Romeria

Marina, 18, orphaned at a young age, must travel to Spain’s Atlantic coast to obtain a signature for a scholarship application from the paternal grandparents she has never met. Guided by her mother's diary, which she has always kept with her, she navigates a sea of new aunts, uncles, and cousins, uncertain whether she will be embraced or met with resistance.

Stirring long-buried emotions, reviving tenderness, and uncovering unspoken wounds tied to the past, Marina pieces together the fragmented and often contradictory memories of the parents she barely remembers.

Golden Bear winner Carla Simón concludes her family cycle (Summer 1993, Alcarràs) with a poignant journey, subtly addressing the taboos surrounding AIDS and drug addiction. Simón blends bittersweet tenderness with nostalgia, crafting a film with universal resonance through its exploration of family and true love.

A crescendo of beauty of the kind only cinema can achieve.

This film is eligible for the Audentia Award.

This screening is supported by the IberScreen, Acción Cultural Española & Goethe-Institut Irland.

Cork International Film Festival is delighted to return to its Principal Venue, The Arc Cinema on North Main St, Cork, for its 70th Festival edition, Thursday 6th to Sunday 16th November 2025.

The Arc Cinema Cork is home to The GATE Screen — a space dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of the beloved former Gate Cinema — and an ideal spot for meeting fellow festival goers in between screenings. The GATE Screen features luxurious double sofa seats and tables, creating an intimate and sophisticated viewing experience. It is dedicated to showcasing arthouse films, including independent and local productions, foreign and Irish language titles throughout the year.