Midweek slump? Perk yourself up with a trip to the cinema to catch some unmissable films at Cork International Film Festival.
Read on to discover programme highlights for Wednesday, 16th November, including a great selection of films by Bárbara Wagner and Benjamin de Burca presented by the National Sculpture Factory, captivating Irish world premiere short films in Irish Shorts 2: In Competition, and a documentary about hyper-competitive roof-top pigeon fanciers in Kash Kash – Without Feathers We Can’t Live.
Among many filmmaker guests coming to Cork this year, tomorrow evening we are thrilled to welcome comedian and actor Patrick Kielty, and director and actor Prasanna Puwanarajah, who will be in attendance to talk about their feature Ballywalter at the Gate Cinema.
All Festival tickets and passes (including our 5 Film Cinema Pass) are on sale now at corkfilmfest.org and the myCIFF app.
DON’T MISS – BALLYWALTER
+ PATRICK KIELTY & PRASANNA PUWANARAJAH Q&A
A bittersweet comedy-drama about friendship, humour, and how to cope with difficult times, Ballywalter is a story of an unlikely friendship. Featuring Seána Kerslake and Patrick Kielty, this film follows Eileen, a lost soul living with her mother and sister in a backwater Northern Irish town, who earns her living as an unlicensed taxi driver. In spite of her discontent with life, she discovers that an unexpected relationship develops when she meets an aspiring stand-up comedian.
“Ballywalter is an ode to the gifts of listening, reaching out and finding friendships among the minutiae of everyday life and how challenges can be faced with a healthy dollop of self-belief and encouragement; even tough love” Belfast Telegraph.
Director Prasanna Puwanarajah and Patrick Kielty will be in attendance and will participate in a post-screening Q&A on Wed 16th November.
Gate Cinema – Wed 16 – 20:00
SPECIAL GUESTS AT CIFF
The National Sculpture Factory presents three films by artists Bárbara Wagner and Benjamin de Burca
One Hundred Steps, 2020
The eighth collaborative film of Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca references the work of Bob Quinn, an Irish filmmaker whose productions in the 1980s focused on the role that North African cultures have played in the formation of Irish culture.
Swinguerra, 2019
Commissioned for the Brazilian Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale, Swinguerra was developed with dance groups from the outskirts of Recife, Northeast of Brazil and follows their intense routine of rehearsals performing rhythms.
Terremoto Santo / Holy Tremor, 2017
A musical that observes the gestures and the voice of people who see in religion a new form of entrepreneurship.
There will be a Q+A between an invited chair and the artists between the screenings.
Triskel – Wed 16 – 20:00
Irish Shorts 2: In Competition
Discover Irish and world premieres, featuring the mysterious, the poetic, and the intuitive, featuring multifaceted films utilising incredible acting, dancing, and music, to convey expressive and intimate stories.
Also online on Friday, 18th November
Gate Cinema – Wed 16 – 17:30
This heartwarming documentary by co-directors and married couple Andela and Davor, follows their travels around the world to learn about love, the various ways that people meet and to explore their rituals and traditions.
Directors Davor Rostuhar & Anđela Rostuhar will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A. Listen to their interview with Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk.
Gate Cinema – Wed 16 – 18:00
DISCOVERY CHOICE
Where is This Street? or With No Before And After
Filmed during the pandemic in the empty streets of Lisbon, this love letter to cinema and to Portuguese director Paulo Rocha is a playful meditation on the 1963 Cinema Novo movement classic The Green Years, all complemented perfectly by lively cinematography and a moving soundtrack by cellist Severine Ballon.
Part of our International Docs
Triskel – Wed 16 – 15:30
Kash Kash – Without Feathers We Can’t Live
Lea Najjar’s debut documentary feature is a bittersweet portrait of the rooftops and pigeon coops of Beirut, where many men play a game of catch the pigeon, known as ‘Kash Kash’. No matter how bad corruption deepens Lebanon’s economic crisis, there is always the lure of these commonplace birds that bring people together across the capital city.
Nominated for our Award for Cinematic Documentary
Gate Cinema – Wed 16 – 16:30
CIFF QUIZ NIGHT
Are you the biggest film fanatic this side of the River Lee? Do you think you know more about films than the entire CIFF programming team put together?
Put your cinephile skills at our CIFF Quiz Night TONIGHT, Wednesday 16th November at Bodega, Cornmarket Street, Cork, 7.30pm – 9.30pm.
The first ’round’ is on us (a beer or non-alcoholic beer) and thereafter drinks can be purchased at Bodega’s bar. This is a free event for teams of up to 6 people or, you can join a team and meet other like-minded film fanatics. Places are limited and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis. Book now to reserve your table or seat ASAP.
FESTIVAL CLUB IN THE PAVILION
Soak up the Festival atmosphere and enjoy our refreshing, specially created Festival Cocktail ‘Guilty Pleasure’ in the beautiful, cinematic surroundings of The Pavilion, Carey’s Lane, Cork, every night during the Festival from 9.30pm.
Hosted by The Pavilion and sponsored by our official Drinks Partner, Murphy’s.
