Page 7 - Cork Film Festival 2019 Brochure

INTRODUCTION
Fiona Clark
Festival Director and CEO
Cork Film Festival is a truly unique festival, strongly influenced by the distinctive attributes of this vibrant port city, whilst wholly connected to the global film community reflected in our programme. Whilst we celebrate award- winning films from around the globe, we continue to fiercely champion new talent.
I would like to thank the Board who generously give
of their time and expertise, and our brilliant team who collectively make the Festival happen. In particular, I wish to thank Michael Hayden for so skilfully shaping the Festival’s programme during his three-year tenure as Programme Director. With over 90% of the programme being Irish premieres, and 200 filmmakers gathering in Cork, we promise a rich melting pot where audiences and artists can share great storytelling on film together.
We have exciting plans for our 65th anniversary next
year, expanding our new film and mental health outreach programme, Intinn, to reach 2,000 Transition Year students by the end of 2020. We have also committed to the 50/50 by 2020 pledge for gender parity and inclusion in film festivals, and we will continue to play a leading role in shaping film culture in Ireland.
Thank you for your continued support.
While it’s always exciting to be in the position where we can finally reveal what we have spent a year working on, there is a tinge of sadness that the 64th programme will be the last I present for Cork Film Festival. It has been a genuine honour to have had the opportunity for the last three years to contribute to such a vital cultural event that has a rich history and, one hopes, a bright future.
As you read the brochure, I hope our enthusiasm for the incredible films we are showing is evident and that it helps you to plot a satisfying pathway through the 11 days. I will be taking every chance I get to talk about the programme during the Festival and also to credit the programming team responsible for it. It’s been their knowledge, persistence, patience and wit that has informed the programmes throughout my time on the Festival and they have made my job even more of a pleasure.
Michael Hayden Programme Director
Book Now: corkfifilmfest.org | 021 427 1711
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