Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) is at the forefront of Ireland’s film culture. By curating and presenting a programme of exceptional films, our vision is for a film festival recognised and respected around the world for its record of launching and nurturing the careers of the filmmakers of tomorrow. We celebrate award-winning films alongside emerging talent, providing a unique festival experience in Ireland, delivering a depth of engagement for audiences through the medium of film in all its diverse forms, and the opportunity to see these films first in Cork.
You can submit your film now via the online submissions platform FilmFreeway or find out more information here. With that in mind, here are 10 reasons why you should submit and premiere your film at CIFF:
1. Ireland’s First & Largest Film Festival
Cork International Film Festival connects and stimulates audiences and artists through a carefully curated selection of the best films, creating a unique shared cultural experience rooted in Cork, open to the world. The International Federation of Film Producers Association recognised the first film festival in Cork at their 1950 congress in Cannes, one of only five worldwide, and today Cork International Film Festival has continued to grow and is one of only a few festivals in Ireland to present three Oscar®-qualifying awards in 2023.
The Festival showcases features, documentaries, and shorts from international and Irish filmmakers, as well as programmes for schools and families, including Doc Day, cementing its status as the main festival for documentary in Ireland. The festival also offers Culinary Cinema (film and food), Green Screen (film and the environment), Guilty Pleasures (cult classics), and Illuminate (film and mental health). Additionally, in 2022, CIFF announced multi-award and Oscar®-winning producer Lord David Puttnam as Festival Patron.
“The Festival plays a vital role in the cultural life of Cork, maximising participation for audiences and artists in a shared creative experience,” Oscar®-winning producer and CIFF Patron Lord David Puttnam.
2. Academy Award®-Qualifying Awards and More
We look for interesting new voices and work that pushes boundaries and takes risks and celebrate and champion excellence in filmmaking alongside emerging talent by welcoming submissions of features and shorts, and all forms of film production through our 11 Awards, three of which are Academy Award®-qualifying. CIFF’s reach, from Cork to Hollywood, is unparalleled, and additionally, CIFF submits a short film nomination to the European Short Film Awards every year, and filmmakers whose British shorts are selected for competition in the Festival’s Grand Prix International Short competition may enter their films for BAFTA and BIFA consideration.
3. Extensive Marketing Coverage
If selected, your film will receive premiere status at one of the world’s oldest and most impactful film festivals and will be part of CIFF promotional campaigns across a range of channels. This includes our Festival brochure (5,000 print copies & online version available as well), social media platforms (43,000+ followers), e-newsletter (9,300+ subscribers), Festival website (32,000+ users in 2022) and more, offering consistent coverage before and during the Festival.
4. Audiences of Over 30,000 People
CIFF attracts cinema-goers and industry personnel from all walks of life. At the 67th Festival in 2022, there were 34,463 people in attendance over 11 days, through special events, screenings, talks and our Cork Film Trail which brought the Festival into the city centre, animating and amplifying our presence in Cork.
5. Meet Other Filmmakers
Like any film festival, the opportunity to meet and mingle with like-minded filmmakers is a chance not to be missed, offering valuable industry contacts and relationships to be developed. CIFF hosts an exclusive Festival Club and events where you can meet filmmakers from around the world in a creative and stimulating setting for a drink following screenings every night of the Festival.
6. Exclusive Industry Events
During the Festival, our Industry Days create exclusive access to networking, information, and training sessions from film professionals for all kinds of filmmakers. Our events include First Take, a training and development event for film and media students, emerging filmmakers and newly established film professionals, supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán. Our Doc Day seeks to inform, inspire and connect established and emerging directors, producers and writers with international producers, directors, programmers, sales agents, distributors and film sector leaders to further understand and develop opportunities in the documentary landscape, in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and supported by Coimisiún na Meán.
7. Filmmaking Career Boost
With an audience from across Ireland and the globe attending the Festival every year, there is a multitude of opportunities offered to established and emerging filmmakers through screening their films at CIFF. For example, a range of industry distributors, producers and filmmakers alike attending the festival may notice your film and reach out. The only way to know is by submitting your film now!
8. Expansive Short Film Programme
We champion filmmakers and films of all kinds and have supported shorts filmmakers throughout the past 68 years. Our consistent focus has been on finding and screening the very best of short films from Ireland and across the world in various programmes, including local Cork films, European, international, and experimental shorts.
9. Programmes Available In Cinema & Online
Do you want your film screened across the island of Ireland as well as in Cork? Films screened in multiple cinemas and venues across Cork City can also be selected to be screened online nationwide via Eventive, our Digital Festival Platform, creating even more reach for your film and accessing diverse audiences.
10. Discover All Kinds of Films
Not only will your film be a part of our ambitious and exciting programme, but you will also get the chance to discover outstanding films of every kind at the Festival that will be sure to inspire and entertain.
Submit your film now via the online submissions platform FilmFreeway or find out more information here.
