THU 13 | MTU CURTIS AUDITORIUM | 10:00-15:40

FREE – BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Join us for a day designed to inspire, inform, and spark creativity. Aimed at Transition Year and Senior Cycle students, CINESPARK combines the excitement of youth-made films with insider insights into the film and animation industries, and thought-provoking discussions on climate action.

Across screenings, panels, and workshops, students will:

• Discover award-winning short films created by their peers in Cork and beyond.
• Meet professional and emerging animators and learn how to take their first steps into the animation industry.
• Engage with urgent issues of climate change through film, discussion, and creative response.
• This free, one-day programme offers an ideal opportunity for teachers to bring students out of the classroom and into a dynamic learning environment where art, education, and social change meet.

Supported by 

CINESPARK SCHEDULE (10:00 – 15:40):

FIRST CUT & FRESH FILM SHORTS
10:00 – 11:00

A selection of award-nominated short films made by young people from Cork, selected by First Cut! Youth Film Festival and Fresh Film Festival.

NEXT GENERATION PROGRAMME 15 – 19 NATIONAL ROADSHOW
11:00 – 12:30

Learn how you can take your first steps towards a future in the animation industry. The panel, featuring The National Talent Academy for Animation, young and established award-winning animators, including Will Sliney (Marvel Comics, RTÉ), is ideal for class groups and individual young filmmakers and animators and will include a Q&A.

Free but booking is essential. For enquiries and to book, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org.

Please note: for ages 15-19, TY students.

Presented in partnership with the IFI Next Generation (15-19) Programme.

AERÁID: YOUTH FILM & CLIMATE ACTION
13:00 – 15:40

Aeráid is CIFF’s unique youth film and climate action programme, designed to inspire young people about the positive changes they can make to protect our future.

Join us for a special screening of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey by Rúan Magan and narrated by Liam Neeson, a documentary that explores how water cycles are disrupted by climate change, sparking droughts, floods, and biodiversity loss while visionary relationships with water can inspire positive change.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and workshop with climate experts, encouraging discussion and positive action.

Presented in partnership with BlueTech Research®

Free but booking is essential.

For enquiries and to book, please contact schools@corkfilmfest.org.