Be the first to see these major features directed by filmmakers in full control of their artform’s powers, showing as part of our World Tour strand at the 70th Festival.
Ready to dive into the 70th Cork International Film Festival?
- All Festival tickets are on sale now.
- Grab a Festival Pass, including our new ‘7 for €70’ film pass and a 15-Film CineSaver Student/U25 for just €70, and unlock more films for less.
A PRIVATE LIFE (VIE PRIVÉE)
Rebecca Zlotowski | France | 2025 | 110 mins | Subtitled | Fiction
FRI 14 | EVERYMAN | 17:30
Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster), an renowned American psychoanalyst living in Paris, is devastated to learn that her client Paula (Virginie Effira) has taken her own life. Or has she? Lilian decides to investigate, convinced that there is foul play.
Rebecca Zlotowski’s refreshing crime investigation comedy frees itself from genre-dictating constraints. It also stars a wildly entertaining Jodie Foster in her first French-speaking lead role. Her excellent comic timing and chemistry with co-star Daniel Auteuil make A Private Life an unusual mix of French drama sophistication and dazzling star charisma.
This screening is supported by the French Embassy in Ireland.
PILLION
Harry Lighton | United Kingdom | 2024 | 103 mins | Fiction
THU 13 | EVERYMAN | 20:00
Colin, a timid man (Harry Melling), meets Ray, a confident biker gang leader (Alexander Skarsgård), who initiates him into a submissive relationship, challenging Colin’s mundane existence and prompting personal growth through their unconventional dynamic.
Wonderful writing (awarded at the Cannes Film Festival), subtle and insanely enjoyable performances by all actors, with biting humour… Harry Lighton’s debut feature, which presents itself as a (very!) unusual romantic comedy, is a staggering achievement that is in turn funny, moving, outrageous and, of course, wildly erotic.
The screening will be presented by Clare Binns, Managing Director of Picturehouse Entertainment and Picturehouse Cinemas.
POST-FILM SHOW: KRYSTAL & THE QUEERS: ONE NIGHT STAND
Inspired by the film, The One Night Stand is a drag performance by Cork’s very own drag collective led by Krystal Queer.
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Jafar Panahi | Iran, France, Luxembourg | 2025 | 102 mins | Subtitled | Fiction
SAT 8 | ARC CINEMA | 17:45
SAT 15 | ARC CINEMA | 15:15
Eghbal hits and kills a dog by accident at night, damaging his car. At the nearby garage, former political prisoner Vahid recognises the sound of Eghbal’s prosthetic leg as that of the man who tortured him in prison. Vahid kidnaps Eghbal and prepares to kill him. But doubt creeps in. A darkly humorous thriller.
Directed by the most artistically and commercially successful Iranian filmmaker alive, Jafar Panahi, It Was Just An Accident won this year’s prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
This film will also screen as part of Super CIne Saturday at Cork County venues on Saturday 16th November.
THE HISTORY OF SOUND
Oliver Hermanus | United Kingdom, United States | 2024 | 127 mins | Fiction
SUN 16 | EVERYMAN | 15:30
In 1917, Lionel (Paul Mescal) meets David (Josh O’Connor) at the Boston Conservatory, where they bond over a deep love of folk music. Years later, they embark on an impromptu journey through rural Maine to collect traditional songs.
Their ensuing love affair and the music they preserve will shape the course of Lionel’s life beyond his own awareness.
THE WAVE (LA OLA)
Sebastián Lelio | Chile | 2025 | 131 mins | Subtitled | Fiction
FRI 7 | EVERYMAN | 17:00
Inspired by the Chilean ‘Me Too’ wave, which saw female students occupy their campus to denounce systemic harassment and abuse, this rousing musical follows Julia, a music student, as she gradually realises what happened to her on a certain night with her teacher assistant, and joins the wave of change.
A great, ambitious spectacle, often funny, truly moving, from Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio previously directed invigorating crowd pleasers centred on women, which rightfully garnered wide acclaim, from 2013 hit Gloria to 2017 Oscar® winner A Fantastic Woman to 2018’s Gloria Bell starring Julianne Moore.
One of the film’s songs, FUNA, can be heard on this year’s Festival trailer.
THE UGLY (얼굴)
Yeon Sang-Ho | Republic of Korea (South Korea) | 2025 | 102 mins | Subtitled | Fiction
SUN 9 | EVERYMAN | 20:15
Im Yeong-gyu is a visually impaired yet extraordinarily skilled seal engraving master known as a living miracle. When his wife’s skeletal remains, thought to have been missing for 40 years, are finally discovered, his son Im Dong-hwan is determined to uncover long-buried truths surrounding her mysterious death. No supernatural element is needed to reinforce the dark twists of this unusual thriller. Human nature is scary enough… and ugly indeed.
Based on director Yeon’s 2018 graphic novel of the same name, the film stars Park Jeong-min (Decision to Leave, Deliver Us From Evil), in a tour-de-force dual performance as both the young Im Yeoung-gyu and his son Dong-hwan. The reliably excellent and Hong Sang-soo regular Kwon Hae-hyo (who also stars in Hong’s What Does Nature Say to You?, in our Momentum strand), plays the older Yeong-gyu.
