The Festival will also present the World Premiere of Joe Bonamassa: The Spirit of Rory, and the Irish Premiere of Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut, starring Julianne Moore, as its Closing Gala.
Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) has announced the first major titles for its 71st edition (12th-22nd November) with Olivier Clert’s Lucy Lost set to open the Festival at MTU Cork School of Music at 7pm on Thursday 12th November. With its exquisite animation and an evocative original score by composer Anne-Sophie Versnaeyen, the Curtis Auditorium provides a fitting setting for the Opening Gala, which will also include a special musical presentation and Q&A with Clert and Versnaeyen.
The Festival will also host the World Premiere of Joe Bonamassa: The Spirit of Rory, on Wednesday 18th November, honouring the enduring legacy of Cork guitar legend Rory Gallagher. The 71st edition will close on Sunday 22nd November with Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut, starring Academy Award®-winning actor Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, continuing CIFF’s longstanding tradition of bringing major international cinema and filmmaking talent to audiences in Cork.
The Opening Night Gala will take place in MTU Cork School of Music, bringing together the worlds of animation and music for a special evening celebrating the artistry behind Lucy Lost, which is based on the best-selling novel Listen to the Moon by Michael Morpurgo. Following its warmly received premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this summer, Olivier Clert’s Lucy Lost will bring the Festival to life with its richly imagined animated world, accompanied by Anne-Sophie Versnaeyen’s evocative score.
Fiona Clark, Festival Director & CEO of Cork International Film Festival, commented:
‘’The Curtis Auditorium at MTU Cork School of Music is a particularly fitting setting for our Opening Gala, Lucy Lost, a beautiful, evocative and joyous film showcasing animation at its most inventive, with a captivating original score. Our partnership with MTU will establish a new cinematic venue in Cork for the Festival, and the Opening Gala will feature a musical surprise on the night. We are proud to build on the momentum of our landmark 70th Festival last year with more than 200 films and special events taking place throughout the city, reflecting our continued commitment to bringing the very best of Irish and international cinema to Cork, and celebrating the city’s creative community and cultural life. We look forward to announcing the full programme on Wednesday 14th October and welcoming audiences to share the spotlight in Cork November 12th to 22nd.”
OPENING GALA: Lucy Lost, 7pm Thursday 12 November, MTU School of Music
On the edge of a quiet fishing village in the remote Isles of Scilly off the English coast lives a family bound to the sea. Jim and Mary share their home with their son Alfie – and with Lucy, a mysterious 11-year-old girl whose gifts spark suspicion among the villagers. Lucy and her secret imaginary friend, Milly, set off on a magical quest to uncover the secret behind her mysterious powers.
Olivier Clert’s Lucy Lost is an exquisitely crafted tale of friendship, courage and belonging. Its extraordinary, sophisticated animation captures both the wild beauty of the sea and the fragile inner world of its heroine, moving seamlessly between reality and dream. Anne-Sophie Versnaeyen’s gorgeous, haunting score completes the spell, lending the film an extraordinary emotional resonance. A luminous, poetic and deeply atmospheric achievement, Lucy Lost is a film to lose yourself in.
‘’A handsome and emotionally involving wartime adventure.’’ Variety
‘’Elegantly hits the sweet spot of balancing weighty themes with a child-friendly playfulness and gentle humour.’’ Screen Daily
CLOSING GALA: The Debut, 7.30pm Sunday 22 November, Everyman Theatre
The Irish Premiere of The Debut is the third feature directed by Jesse Eisenberg following When You Finish Saving the World and A Real Pain. The film follows Mona Friedman (Julianne Moore), a timid New Jersey housewife, who seeks escape from her suffocating suburban life by auditioning for a local community theatre musical. When she unexpectedly lands a minor supporting role, she falls deep under the spell of Jerry (Paul Giamatti), the production’s brilliant but domineering director. Driven to prove her worth, Mona transforms into a zealous, unhinged method actor. Engaging in an all-out psychological war against the tyrant director, Mona turns the local stage into a beautifully bizarre battlefield of self-discovery.
Joe Bonamassa: The Spirit of Rory, 6pm, Wednesday 18 November, Everyman Theatre
This world premiere documentary follows blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa on his visit to Cork to honour the enduring legacy of Irish blues legend Rory Gallagher in his hometown. Filmed during three sold-out performances in Cork, the film brings Gallagher’s music and influence to life through electrifying performances, rare footage and personal reflections from those who knew him and were inspired by his work, including Brian May, Slash and more. A celebration of Gallagher’s extraordinary legacy and the lasting impact of his music, the film offers a powerful portrait of one of Cork’s most celebrated musical sons.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Dónal Gallagher and a special guest,
