Before, a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (Tina Fey), to show her what’s great about living. Academy Award®-winner Pete Docter (Inside Out, Up) and co-director Kemp Powers create a life-affirming and funny tale that will feed your heart, body – and soul! FC

SPECIAL PRESENTATION PROGRAMME

SATURDAY 7 - SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER

Cork International Film Festival and Cork City Council are proud to present a special presentation at the Concert Hall, City Hall, on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November. This special programme will mark Cork’s 1920 commemorations and celebrate CIFF’s 65th anniversary. Reﬂecting the city’s pride, resilience and solidarity, the programme showcases the best classic and present-day Irish ﬁlm talent, and salutes our rich cultural heritage and future.

1920 COMMEMORATION GALA:

CORK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND THE IRISH FILM INSTITUTE PRESENT

IRISH DESTINY

George Dewhurst

+ PROLOGUE: CENTENARY NEWSREEL CINE CONCERT

SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

19:30 | CITY HALL

Silent with recorded score

Ireland 1926 15 mins + 78 mins

Black and White

Made soon after the events it depicted, Irish Destiny was the first fiction film dealing with the War of Independence in Ireland. Denis O’Hara (Paddy Dunne Cullinan) joins the IRA after witnessing British aggression in the village of Clonmore. He is shot, wounded and imprisoned, but escapes from the Curragh Camp in time to save fiancée Moira (Frances MacNamara) from the clutches of villainous poitín distillers. The drama is seamlessly punctuated with newsreel footage depicting real events such as the sacking of Cork in December 1920 and the burning of Dublin’s Customs House in May 1921.

A 35mm print of the film was restored and repatriated from the US by the IFI in the early 1990s. World-renowned composer, the late Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, created an orchestral score which breathed new life into this silent film. This is a work of majesty which elevates our understanding of the forging of the modern Irish state.

Newsreel Cine Concert: a short (approx. 15 mins) selection of British and Irish newsreels relating to Cork in the 1920 period – including the funeral of Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney (October 1920) and the burning of Cork (December 1920) – will be shown with live musical accompaniment by Cork violinist Brendan Garde. SOF

CONCERT HALL FILM PROGRAMME

The Castle (see p. 23)

Screen Ireland Shorts (see p. 32)

City Hall (see p. 26)

Rebel County (see p. 30)

Irish Shorts 5: Stories from Cork (see p. 35)

Proudly supported by Cork City Council

65 TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER

THE RACER

Kieron J Walsh

18:00 | GATE

18:30 | 20:15 | 20:45 | 21:00 GATE

18:30 | GATE MIDLETON

18:30 | GATE MALLOW

Summer 1998: the opening stages of Le Tour de France are relocated to Ireland. Belgian rider Dom Chabol (Louis Talpe) has been one of the best ‘Domestiques’ (support riders) for the last 20 years: a sacrificial role, setting pace to enable the team’s sprinter to victory; winning is not an option. But Dom harbours a desire to wear the yellow jersey, just once before his career is over. Secret doping, team rivalry and a little romance fuel the exhilarating action and dark comedy that drives The Racer to pack an adrenalin-filled punch right to the finish line. FC

Our 65th Anniversary Gala straddles both parts of the 2020 Festival, screening midway through the Festival in cinemas in Cork City, Midleton and Mallow, and simultaneously online, closing the physical Festival and launching the week-long digital Festival.

65

TH

Ireland, Luxemborg, Belgium 2020 95 mins

IRISH FICTION

ANNIVERSARY CLASSICS

We are marking 65 years of the Festival, 100 years since the events of 1920 in Cork and the theme of solidarity across the programme, and in our Classic strand the six selected films are all related to these themes. The Crime of Monsieur Lange Jean Renoir will open the strand with a movie that speaks about solidarity and love for cinema (see p. 17). Three films are selected from past programmes of the Festival – Paris is Burning and Diamonds and Norma Rae – and Irish Destiny Cork premiere 84 years after it was made, marking the events that led to the free, independent, strong Republic of Ireland of today. Each of the films will be championed by a famous Festival alumnus and members of the Festival team.

CORK COSTUME TRAIL

Cork International Film Festival is delighted to present Cork Costume Trail in partnership with the Irish Costume Archive Project, proudly supported by Cork City Council and hosted by The Gate Cinema, the River Lee and The Metropole Hotel.

The Cork Costume Trail tells the story of the relationship between the actor and their costume, through an interactive city-wide trail of costumes from significant Irish films and major television productions, filmed in Cork or with Cork talent.

This curated selection from the Irish Costume Archive Project includes costumes from The Wind that Shakes the Barley, The Tudors, Little Women, Breakfast on Pluto and Frank. Each costume has been specially selected to celebrate its connection to Cork and will be displayed throughout the Festival in venue windows to allow for safe, socially distanced visiting.

Follow the Cork Costume Trail across the city using our free online map and the CIFF Podcast, featuring interviews with Cork Costume Trail curators Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh and Veerle Dehaene, Cork Public Museum curator Daniel Breen, and introductions by Red FM’s Dave Mac Ardle. Tune in to the CIFF Podcast at each stop for unique insights and behind-the-scenes stories.

Proudly supported by Cork City Council Placemaking Fund.

Venues: The Gate Cinema, the River Lee, and The Metropole Hotel

Dates: 4 - 15 November

CIFF DIGITAL ARCHIVE

Cork International Film Festival’s unique archive – a treasure trove of precious materials tracking the history of modern film and Cork, amassed over 65 years – has been developed in collaboration with the Department of Digital Humanities at University College Cork. A unique snapshot of modern film history and the history of Cork’s development, the archive is available to view online at corkfilmfest.ucc.ie/ containing photographs, programme covers and posters from previous Festival editions over the last 65 years.

The Metropole

THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Sweden 2020 80 mins

International 2020 88 mins Subtitled

Belgium, France 2020 90 mins Subtitled

Venezuela, Netherlands, France, Colombia

2020 108 mins Subtitled

MADDY THE MODEL

Jane Magnusson

Maddy the Model is an intimate and caring portrait of Madeline Stuart, the world’s first professional supermodel with Down’s syndrome. An endlessly cheerful protagonist, Maddy’s unbridled joy is matched only by her mother’s enthusiastic support in her battle for inclusion and a place in the fashion industry. Their experiences were documented by director Jane Magnusson for four years, resulting in this extraordinary film, which is a testament to the power and critical value of diverse storytelling on screen. RG 11:00 |

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 1

FAMILY TIES

The Sign (Znak) Eleonora Veninova, Yona Rozenkier

Bechora (בכורה) Maya Armon

Chlorine Melissa Anastasi

Birthday Girl Portia A Buckley

Gabriel (Jabrail) Yousef Kargar

David Zach Woods 11:30 | GATE SHORTS

For full details see p. 35

WORKING GIRLS

FILLES DE JOIE

Frédéric Fonteyne, Anne Paulicevich

12:30 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Axelle, Conso and Dominique are friends; they are also prostitutes and travel every day from France to Belgium to work in a legal brothel. Their lives are not easy but nor are they too different from those of their neighbours. What’s special is their friendship and the ways in which they care for each other. This visually striking, heartfelt story is the second collaboration between Fonteyne and Paulicevich, following the success of their comedy Tango Libre AK

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland.

LA FORTALEZA

Jorge Thielen Armand

12:45 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Director Jorge Thielen Armand interrogates one man’s tortured existence in La Fortaleza, a fascinating semi-improvised drama in which his own father plays Roque, a veiled version of himself. The outward expression of the man’s inner turmoil provides a chaotic and addictive energy – his violence visceral, his pain instinctual. This is highly original filmmaking, imbued with the feeling of a turbulent fever dream, as Roque exorcises his demons through intense alcoholism and overt hysteria, in a cathartic creative expression for both performer and filmmaker. RG

THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER

IRISH SHORTS 1 LOVE & FRIENDSHIP

Drifting Robert Higgins, Patrick McGivney

Handfasting Magdalena Wodzisz [C]

April 9th Tom Pigot

L’Argomento! Reuben Harvey

Loving Ava Kate Daly [C]

Post Love Max Barry

4x4 Ayla Amano [C]

For full details see p. 33 [C] denotes eligible for Best Cork Short Award. Denmark 2019

I LOVE YOU I MISS YOU

I HOPE I SEE YOU BEFORE I DIE

Eva Marie Rødbro

Betty lives with her big family in the suburbs of Colorado Springs. She is a young mother of two and, like so many others in the American West, struggles below the poverty line every day. This poetic feature debut by Eva Marie Rødbro – a strong new voice in Danish documentary cinema – is a delicate, compassionate portrait of a young girl who hasn’t been dealt the best cards but is trying not to lose hope. AK

A COMMON CRIME

UN CRIMEN COMÚN

Francisco Márquez Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Switzerland 2020 96 mins

15:15 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Middle-class sociology lecturer Cecilia lives with her young son and employs a maid who cleans and helps with childcare. One night, the maids’ son, Kevin, appears at the house, banging on the door. Cecilia doesn’t answer. After Kevin is found dead in the river, murdered by police, Cecilia finds herself increasingly haunted by him. Director Francisco Márquez has created a work of social commentary which is every bit as gripping as a thriller, and with a transfixing central performance from Elisa Carricajo. SE

KEYBOARD FANTASIES:

THE BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND STORY

Posy Dixon

15:30 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY

In 1986 Beverly Glenn-Copeland self-released a cassette of seven songs recorded at home using a Yamaha keyboard, a Roland drum machine and an Atari computer. Decades later, now living as Glenn Copeland, he was astonished to discover that this release, titled Keyboard Fantasies, was being hailed as an influential precursor to modern electronic music. In documenting Glenn’s life and return to performing, director Posy Dixon has gifted us with a film that is every bit as soothing as the music it sets out to celebrate. SE

Image credit: Troels Rasmus Jensen

THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Subtitled

France, Switzerland

mins Subtitled Black and White

FREM

Viera Čákanyová

16:30 | TRISKEL

How does the world appear from a non-human perspective? Is it possible in cinema to tell a story without humans at its centre? This meditative experimental film, shot in Antarctica, tested the physical and mental limits of the crew. The director has said that she had to think the unthinkable, even stop being human, in order to be able to make this movie. Join us on a journey into a world that does not belong to us, if you dare! AK

THE SALT OF TEARS

LE SEL DES LARMES

Philippe Garrel

16:45 |

When Luc – a young and good-looking carpenter’s apprentice – somehow gets involved with two women, it takes a third to make him pay for his lies and mistakes. French veteran Philippe Garrel delivers another delightful black and white love story. Only Garrel can treat serious subjects such as love and toxic masculinity with such a light touch, yet beneath Garrel’s deceptively simple style we can recognise his New Wave origins and his mastery of the cinema as an art form. AK

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland.

LUXOR

Zeina Durra

17:15 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Luxor is the story of Hana, a British aid worker, who travels to the ancient Egyptian city of the title in search of solace after a traumatic experience working on the Jordanian-Syrian border. There she unexpectedly rekindles passions with an old flame, and contends with the lingering internal wounds from her recent experience. The sophomore feature from director Zeina Durra features an evocative central performance from Andrea Riseborough, with the stunning backdrop playing a quietly pivotal role in this understated yet stirring drama. RG

THE 8 TH

Lucy Kennedy, Maeve O’Boyle, Aideen Kane

18:00 | GATE

IRISH DOCUMENTARY

Reflective, considered and highly evocative, The 8th depicts the struggle of activists in the lead-up to the 2018 Irish referendum to remove the 8th Amendment - a constitutional ban on abortion. Though the film respectfully addresses both sides of the debate, it is rooted in voices from the pro-choice campaign, positioning them within the history of the 8th Amendment, the abortion rights movement and the build-up to the referendum, and coalescing into a powerful reflection of the recent changes in Irish society. RG

THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Subtitled

Black and White

THE CRIME OF MONSIEUR LANGE

Jean Renoir

Monsieur Lange is on the run, wanted for murder. As he flees he tells us the story of his terrible boss Batala, the publishing house that was saved from bankruptcy by its staff, and finally about his despicable crime. Inspired by the political spirit of solidarity in the early 1930s, Monsieur Lange is one of the lesser-known films by French master Jean Renoir, but it’s a masterpiece, ‘touched by the grace’, to quote François Truffaut, and full of magic and original charm. AK

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland.

WORLD PREMIERE

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Ruth Meehan

International

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 2

WORLDS OF POSSIBILITY

Banana Bjarke Underbjerg

Chuj Boys of Summer Max Walker-Silverman

From Time to Time I Burn (De Vez em quando eu ardo) Carlos Segundo Goodbye Golovin Mathieu Grimard

What Probably Would Have Happened, If I Hadn’t Stayed at Home (Was wahrscheinlich passiert wäre, wäre ich nicht zuhause geblieben) Willy Hans 11:00 |

For full details see p. 36

HOUSE OF CARDIN

P David Ebersole, Todd Hughes

This entertaining documentary focuses on the life and work of the great Italian-born French designer Pierre Cardin. Cardin, now 98, is famous for his avant-garde, space-age geometrical shapes and motifs, and as a maverick who never endorsed the conventional ideal of the female body and who promoted diversity and inclusiveness. This authorised film features Cardin himself, together with exclusive archive footage and interviews with coworkers and muses, including Naomi Campbell and Sharon Stone. AK Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland. 11:20 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

Ireland 2020 87 mins

Kenya 2020 25 mins + 70 mins Subtitled

International 2020 92 mins Subtitled

Germany, Mexico 2019 112 mins Subtitled

IRISH SHORTS 2 ALTERED STATES

Changing Dates Femi Falana

How to Fall in Love in a Pandemic

Michael-David McKernan [D]

Boxed Up Lochlainn McKenna [C]

The Long Summer - Still To Come?

David Simmons

Forest Dermott Burns

Please Be Seated Kevin Scott [D]

The Presence of Absence Laura Conlon

I AM SAMUEL

Pete Murimi

12:30 | GATE SHORTS

Iarscoláire (Past Pupil) Shaun Dunne [D]

Fallow Table Jessica Kennedy, Megan Kennedy, Luca Truffarelli

Arena Helen Warner

Dúirt Tú (You Said) Shaun Dunne, Zoe Ni Riordain

For full details see p. 33

[C] denotes eligible for Best Cork Short Award. denotes documentary eligible for Grand Prix Documentary Award. [D]

Following the experiences of Samuel, and his relationship with his traditional parents and his partner Alex, I am Samuel confronts the harsh realities of social discrimination and criminalisation of homosexuality, in this honest and compassion depiction of LGBTQ+ people in Kenya. RG

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland in resonance with the upcoming Africa 2020 season in France.

Accompanied by I Still Breathe (25 mins), about the impact of George Floyd’s killing. This film is a statement of hope for all of us. DOM 13:00 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 3 FREE RADICALS

Untitled Sequence of Gaps [D] Vika Kirchenbauer

Your Own Bullshit (Własne śmieci) Daria Kopiec

The End of Suffering (A Proposal) Jacqueline Lentzou

A Little Loopy Sunny Stanila

The Truth About Your Feet [D] Jeppe Lange

Signal 8 * [D] Simon Liu

Kopierwerk * Stefanie Weberhofer

Labor of Love * Sylvia Schedelbauer

Inflorescence [D] Nicolaas Schmidt

VIVOS

Ai Weiwei

13:45 | GATE SHORTS

For full details see p. 36

[D] denotes documentary eligible for Grand Prix Documentary Award. * Contains flashing images.

14:00 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY

In September 2014, a convoy of Mexican students was brutally attacked by police and unidentified masked assailants. Six people were killed and fortythree were abducted and never heard from again. Vivos is a mournful ode to the victims and a perceptive study of the psychological effects on the families left behind, methodically bringing to life the memory of each and every victim through empathetic renderings and reflections, stunning photography, and director Ai Weiwei’s introspective and highly creative signature style. RG

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

RASCAL VAURIEN

Peter Dourountzis

France 2020 95 mins

Subtitled

USA 2020 104 mins

Subtitled

Black and White

Iran, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Lebanon 2020 89 mins

Subtitled

Our hero (Pierre Deladonchamps) arrives in Paris without money, a place to live or plans. All he has to go on is his charm and he uses it to get work, to love and to kill in this dark, magnetic and visually stunning tale. Rascal was selected for the prestigious First Features section of the Cannes Film Festival, and this strong debut feature firmly establishes Peter Dourountzis as a director to watch. AK

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland. 15:00

ASSASSINS

Ryan White

North Korea’s Supreme Leader has long been a source of curiosity internationally, causing particular intrigue and consternation when the bizarre plot behind the murder of his half-brother Kim Jong-nam was revealed. Assassins provides a first-hand account of the story of the two women convicted of the man’s murder, who claim they were duped into carrying out the assassination, believing they were taking part in a video prank. Told through a cleverly constructed narrative, Assassins is part thriller, part empathic portrait and part rigorous investigative piece. RG

ASHES AND DIAMONDS

POPIÓL I DIAMENT

Andrzej Wajda

16:00 | TRISKEL CLASSIC

In a small town at the end of the Second World War, Maciek (Zbigniew Cybulski), a member of the Polish resistance, is ordered to kill a communist party official, but his first attempt fails. This famous drama by Andrzej Wajda – one of Poland’s most important filmmakers – was an international hit and premiered in Ireland at Cork International Film Festival in 1960. Cybulski was nicknamed ‘the Polish James Dean’ for his stunning performance as the conflicted hero. AK

YALDA, A NIGHT OF FORGIVENESS

16:45 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION YALDA

Massoud Bakhshi

On the night of Yalda, the Iranian winter solstice festival, Maryam, a young woman sentenced to death for the murder of her husband, is due to appear on a reality TV show to plead with her husband’s family for forgiveness and her life. Between Maryam’s nervousness and the reconstruction clips, there soon emerge revelations which call into question many of the case facts. Massoud Bakhshi’s pacy melodrama won a Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and will keep you enthralled until the very end. SE

Italy, Spain

Subtitled

Austria, Germany

Subtitled

MY BROTHER CHASES DINOSAURS

MIO FRATELLO RINCORRE I DINOSAURI

Stefano Cipani

When his ‘special’ brother is born, four-year-old Jack thinks ‘special’ means ‘superhero’. Gradually he learns that ‘special’ means that Gio has Down’s syndrome, and as Jack gets older he begins to worry what other people will think of Gio… Adapted from Giacomo Mazzariol’s best-selling memoir, this joyful and touching ode to difference is a light-hearted coming-of-age tale, told with great delicacy, balance and humour – a film you’ll feel better for seeing! FC Winner: European Film Academy Young Audience Award Recommended age 10+

THE TROUBLE WITH BEING BORN

Sandra Wollner

A father and daughter are sitting by the pool. There’s nothing unusual in this, but a feeling of uneasiness grows in the viewer. Something uncanny is hiding behind the ordinary. Is it the strange colour of the girl’s skin, the repetitive dialogue, or the camera gazing at the half-naked child? This science fiction drama by Sandra Wollner, a strong new voice in Austrian cinema, has earned widespread acclaim and won the Encounters Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. AK

WORLD PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY GALA

CASTRO’S SPIES

Ollie Aslin, Gary Lennon

18:00 | GATE SAT 7 12:00 | CITY HALL IRISH DOCUMENTARY

WORLD PREMIERE

AEMI SHORTS SIGNALS & CIRCUITS

19:30 | TRISKEL SHORTS

Curated by aemi (artist experimental moving image), Signals & Circuits is a programme of moving image work by Irish and international artists, exploring ideas relating to communication, travel, surveillance and technology.

Blue Honda Civic Jussi Eerola

P45 Laura Fitzgerald

Yoga For The Eyes Michelle Doyle, Eva Richardson-McCrea, Coilin O’Connell with Jenn Moore

A State of Grace John Smith

Hacked Circuit Deborah Stratman

Receiver Jenny Brady

For full details see p. 32

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

ANOTHER ROUND

Thomas Vinterberg

A new film from Thomas Vinterberg (Festen, Dear Wendy) is always a pleasure, but to see him reunite with the great Mads Mikkelsen, eight years after their Oscar®-nominated The Hunt, is truly a cause for celebration. In Another Round, Mikkelsen is in peak form as Martin, a schoolteacher cajoled by his friends into taking part in a boozy experiment which surprisingly invigorates his work and home life, but at what cost? A rollicking and sobering comedy from two Danes at their best. SE

THE EDGE OF CHAOS

Sam Uhlemann 20:15

A compelling debut feature exploring the consequences of dark familial secrets, The Edge of Chaos follows the well-respected and wealthy Keenan family, and the reverberations made when their alcoholic daughter Carrie attempts to blackmail the family patriarch over his corrupt business dealings. A powerful and realistic dissection of how unhealed wounds and unexpressed grief can shatter families, it scrutinizes what lies beneath the veneer of polished surfaces, and the insidious nature of repressed emotion and unresolved trauma. RG

International

Suitable for age 5+

SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

FAMILY FRIENDLY SHORTS

Archie’s Bat Shannon Egan

The Priest’s Leap Polly Holland

Method Polly Holland

The Reckolahesperus Mary Smyth

Fisherman Narae Kim, Lewis Barfoot

The Peak Satoshi Takahashi

RAWR Sorcha McGlinchey

Melting Heart Cake Benoît Chieux

IRISH SHORTS 3 EERIE IRELANDIA

Oeil pour Oeil Thomas Boileau, Alan Guimont, Robin Courtoise, Mathieu Lecroq, Malcolm Hunt, François Briantais

Mishou Milen Vitanov

Rehak Pierre B

Blue Megan Devaney

Tina Times Two Bonnie Dempsey

For full details see p. 38

A Very Long Distance Phonecall Daniel Kehelly

Night Lights Edel McCormick

Where Still Waters Lie Adam O’Keeffe

Tent Noel Holmes [C]

Sins of a Werewolf David Prendeville

Afterlife Daniel Butler 11:30 | GATE SHORTS

For full details see p. 34

Photo by Henrik Ohsten

13-year-old Rodrigo allows only one person into his own little universe and that’s his mum Valeria. When Valeria brings home her new boyfriend Fernando, Rodrigo puts all his effort into getting rid of the intruder. This coming-of-age story by first-time writer and director Rodrigo Ruiz Patterson succeeds in avoiding all the clichés of the son/mother/stepfather relationship and offers a sensitive portrait of the struggles of single parenthood. AK

NORMA RAE

Martin Ritt

Sally Field received her first Academy Award for her portrayal of Norma Rae Webster, a single mother of two who works in a North Carolina cotton mill. Spurred into action by empathetic New York union organiser Reuben Warshowsky (played by the late Ron Leibman), Norma Rae sets about galvanising her fellow workers to unite in the fight for better working conditions. As relevant today as when it opened the Cork International Film Festival in 1979, Norma Rae is a celebration of solidarity. SE

SUMMERWAR

Moritz Schulz

Growing up in Ukraine, surrounded by war and rising nationalism, Jasmin and Jastrip head for Azovez camp, hoping to become little soldiers and ‘real’ patriots. The debut film from German documentarist Moritz Schulz explores a summer camp in Ukraine where children learn how to become good citizens, loyal to their country and ready to protect it with arms if necessary. Summerwar offers a disturbing insight into far-right movements in Eastern Europe. AK

International 2020 91 mins Subtitled

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 4 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

29 Hour Long Birthday [D] Mark Jenkin

3 Logical Exits [D] Mahdi Fleifel

The Oceans are the Real Continents

13:45 | GATE SHORTS

(Los Océanos son los Verdaderos Continentes) [D] Tommaso Santambrogio

Bittersweet [D] Sohrab Hura

Nocturnal Journey [D] Mats Christian, Rude Halvorsen

Just a Guy [D] Shoko Hara

For full details see p. 37

[D] denotes documentary eligible for Grand Prix Documentary Award.

Germany, Austria 2020

Ireland, Lithuania 2020

AN IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT

Jens Meurer

In 2008, with the world still marvelling at the recently launched iPhone, the eccentric Dr Florian ‘Doc’ Kaps decides that he will save the world’s only remaining Polaroid factory from being demolished. Although the venture is initially unsuccessful, this is only the beginning of the ever-determined Doc’s adventures into the heart of analogue, away from what The New York Times called ‘The Tyranny of Convenience’. This fascinating profile, directed by Jens Meurer, was shot on 35mm Kodak film, retaining its analogue aesthetic throughout. SE 14:15 |

THE CASTLE

Lina Lužytė

Monika, a thirteen-year-old Lithuanian girl and aspiring pianist, lives with her mother and grandmother in Dublin. While Monika dreams of performing in the mysterious ‘Castle’, her hard-pressed mother sells the family keyboard, forcing Monika to take extreme measures to get it back. Beautifully shot by cinematographer Michael Lavelle, this psychological coming-of-age story by Lina Lužytė offers rare insights into the lives of economic migrants in Ireland. AK 14:30 |

UNDINE

Young historian Undine (Paula Beer) lives in Berlin and gives guided tours to international visitors. When her unfaithful boyfriend breaks up with her she struggles with the urge to kill him and return to the underwater world she once left. One of the leading figures of the Berliner Schule directs this contemporary take on an old fairy tale that won Paula Beer the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival. AK 15:00

H IS FOR HAPPINESS

John Sheedy

Adapted from the best-selling Young Adult novel My Life As An Alphabet, H is for Happiness tells the story of Candice McPhee, a quirky twelve-yearold attempting to bring her family back together in the wake of a tragedy. Although dealing with difficult subject matter, the film is optimistic, entertaining and full of whimsy, portraying the special type of empathy that can only be experienced by a child, and depicting grief in a manner that is honest, engaging and often very funny. RG Suitable for age 10+

INTO DAD’S WOODS

LA FORÊT DE MON PÈRE

Vero Cratzborn

Gina is 15 and admires her father Jimmy: a funny, unpredictable, extravagant man (at least in her eyes), who takes his kids to the woods in the middle of the night, but sometimes leaves them there. One day Jimmy goes too far and the fragile harmony of his family is broken. Will Gina take this chance to escape her father’s influence? Vero Cratzborn’s first feature is a touching family drama that asks important questions about the impact of parents’ mental health issues on their children. AK

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland.

CIFF’s Illuminate film and mental health programme is proudly supported by ESB Energy for Generations Fund and the HSE.

There will be a post-screening panel discussion about the effects of mental health challenges within families. Visit corkfilmfest.org for further details.

Other films at Cork International Film Festival exploring mental health issues include The Bright Side (see p. 9), Wildfire (see p. 26) and La Fortaleza (see p. 14). 16:00 | TRISKEL ILLUMINATE

THE LAST SHIFT

After 38 years working the graveyard shift at Oscar’s Chicken & Fish, Stanley has decided to quit. His final task before heading to Florida is training his replacement Jevon, a young African American man currently on probation. The first narrative feature from documentary maker Andrew Cohn deftly rolls between comedy and tragedy, with exceptional performances from both leads and the supporting cast, turning what could have been a traditional ‘odd couple’ story into a timely spotlight on race and class in failing small-town America. SE

A special presentation of Screen Ireland’s new short films.

Her Song Éabha Bortolozzo, Jack Kirwan

Barry [WP] John Robert Brown

Stir Rory Bresnihan

The Dead Hands of Dublin Leo Crowley

HUM [WP] Maureen O’Connell

Expulsion Sinéad Murphy

7 Feet 9¼ Inches [WP] Peter O’ Brien

The Fear [WP] Stevie Russell

For full details see p. 32

Please note, some of the shorts in this programme feature adult content.

[WP] denotes World Premiere.

SONGS OF REPRESSION

UNDERTRYKKELSENS SANG

Estephan Wagner, Marianne Hougen-Moraga

Behind the lovely facades of the German colony Villa Baviera in Chile lies a traumatic past. Formerly known as Colonia Dignidad, this seemingly peaceful place was a site of systematic child abuse, medical experiments and deadly violence. Now its 120 remaining inhabitants, which include both victims and perpetrators, find themselves struggling to deal with the past in different ways. This harrowing but beautifully filmed documentary thoroughly deserved the Politiken:Danish:Dox Award at CPH:DOX. AK

HONEYMOOD

Talya Lavie

A bride and a groom arrive at their luxurious wedding suite after the ceremony. But instead of enjoying a romantic night together they venture back into the streets of Jerusalem on a quest to return an ex-lover’s ring that turns into a journey into their past lives, past relationships, hopes and expectations. Opening with the wedding, Talya Lavie’s light and smartly subversive romantic comedy offers a refreshing twist on the genre. AK

COUNTY LINES

Blake

18:00 |

14-year-old Tyler (Conrad Khan) gets involved in drug trafficking in the English countryside in this stylish and powerful coming-of-age debut from Henry Blake, who drew on his own experiences as a youth worker, as well as many real-life cases of children drawn into organised crime in the UK. Khan excels in his first lead role, ably supported by Ashley Madekwe as his struggling mother. AK

CORK CITY COUNCIL, CORK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND THE IRISH FILM INSTITUTE PRESENT

IRISH DESTINY

+ PROLOGUE: CENTENARY NEWSREEL CINE CONCERT 1920 COMMEMORATION GALA

George Dewhurst

19:30 | CITY HALL CLASSIC

Irish Destiny was the first fiction film dealing with the War of Independence. A 35mm print was restored and repatriated from the US by the IFI in the early 1990s and world-renowned composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin created an orchestral score which breathed new life into this silent film. This is a work of majesty which elevates our understanding of the forging of the modern Irish state. The programme includes British and Irish newsreels relating to Cork in the 1920 period, with live accompaniment by Cork violinist Brendan Garde. SOF

WILDFIRE

Cathy Brady

19:45 |

Sisters Lauren (Nora-Jane Noone) and Kelly (Nika McGuigan) grew up in a Northern Ireland border town. One day Kelly disappears without trace and when she suddenly returns, a year later, the sisters realise that in order to survive they will have to confront the truth of their mother’s death. Making her feature debut, Cathy Brady combines a unique visual style with an emotive, striking story, and draws strong performances from both leads. AK

CROCK OF GOLD:

A FEW ROUNDS WITH SHANE MACGOWAN

Julien Temple

Shane MacGowan and The Pogues reinvigorated Irish folk music with a shot from the punk-rock pineal gland, whilst MacGowans’ lyrics detailed the experiences of Irish people adrift in London with a beauty and poeticism that belied his own chaotic drink-and-drugs-fuelled lifestyle. Filmmaker Julien Temple (The Filth and the Fury, Oil City Confidential) gifts us with a documentary that celebrates Shane’s life and work with a ferocious energy that would be instantly familiar to anyone who ever witnessed The Pogues live. SE

FALLING

Viggo Mortensen

20:30 | GATE 20:45 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Advanced dementia forces Willis (Lance Henriksen) – a conservative, homophobic, solitary man – to leave his rural farm and move to Los Angeles to live with his son, John (Viggo Mortensen). John, who has overcome the trauma of his childhood with his domineering, unloving father, lives a happy, openly gay life with his family, but now finds himself obliged to take care of his ageing father in this heartfelt family drama written and directed by Viggo Mortensen. AK

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER

CITY HALL

Frederick Wiseman

10:30 | CITY HALL

INTERNATIONAL

The latest non-fiction feature by master of American documentary cinema Frederick Wiseman focuses on Boston’s city hall. Wiseman’s home town is governed by Democratic mayor Martin J Walsh, a son of working-class immigrants working hard to make Boston a better place to live. Wiseman, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year, directs, produces and edits this in-depth look at what really goes on inside city hall. AK

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER

FAMILY GALA

SOUL

Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers

When music teacher Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) gets the chance to play at the best jazz club in New York, a fateful mishap sets him on a journey to The Great Before, a fantastical place where souls get their personalities before they go to Earth. Academy Award®-winner Pete Docter (Inside Out, Up) and co-director Kemp Powers create a life-affirming and funny tale that will feed your heart, body – and soul! FC

Courtesy of Disney•Pixar

MY NAME IS BAGHDAD

MEU NOME É BAGDÁ

Caru Alves de Souza

17-year-old Baghdad (Grace Orsato) is a skater. She spends her time either with her family and her mother’s friends, or skateboarding out in the streets of working-class São Paulo with her male friends. Then one day Baghdad meets a group of female skaters and her world changes. Deftly blurring the lines between drama, documentary and skate video, Caru Alves de Souza’s lively coming-ofage tale (which won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival) celebrates unity and solidarity, driven along by a glorious punky soundtrack. SE

IRISH SHORTS 4 TENSION STRUCTURES

Tommy Grizzly (Rua Meegan, Trevor Whelan) [C]

Vicissitudes Sofia Bwcka

The Appointment David Moody

Algorithm Edwina Casey

Flicker Luke Daly, Nathan Fagan

The Anderson Corporation Will Change Your Life Kealan Ryan

For full details see p. 34 [C] denotes eligible for Best Cork Short Award.

Subtitled

ALL THE DEAD ONES

TOTOS OS MORTOS

Marco Dutra, Caetano Gotardo

Set in the aftermath of the abolition of slavery in Brazil, All the Dead Ones explores the legacy of servitude through the complicated entanglement between former slave owners and the family once in their possession. Blending historical period melodrama with elements of magical realism, the film analyses its themes in a daring and audacious manner, expressing an invigorating freeform tonality and conceiving an ambitious, striking examination of societal ills and the pernicious and unresolved legacy of racism in South America. RG 12:30 | TRISKEL

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 5 CERTAINTY & DOUBT

Friends Florian Grolig

14:45 | GATE SHORTS

Blue Fear (Filles bleues, Peur blanche) Marie Jacotey, Lola Halifa-Legrand

The News Lorin Terezi

Soukoon Farah Shaer

Staying (Aros Mae) Zillah Bowes

Sudden Light Sophie Littman

Subtitled

International 2020 90 mins

For full details see p. 37

THE HUMAN FACTOR

Dror Moreh

15:00 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY

Directed by Academy Award®-nominated documentarian Dror Moreh, The Human Factor is a sincere and surprisingly self-reflective account of the Middle Eastern peace talks of the 1990s, told from the perspective of the US diplomats who were there, Bill Clinton chief amongst them. With echoes of the recent peace talks on our own island, the film dissects the many complexities of the region, providing an honest analysis of the many hard truths and lessons learned, whilst expressing the humanity of the negotiators involved. RG

Subtitled

À L’ABORDAGE

Guillaume Brac

15:30 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Felix convinces his best friend, Chérif, to accompany him on a road trip for a surprise visit to his new love, Alma, who is vacationing in the south of France. Short of funds, they sign up for a rideshare with ‘mummy’s boy’ Édouard. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned for this unlikely trio. Guillaume Brac’s delightfully fresh and fun film feels natural throughout, even in the most unlikely situations, and it’s a pleasure to spend time with these characters. SE

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland and Alliance Française Cork

PARIS IS BURNING

Jennie Livingston

16:15 | TRISKEL CLASSIC

The influence of Paris is Burning is vast. A portrait of Harlem NYC’s 1980s dragball scene, where its young African American and Latinx participants would compete fiercely, parading the ballroom floors like catwalk models, ‘voguing’, and flamboyantly celebrating an LGBTQ culture that at the time was never visible in the media. Jennie Livingston’s documentary is just as important now as it was when it won at Sundance in 1991, the same year that it played at Cork International Film Festival, and it is still a joy to behold. SE

IRISH SHORTS 5

STORIES FROM CORK

Listen Aoise Tutty Jackson [D]

Bronagh Jessica Courtney Leen, Megan Haly

A Christmas Drop Steve Canty

Red Mary Red Brían Crotty

Hanging Over the Atlantic Fionn Walshe [D]

Ballast Jesse Gilbert

For full details see p. 35

All titles are eligible for the Best Cork Short Award, proudly presented by Red FM. denotes documentary eligible for Grand Prix Documentary Award. [D]

Italy, Switzerland

BAD TALES

The D’Innocenzo Brothers

When a heatwave hits the suburbs of Rome with all its power, parents and their kids are bathed in sweat, frustration, lost hopes and ambitions, and violence – verbal and physical – lurks behind the facades of their nice suburban homes. But it’s not the parents who will lead this community towards catastrophe but the kids. The winner of Best Script at the Berlin International Film Festival, the second feature from the talented D’Innocenzo brothers offers an Italian take on Michael Haneke. AK

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

SEURAPELI

Jenni Toivoniemi

Ever thought about inviting a group of friends for a surprise weekend birthday party to a remote villa? What could possibly go wrong, right? Many things, if there are secrets involved, and if the birthday girl doesn’t feel like celebrating her big day. As a special treat, this Finnish comedy about love, friendship and a weekend without mobile phones features Christian Hillborg as a Swedish actor famous for his role in a TV series about Vikings. AK

65TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

THE RACER

Kieron J Walsh

18:00 | GATE 18:30 | 20:15 | 20:45 | 21:00 GATE 18:30 | GATE MIDLETON | GATE MALLOW IRISH FICTION

© Vilja Harala

© Pepito Produzioni Amka Films

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER

BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS

Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross

19:15 | GATE

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets is an intriguing hybrid, melding an authentic environment with a constructed reality. Set in Las Vegas dive bar The Roaring Twenties – an unglamorous, yet accurate microcosm of America’s forgotten fringes – it acts as quiet voyeur to its marginalised patrons. As they drunkenly move in unison, the film captures the full spectrum of their emotions, creating an elegant and empathetic portrait of a complicated community whilst pushing the verité documentary form and blurring the lines of fact and fiction. RG

REBEL COUNTY

Pat Collins

19:30 | CITY HALL CLASSIC

During the shooting of Ken Loach’s The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006), filmmaker Pat Collins (Silence, Song of Granite) took this opportunity to explore the events of the War of Independence in the south-west of Ireland, whilst also documenting the filmmaking process. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage of cast and crew, the filming of key scenes and historical discussions between Loach and his cast, this rarely screened documentary balances real stories from the era with the filmic recreation of the period. SE Cillian Murphy’s costume is displayed as part of Cork Costume Trail. See p. 13

SIBERIA

Abel Ferrara

19:30 | TRISKEL

INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Clint (Willem Dafoe) is living in the snowy mountains, running a small local café, a little lost in his memories. One day, in an attempt to discover his true self, he embarks on a journey that takes him - physically, mentally and spiritually - to the very edge. Siberia is exciting, intriguing, and experimental – just the way we want it from the one-and-only Abel Ferrara. AK

CIFF2020 @HOME ONLINE

It’s not over yet! If you’ve missed out on any films, or like the flexibility of watching from home, our Digital Festival launches with The Racer on Saturday 8 November and continues all week from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 November. Most of the programme is available online, with some additional online exclusives (see p. 31). Full details at corkfilmfest.org.

2020 AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT

CIFF2020 Award winners will be announced online on Sunday 8 November. The Audience and Youth Jury Award winner will be announced online on Sunday 15 November at the end of the Digital Festival.

DIGITAL FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVES

One of the most exciting aspects of the reimagined CIFF2020 is the opportunity to reach audiences nationwide through our new Digital Festival. CIFF2020 Digital Festival launches with our 65th Anniversary Gala, The Racer, screening simultaneously in cinema and online on Sunday 8 November. The majority of the Festival programme will be available to view from home (9-15 November), with some additional Digital Festival Exclusives listed below. A few films have shorter ‘availability windows’ (indicated on their online listing); you’ll have a 30-hour ‘watch window’ once you start a film. Our digital platform is very easy to use and our customer service team is available to assist you with any questions. So log on, put your feet up, and join us for great films, Q&As with the filmmakers, and much more at corkfilmfest.org

MONDAY 9 - SUNDAY 15

NSF IN ASSOCIATION WITH CORK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS

CINECLUB 2020 WITH GERARD BYRNE

Cineclubs in Ireland were film clubs designed to get around strict Irish censorship laws, allowing them to screen works usually not shown by commercial cinemas or state television. For Cineclub 2020 internationally renowned Irish artist Gerard Byrne will select films that have influenced him and his art. A short introduction by Gerard will precede each screening.

Gerard Byrne is an Irish visual artist working with photographic, video and live art. In 2007 he represented Ireland in the Venice Biennale. He has exhibited in major international biennials and is represented in Ireland by Kerlin Gallery.

Visit corkfilmfest.org for further details and to book.

ROMANTIC IRELAND’S DEAD AND GONE

THE UCC LORD PUTTNAM SCHOLARS, 2020

Is Romantic Ireland, as Yeats decried, really dead and gone? This short film, produced by UCC’s Lord Puttnam Scholars, explores the disparities between our Romantic ideals and the realities of being Irish today. Free but ticketed. Visit corkfilmfest.org for further details and to book.

CIFF ONLINE LIBRARY

The CIFF Online Library is a video-on-demand platform where you can watch over 50 short films from previous programmes free of charge. To view the films visit watch.corkfilmfest.org/library

NOVEMBER

ONLINE-ONLY FEATURES

visit corkfilmfest.org for further details and to book

FAHIM, THE LITTLE CHESS PRINCE

This heartfelt drama is based on the true story of the eight-year-old French-Bangladeshi chess player and FIDE master Fahim Mohammad. AK

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland

HOME IS A SACRIFICE ZONE [WORLD PREMIERE]

Johnny Gogan | Ireland | 2020 | 80 mins | IRISH DOC

An emotive and highly personal account of the controversial issue of hydraulic fracturing in Ireland from filmmaker and activist Johnny Gogan. RG

THE SHERIFF

Grace Sweeney | Ireland | 2020 | 97 mins | IRISH DOC Framed through the lens of the recent sheriff election in Frederick, Maryland, The Sheriff presents an expertly crafted portrayal of contemporary US politics. RG

THE ARMOR OF LIGHT

Abigail E Disney | USA | 2015 | 87 mins | CLASSIC

This powerful documentary follows two unlikely allies as they attempt to make others consider the growing toll of gun violence in America. RG

EUNIC SHORT SHORTS FROM EUROPE

Action, comedy, animation, drama – expect this and more from Short Shorts – a selection of European short films from eight countries that are members of EUNIC Ireland (European Union National Institutes for Culture).

Programme: Norma, Artem Silendi, My Brother Juan, Soap & Skin – Italy & (this is) Water, Grandad was a Romantic, Tasks of the Day, Break Us, The Last Five Minutes of the World, Tribulations Irlandaises, The Last Organist, Food Connects Us

Free but ticketed.

Visit corkfilmfest.org for further details and to book.

AMBASSADE DE FRANCE EN IRLANDE

SHORTS

FÍS ÉIREANN/ SCREEN IRELAND SHORTS

AEMI: SIGNALS & CIRCUITS

A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF SCREEN IRELAND’S NEW SHORT FILMS.

Please note, some of the shorts in this programme feature adult content.

HER SONG

Éabha Bortolozzo, Jack Kirwan | Ireland | 2020 | 7 mins

The banshee’s song comforts Peggy as she unspools the threads of her past, revealing her story to her granddaughter, Eve.

BARRY [WP]

John Robert Brown | Ireland | 2020 | 4 mins

Susan is trying to enjoy a spot of gardening when her neighbour’s maddening dog destroys the peace.

STIR

Rory Bresnihan | Ireland | 2020 | 14 mins

Having recently lost his wife, an old man takes on more than he can handle.

THE DEAD HANDS OF DUBLIN

Leo Crowley | Ireland | 2020 | 8 mins

Sometimes the only thing between life and death is a snap of your fingers.

HUM [WP]

Maureen O’Connell | Ireland | 2020 | 8 mins

A tormented man looks for a moment of sanctuary and solitude in a quiet gallery room. His wish is not granted.

EXPULSION

Sinéad Murphy | Ireland | 2020 | 10 mins True horror bears the face of Man.

7 FEET 9¼ INCHES [WP]

Peter O’ Brien | Ireland, Gibraltar | 2020 | 12 mins

The story of a young girl defying gender stereotypes and turning heads in the highly competitive world of youth darts.

THE FEAR [WP]

Stevie Russell | Ireland | 2020 | 6 mins

A monster, who specializes in making people feel terrible, is forced to face himself.

Curated by aemi, artist experimental moving image, Signals & Circuits is a programme of contemporary moving image work by Irish and international artists exploring ideas relating to communication, travel, surveillance and technology.

BLUE HONDA CIVIC

Jussi Eerola | Finland | 2020 | 11 mins

A minimalistic road movie mirroring the emotions of the driver through the landscapes (s)he has chosen to look at.

P45

Laura Fitzgerald | Ireland | 2017 | 16 mins

While walking through the local landscape, the artist’s inner voice is heard speculating, at a frenzied pace, about where all the artists have disappeared to.

YOGA FOR THE EYES

Michelle Doyle, Eva Richardson-McCrea, Coilin O’Connell with Jenn Moore | Ireland | 2018 | 24 mins

A video assemblage using archival footage, diagrams and animated objects to recount a non-linear exploration of free parties, festivals, riots and Celtic mysticism.

A STATE OF GRACE

John Smith | UK | 2019 | 3 mins

Enigmatic diagrams and the artist’s poor hearing on a flight to Ireland trigger a radical interpretation of the airline’s safety instructions.

HACKED CIRCUIT

Deborah Stratman | USA | 2014 | 15 mins

While portraying a Foley artist at work, typically invisible support mechanisms of filmmaking are exposed, revealing multiple layers of fabrication and imposition.

RECEIVER

Jenny Brady | Ireland | 2019 | 15 mins

‘Receiver’ explores fraught histories of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell and his legacy within Deaf culture in order to trouble notions of speech, communication and privilege.

IRISH SHORTS

IRISH SHORTS 1

LOVE & FRIENDSHIP

Thu 5 Nov | 13:45 | Gate | 87 mins

DRIFTING

Robert Higgins, Patrick McGivney | Ireland | 2020 | 14 mins

Two lifelong friends in a small rural town find themselves at odds for the first time as their lifestyles begin to move in opposite directions.

Producers: Robert Higgins, Patrick McGivney, Chris Higgins, Tomas Devaney, Jason Gaynor

HANDFASTING [C]

Magdalena Wodzisz | Ireland | 2019 | 9 mins

There is only one thing that stands between Niamh and her future happiness: a wedding superstition.

Producer: Gerard McAuliffe

APRIL 9TH

Tom Pigot | Ireland | 2020 | 19 mins

We live with the choices we make – good or bad – and move on. For some, that’s easier said than done.

L’ARGOMENTO!

Reuben Harvey | Ireland | 2019 | 8 mins

Who wins a musical argument?

Producers: Robert Montgomery, Luke Murphy

LOVING AVA [C]

Kate Daly | Ireland | 2019 | 9 mins

Confusion and betrayal is brought out in a friendship between two young girls when they begin to take topless photos.

POST LOVE

Max Barry | Ireland | 2020 | 12 mins

Three elderly women from the West of Ireland rob post offices to break free from their nursing homes.

Producers: Erik Scarsella, Max Barry

4X4 [C]

Ayla Amano | Ireland | 2020 | 16 mins

Tensions mount between teenage sisters as they each grapple with their ties to the family farm.

Producer: Aisling Malone

Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

IRISH SHORTS 5

ALTERED STATES

Fri 6 Nov | 12:30 | Gate | 87 mins

CHANGING DATES Femi Falana | Ireland | 2020 | 11 mins

Over a series of five dates, a young woman uses time travel to make her and her date more comfortable.

Producers: Nathalie De Hertog, Femi Falana

HOW TO FALL IN LOVE IN A PANDEMIC [D]

Michael-David McKernan | Ireland, USA | 2020 | 11 mins

A capsule romance accelerates dramatically against the backdrop of the pandemic.

BOXED UP [C] Lochlainn McKenna | Ireland | 2020 | 10 mins

The final piece of a relationship trades hands for the last time.

Producer: Seamus Waters

THE LONG SUMMER - STILL TO COME?

David Simmons | Ireland, Germany | 2020 | 2 mins

A short film tribute to the late James Simmons, the wellknown Irish poet and songwriter.

FOREST Dermott Burns | Northern Ireland | 2020 | 3 mins

A reflection upon humanity’s ignorance of its destructive nature.

PLEASE BE SEATED [D] Kevin Scott | Ireland | 2019 | 5 mins | Subtitled

For most, taking a seat doesn’t merit a moment’s thought; but for some it can be a daily struggle.

THE PRESENCE OF ABSENCE Laura Conlon | Ireland | 2020 | 3 mins | Black and White

A poetic art film that explores a young girl’s attempts to belong as she struggles with her identity.

IARSCOLÁIRE (PAST PUPIL) [D]

Shaun Dunne | Ireland | 2019 | 13 mins | Subtitled

An abandoned school building in Dublin opens its doors to former pupils for one day only...

Producer: Aideen Howard

FALLOW TABLE

Jessica Kennedy, Megan Kennedy, Luca Truffarelli | Ireland | 2020 | 7 mins Balloons across an abandoned car park. Soil on a dining table. Identical twins dress for a funeral party.

Producer: Zlata Filipovic

ARENA Helen Warner | Northern Ireland | 2020 | 13 mins

Stand eye to eye with the Patriarchal Beast.

Producer: Marie-Therese Mackle

DÚIRT TÚ (YOU SAID )

Shaun Dunne, Zoe Ni Riordain | Ireland | 2020 | 9 mins | subtitled

Two former partners are divided by distance. One wishes to reconnect, the other refuses to answer the call.

Producer: One Two One Two

Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

IRISH SHORTS

IRISH SHORTS 3

EERIE IRELANDIA

Sat 7 Nov | 11:30 | Gate | 91 mins

A VERY LONG DISTANCE PHONECALL

Daniel Kehelly | Northern Ireland | 2019 | 9 mins

Coming to terms with death in the most unlikely way.

NIGHT LIGHTS

Edel McCormick | Northern Ireland | 2019 | 13 mins

Our Girl spends her nights staring into the night sky. All she wants is for her mother to come home.

Producers: Katy Taylor, Edel McCormick

WHERE STILL WATERS LIE

Adam O’Keeffe | Ireland | 2020 | 19 mins

A couple drifting apart leave gaps for more than just silence, turning a healing weekend away into a horror of mistrust.

Producers: Edwin Mullane, Sinead O’Shaughnessy, Adam O’Keeffe

TENT [C]

Noel Holmes | Ireland | 2019 | 13 mins

Two friends on the last night of a camping trip in an isolated area realise that someone is watching them...

SINS

OF A WEREWOLF

David Prendeville | Ireland | 2020 | 22 mins

When a seasoned parish priest is bitten by a mysterious animal, he begins transforming into a werewolf every full moon.

Producers: Michael Byrne, Eoin Canny, David Prendeville

AFTERLIFE

Daniel Butler | Ireland | 2019 | 15 mins

An unhappy family man gets a second chance when he wakes up as a vampire, only to struggle to follow through with his dreams of escape.

Producer: Maggie Ryan

Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

IRISH SHORTS 4 TENSION STRUCTURES

Sun 8 Nov | 12:15 | Gate | 85 mins

TOMMY [C]

Grizzly (Rua Meegan, Trevor Whelan) | Ireland / 2020 | 7 mins

An inner-city kid faces a brutal choice when a manipulative gang lay his father’s debt on him.

Producer: Dawn Mac Allister

VICISSITUDES

Sofia Bwcka | Ireland | 2020 | 15 mins | Subtitled

When a teenage boy kills himself, his restless mother believes he’s trying to communicate from beyond the grave.

Producers: Sofia Bwcka, Cathal Feeney

THE APPOINTMENT

David Moody | Northern Ireland | 2019 | 17 mins

A young man must find a way to connect with his ailing mother.

Producer: Louise Sinclair

ALGORITHM

Edwina Casey | Ireland | 2019 | 9 mins

When nervy Al has an absurd encounter with a stranger, he begins to question his whole identity.

Producers: Richard Bolger, Lara Hickey

FLICKER *

Luke Daly, Nathan Fagan | Ireland | 2020 | 21 mins

In the aftermath of a violent assault, twentysomething

Danny struggles to accept the full extent of his injuries.

Producer: Aaron McEnaney

THE ANDERSON CORPORATION WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Kealan Ryan | Ireland | 2020 | 16 mins

When given the opportunity to fix a broken life, a man struggles to figure out where it all went wrong.

Producers: Mark Ryan, Kealan Ryan

* Please note: film contains flashing images

SHORTS

IRISH SHORTS 5

STORIES

FROM CORK

Sun 8 Nov | 16:30 | City Hall | 88 mins

LISTEN [C, D]

Aoise Tutty Jackson | Ireland | 2020 | 19 mins

Through three interwoven portraits, we explore the importance of our ‘listening’ sense.

Producer: Maggie Ryan

BRONAGH [C]

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 1

FAMILY TIES

Jessica Courtney Leen, Megan Haly | Ireland, UK | 2020 | 13 mins

Bronagh isolates herself in a foreign place to be alone with grief but, caught between imagination and reality, she invents some contrary coping mechanisms.

Producer: Jessica Courtney Leen

A CHRISTMAS DROP [C]

Steve Canty | Ireland | 2020 | 14 mins | Subtitled

An Irish pub. Christmas Eve. Phenomenal company.

Producer: Steve Canty

RED MARY RED [C]

Brían Crotty | Ireland | 2020 | 17 mins

An 18th-century Irish farmer, robbed and humiliated by the Redcoats, negotiates his livelihood deep in the wild country.

Producer: Brían Crotty

HANGING OVER THE ATLANTIC [C, D]

Fionn Walshe | Ireland | 2019 | 9 mins

Dursey is linked to the mainland by cable car. This lifeline allows people to call it home.

Producer: Fionn Walshe

BALLAST [C]

Jesse Gilbert | Ireland, UK | 2020 | 16 mins | Subtitled

Beset by grief, a man builds himself the means to escape the pain of his existence.

Producer: Jesse Gilbert

Thu 5 Nov | 11:30 | Gate | 88 mins

THE SIGN (ZNAK)

Sara firmly disagrees about her granddaughter’s wedding plan. To convince her not to marry, she takes Andrea to her husband’s grave and begs him for a sign.

Producers: Amra Baksic Camo, Armin Hadzic, Dominique Welinski

BECHORA ( בכורה)

Maya Armon / UK / 2020 / 9 mins

A day in the lives of an 11-year-old kid with special needs and his 14-year-old sister.

Producer: Natalie Melamed

CHLORINE

Melissa Anastasi / Australia / 2019 / 17 mins

A child thief frequents the local aquatic centre, searching for more than the items she steals.

Producer: Jess Carrera

BIRTHDAY GIRL

Portia A Buckley / UK / 2019 / 17 mins

A single mother’s 43rd birthday party ends in disaster when her lover unexpectedly arrives and clashes with her overprotective son.

Producers: Jason Maza, Michael Lindley

GABRIEL (JABRAIL)

Yousef Kargar / Iran / 2020 / 20 mins / Subtitled

Gabriel is a middle-aged man who lives with his son. His wife has been lost for some time…

Producers: Ali Ziaei, Yousef Kargar

DAVID

Zach Woods / USA / 2020 / 12 mins

David needs help. So does David.

Producers: Kevin Chinoy, Francesca Silvestri, Zach Woods, Andrew Porter

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 2

WORLDS OF POSSIBILITY

Fri 6 Nov | 11:00 | Gate | 87 mins

BANANA

Bjarke Underbjerg | Denmark | 2020 | 20 mins | Subtitled Life is about to change for aspiring actress Nana, as we meet her the day before a callback from the illustrious Royal Theatre.

Producers: Christian Lønhart, Cornelia Hyrup

CHUJ BOYS OF SUMMER

Max Walker-Silverman | USA, Guatemala | 2020 | 17 mins | Subtitled Speaking only his native language, a Guatemalan teenager begins his new life in rural Colorado.

Producers: Jesse Hope, Grant Hyun, Felipe Jorge

FROM TIME TO TIME I BURN (DE VEZ EM QUANDO EU ARDO)

Carlos Segundo | Brazil, France | 2020 | 15 mins | Subtitled Louise is a photographer who seeks the symbiosis of bodies. Tereza is a Franciscan nun who does not want to give up her body.

Producers: Carlos Segundo, Cristiano Barbosa, Damien Megherbi, Justin Pechberty

GOODBYE GOLOVIN

Mathieu Grimard | Canada, Ukraine | 2020 | 14 mins | Subtitled Ian Golovin is leaving behind everything he knows today, nothing will ever feel the same — or will it?

Producer: Simon Corriveau

WHAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, IF I HADN’T STAYED AT HOME

(WAS WAHRSCHEINLICH PASSIERT WÄRE, WÄRE ICH NICHT ZUHAUSE GEBLIEBEN)

Willy Hans | Germany | 2020 | 21 mins | Subtitled Five people, one living room.

Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 3

FREE RADICALS

Fri 6 Nov | 13:45 | Gate | 92 mins

UNTITLED SEQUENCE OF GAPS [D]

Vika Kirchenbauer | Germany | 2020 | 13 mins

An essay film approaching trauma-related memory loss via reflections on light outside the visible spectrum.

YOUR OWN BULLSHIT (WŁASNE ŚMIECI)

Daria Kopiec | Poland | 2020 | 7 mins | Subtitled

There’s nothing better than dinner with family. Though it remains a looped script that repeats itself infinitely. Recited singingly for many long years.

Producer: Ewa Jastrzębska

THE END OF SUFFERING (A PROPOSAL)

Jacqueline Lentzou | Greece | 2020 | 14 mins | Subtitled Sofia is panicky, again. The universe decides to contact her. An other-wordly dialogue. A planet symphony for Mars, where people dream awake and fight for love.

Producer: Fenia Cossovitsa

A LITTLE LOOPY Sunny Stanila | Canada | 2019 | 10 mins

An emotional journey through abstract loops, harmony and dissonance.

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FEET [D]

Jeppe Lange | Denmark | 2019 | 7 mins

It’s funny how everybody seems to sympathise with the string quartet that kept playing, even though the ship was going down.

Producer: Cornelia Hyrup

SIGNAL 8 [D] * Simon Liu | Hong Kong, USA, UK | 2019 | 14 mins

Disconnected from daily life, Simon Liu’s incursion into the alienation of Hong Kong is an enigmatic symphony of the city’s discordance and fury.

Producers: Rachael Lawe, Michelle Miles

KOPIERWERK *

Stefanie Weberhofer | Austria | 2020 | 7 mins | Black and White The cinema is a machine.

LABOR OF LOVE * Sylvia Schedelbauer | Germany | 2020 | 12 mins

An expanding feeling, unfolding new inflections — forever different, forever changing.

INFLORESCENCE [D] Nicolaas Schmidt | Germany | 2020 | 8 mins

A Romantic Conceptualism bedtime fable of resistance and redundance. Let’s unite to inflorescence!

Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

* Please note: film contains flashing images

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 4

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

Sat 7 Nov | 13:45 | Gate | 91 mins

29 HOUR LONG BIRTHDAY

Mark Jenkin | UK | 2020 | 6 mins | Black and White

A movie-inspired black and white reminiscence across NYC and Long Island in the build-up to a trip to the pictures.

Producer: Mark Jenkin

3 LOGICAL EXITS [D]

Mahdi Fleifel | Denmark, UK, Lebanon | 2020 | 15 mins | Subtitled

A sociological meditation on the different ‘exits’ that young Palestinians choose in order to cope with life in the refugee camps.

Producer: Mahdi Fleifel

THE OCEANS ARE THE REAL CONTINENTS

(LOS OCÉANOS SON LOS VERDADEROS CONTINENTES) [D]

Against a decadent Cuban background, Alex and Edith live their love story made of small daily gestures, stories from the past, nostalgia, and a deep intimacy.

Producers: Lav Diaz, Gianluca Arcopinto, Tommaso Santambrogio

BITTERSWEET [D]

Sohrab Hura | India | 2019 | 13 mins

A portrait of the filmmaker’s mother, who was diagnosed with acute paranoid schizophrenia, and her dog, Elsa.

Producer: Sohrab Hura

NOCTURNAL JOURNEY [D]

Mats Christian Rude Halvorsen | Norway | 2020 | 21 mins | Subtitled

Set in 2007 in a small coastal town in Norway, ‘Nocturnal Journey’ is a story about the summer when a group of teenagers, each in their own way, lose their innocence.

Producer: Stine Blichfeldt

JUST A GUY [D]

Shoko Hara | Germany | 2020 | 15 mins

Three women contemplate their relationship with convicted serial killer Richard Ramirez.

Producer: Stefan Michel

Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS 5

CERTAINTY & DOUBT

Sun 8 Nov | 14:45 | Gate | 90 mins

FRIENDS

Florian Grolig | Germany | 2019 | 8 mins

Two friends. The ‘small’ one is, well, small, and the ‘big’ one definitely very, very big.

BLUE FEAR (FILLES BLEUES, PEUR BLANCHE)

Marie Jacotey, Lola Halifa-Legrand | France | 2020 | 10 mins | Subtitled Nils is driving Flora to his parents for the first time when they get ambushed. While she’s made prisoner, he flees.

Producers: Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, Pierre Baussaron

THE NEWS

Lorin Terezi | Albania, Spain | 2020 | 23 mins | Subtitled

The discovery of a corpse has a small town scrambling for coverage on national television.

Producers: Anila Balla, Eduardo M Escribano Solera

SOUKOON

Farah Shaer | Lebanon | 2019 | 14 mins | Subtitled

While her marital life decays, Mariam gets pregnant.

Producer: Lucien Bourjeily

STAYING (AROS MAE)

Zillah Bowes | UK | 2020 | 20 mins

A woman from the city has a brief but life-changing connection with a hill farmer and the landscape in remote Mid Wales.

Producer: Jack Thomas-O’Brien

SUDDEN LIGHT

Sophie Littman | UK | 2020 | 15 mins

Two sisters become plunged into a powerless limbo in the face of oncoming grief.

Producer: Tom Wood

Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

WORKSHOPS FAMILY SHORTS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Sat 7 Nov | 11:00 | Gate | 82 mins | Suitable for age 5+

ARCHIE’S BAT Shannon Egan | Ireland | 2019 | 3 mins

A young boy makes an unlikely bond with an injured bat.

THE PRIEST’S LEAP Polly Holland | Ireland | 2019 | 2 mins

Two grannies tell their grandchild a local legend. But they can’t agree on the details…

METHOD Polly Holland | Ireland | 2020 | 6 mins | Subtitled All Square Boi wants is his cuppa and he’s willing to face insanity for it.

THE RECKOLAHESPERUS Mary Smyth | Ireland | 2020 | 3 mins

Sam’s misunderstanding of what his mother says leads him to have quite an unexpected adventure!

FISHERMAN Narae Kim, Lewis Barfoot | Ireland, South Korea | 2020 | 5 mins ‘Fisherman’ follows the story of a young girl’s journey to reconnect with her ancestral heritage.

THE PEAK Satoshi Takahashi | Japan | 2020 | 5 mins

An adventure story familiar to all of us: overcoming your fear of the dark when nature calls! Producer: Haruhiro Uchida

RAWR Sorcha McGlinchey | UK, Ireland | 2020 | 3 mins

Clíodhna is excited to see her favourite dinosaur movie in the cinema, but then lockdown happens... Producer: Lisa Di Lucia

MELTING HEART CAKE Benoît Chieux | France | 2019 | 11 mins

To share a cake with her friend, Anna must cross a glacial forest inhabited by a terrifying giant. Producer: Ron Dyens

OEIL POUR OEIL Thomas Boileau, Alan Guimont, Robin Courtoise, Mathieu Lecroq, Malcolm Hunt, François Briantais | France | 2020 | 6 mins

A one-eyed pirate captain is determined to find treasure, no matter what!

MISHOU Milen Vitanov | Germany, Bulgaria | 2020 | 8 mins

The lives of four lively Arctic hares take a turn after discovering a strange new creature.

Producers: Milen Vitanov, Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova

REHAK Pierre B | UK, France | 2020 | 7 mins

A young girl discovers Rehak, a magical drawing hidden behind her bedroom wall. Producer: Antoine Garnier

BLUE Megan Devaney | Ireland | 2020 | 8 mins

Feelings can be hard for a six-year-old to understand; luckily Katie has friends to help her out. Producer: Finbarr Crotty

TINA TIMES TWO Bonnie Dempsey | Ireland | 2020 | 15 mins

A lonely girl’s wish comes true when she gains a magical friend: an exact double of herself!

Producers: Una Shinners, David O’Sullivan, Bonnie Dempsey Where no producer is credited, director is also producer

FILM JOURNALISM ONLINE WORKSHOP

A new pilot initiative for third-level film students interested in developing their skills in film criticism. This one-day training programme will explore the different aspects of film journalism and its career paths, with a keynote address from a high-profile film critic as a focal point of the event, as well as practical film writing opportunities at the Festival.

Sat 7 November | 10:30

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

FIRST CUT! ONLINE YOUTH FILMMAKING WORKSHOP

In partnership with First Cut! Youth Film Festival, Cork International Film Festival is delighted to present a twoday online filmmaking workshop for young filmmakers aged 14 to 17 years. The workshops will be facilitated by Cork Young Filmmakers and led via Zoom by professional filmmaking tutors from Cork Film Centre.

Sun 8 & 15 November | 10:00 to 14:00

Places are free but limited and must be booked in advance. Participants must be able to attend both workshop days.

SCHOOLS

SCHOOLS ONLINE

Cork International Film Festival is delighted to present two Irish premiere French titles, All Hands On Deck (À l’abordage) and Fahim The Little Chess Prince, in our new online Schools’ Programme, available direct to your classroom’s digital whiteboard via CIFF’s digital festival platform. These specially selected titles will be available to view on demand, and will support film in school curricula across Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle in French.

Online: Mon 9 - Fri 13 November

€150 per viewing fee with up to 50 students. €250 per viewing fee with more than 50 students. For booking and enquiries contact schools@corkfilmfest.org

Leaving Cert: French À L’ABORDAGE

Guillaume Brac | France | 2020 | 95 mins

Subtitled | Comedy | Age Recommendation: 15+

When Felix convinces his best friend to accompany him on a surprise visit to his new love, things don’t go to plan in Guillaume Brac’s delightfully fresh and fun film.

Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland and Alliance Française Cork.

Junior Cycle: French

FAHIM, THE LITTLE CHESS PRINCE

Pierre François Martin-Laval | France | 2019 | 107 mins

Subtitled | Comedy-Drama | Age Recommendation: 9+

This heartfelt drama is based on the true story of eight-yearold French-Bangladeshi chess player Fahim Mohammad. Presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland.

INTINN

Cork International Film Festival is delighted to present ‘Intinn’, a new film and mental health programme for Transition Year students nationwide, delivered direct to your classroom online. ‘Intinn’, meaning ‘mind’ or ‘way of thinking’, offers students the opportunity to explore themes of mental health and personal well-being through the accessible medium of film, digital Q&As with filmmakers and a wellbeing workshop, led by youth mental health specialists.

Online: Tue 10 – Fri 13 November

Screening: I Used to Live Here

Q&A with director Frank Berry, actor Jordanne Jones and Dr Tony Bates. Wellbeing webinar with Dr Johnny Goodwin, supported by classroom packs.

€100 per viewing fee (up to 50 students)

€200 per viewing fee (over 50 students)

For booking/enquiries contact schools@corkfilmfest.org

Proudly supported by Creative Ireland, ESB Energy for Generations Fund and Rethink Ireland.

INDUSTRY EVENTS ONLINE

Due to the ongoing situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, Cork International Film Festival will deliver its industry events online to enable ﬁlmmakers all over the island of Ireland to attend. Industry sessions will be available on our dedicated industry portal and are free of charge.

First Take is a training and development platform for newly established film professionals, emerging filmmakers, film and media students, and the wider film industry, comprising case studies, presentations and panel discussions. Its intention is to promote fresh thinking amongst emerging and working filmmakers, inspiring them to be proactive in creating and promoting their own film work. Sessions will focus on Irish feature film The Bright Side (world premiering at CIFF2020), the current state of play for festival programming and film exhibition, and navigating film production in the age of Covid-19.

Sessions will take place on Monday 9 November, and will be available for catch-up on the Cork International Film Festival online platform until Sunday 15 November.

FIRST TAKE DOC DAY

Cork International Film Festival 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, with the objective of helping to inform, inspire and develop opportunities within the global documentary landscape.

Doc Day will profile a keynote interview with filmmaker, activist and philanthropist Abigail Disney, and explore subjects including the emotional and personal risks of non-fiction filmmaking, working with your subjects, and the interaction of art and advocacy in documentary.

The event will also include a special cross-border collaboration with the Docs Ireland Film Festival to coincide with the launch of our IGNITE Documentary Talent Development Programme, a long-term partnership seeking to foster a new generation of Irish documentary filmmakers from the north and south of Ireland, which will host its first training element at CIFF2020.

Sessions will take place on Tuesday 10 November, and will be available for catch-up on the Cork International Film Festival online platform until Sunday 15 November.

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

Doc Day keynote guest, filmmaker, activist and philanthropist Abigail Disney in conversation with Fiona Clark, CIFF Director and CEO