65th Cork International Film Festival Announce Documentary Highlights at CIFF20
Cork International Film Festival is proud to present the highlights of its Irish and international programme of Documentary Features – films that delve into the heart of contemporary and historical politics and shine a light on society as a whole, from local government to international peace negotiations.
Documentary Gala and World Premiere, ‘Castro’s Spies‘
Cork International Film Festival is delighted to present the World Premiere of ‘Castro’s Spies’. The film 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.
Online: Tues 10 – Sun 15 November
Followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
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.
Online: Mon 9 – Sun 15 November
Growing up in Ukraine, surrounded by war and rising nationalism, Jasmin and Jastrip head fir Azovez camp, hoping to become little soldiers and ‘real’ patriots. 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.
Online: Mon 9 – Sun 15 November
Directed by Academy Award®-nominated documentarian Dror Moreh, the film 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 complexities of the region, providing an honest analysis of the many hard truths and lessons learned, whilst expressing the humanity of the negotiations involved.
Online: Mon 9 – Sun 15 November
Framed through the lens of the recent election in Frederick, Maryland, ‘The Sheriff’ presents and expertly crafted portrayal of contemporary US politics. The fierce electoral battle between conservative incumbent Chuck Jenkins and moderate Democrat Karl Bickel provides a broad analysis and sterling entertainment. The film thoughtfully illustrates the profound chasm within wider American society which is particularly poignant in the context of the country’s current controversies surrounding policing.
Online: Mon 9 – Sun 15 November
In a gripping portrait of courage, director Abigail E. Disney follows Reverend Rob Schenck, an anti-abortion Evangelical activist, who breaks with orthodoxy by questioning whether being pro-gun is consistent with being pro-life. Along the way, he meets Lucy McBath, the mother of an unarmed teenager whose murder in Florida has cast a spotlight on “Stand Your Ground” laws. The film follows these unlikely allies (Lucy is pro-choice) through their trials of conscience as they attempt to make others consider the growing toll of gun violence in America.
Online: Mon 9 – Sun 15 November
‘The 8th‘
Reflective, considered and highly evocative, ‘The 8th’ depicts the struggle of activists in the lead-up to the 2018 Irish abortion referendum. Though the film respectfully addresses both sides of the debate, it is rooted in voices from the pro-choice campaign, positioning it within the history of the 8th amendment, the grassroots abortion rights movement, and the build-up to the 2018 referendum, and coalescing into a powerful reflection of the progressive changes in Irish society in recent times.
Online: Thurs 12 – Sun 15 November
Followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
