As our 70th edition draws ever closer, keep an eye on forthcoming newsletters for exciting announcements. In the meantime, we have extended our late submissions deadlines for both international and Irish films, and if you would like to be part of our milestone Festival this November, we are now recruiting for seasonal roles.
Meet our new group of Young Programmers who are learning the ropes from our programming team and getting their first taste of film festival life. There are also call outs for participants in a journalism mentorship programme and an LGBTQ+ filmmaking workshop – read on below for more information.
Submissions Deadline Extended
We have extended our late submission deadlines:
Features, feature documentaries, international shorts and international documentary shorts: Wednesday, 6th August
Irish shorts and Cork shorts: Friday, 8th August
This year, the Festival is honoured to have been selected for the presentation of the prestigious Audentia Award, in partnership with the Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund, which includes a prize of €30,000 for a female filmmaker to invest in their next film project. In total, we present 15 awards, including three Academy Award®-qualifying categories for short films, giving your work the chance to gain international recognition and take the first step on the road to the Academy Awards®.
We Are Hiring
CIFF will celebrate its 70th anniversary from Thursday 6th to Sunday 16th November and we are looking for film-loving seasonal staff to help make this landmark edition unforgettable.
We are now recruiting for a number of seasonal roles, from box office to marketing and PR. This is a unique opportunity to expand your resumé and gain experience in a fun and rewarding festival setting. Don’t miss your chance to be part of an internationally renowned film festival – apply today.
Film Ireland Mentorship call-out
Film Ireland, in partnership with CIFF and sponsored by Coimisiún na Meán, is delighted to announce the second edition of the Journalism Mentorship Programme, designed to empower writers from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Over the course of this training, participants will refine their film writing analysis skills, enhance their industry knowledge, and build a professional network in the process. Led by the core Film Ireland team and featuring industry experts, this scheme offers a blend of practical training, personalised mentorship, and real-world publishing opportunities.
This programme is reserving places specifically for applicants based in the Cork region with access to Cork City centre, whose final project will be developed in partnership with Cork International Film Festival.
Deadline for applications: 1pm Tuesday, 5th August
Young Programmers 2025
Cork International Film Festival is delighted to announce its 2025 Young Programmers: Sadhbh Ryan, Eric Sheehan, Tala Dabbagh (front row, left to right); and Setanta Ballesty, Tadhg Kennelly and Eoin Lynch (back row left to right).
Under the tutelage of CIFF’s programming team, the Young Programmers are learning about the curatorial process of film festivals, developing a comprehensive understanding of festival programming, from screener to screening, along with licensing and distribution, event management and networking, marketing and promotion.
CIFF’s Young Programmers will also support our programming team in the selection of the films eligible for the festival’s Lookout Award (formerly the Youth Jury award) and will present the Lookout films to the public during the 70th Cork International Film Festival in November.
Business to Arts Award nomination
We are delighted to announce the Festival has been shortlisted for a Business to Arts Award in the ‘Judges’ Special Recognition Award’ category along with our esteemed partners: Murphy’s, Tomar Trust, Future Planet, Irish Examiner and The Arc Cinema Cork.
The Business to Arts Awards recognise excellence in creative and cultural partnerships where a business, philanthropic organisation or individual has supported the arts in a compelling way.
Are you interested in becoming a CIFF partner or corporate supporter? Our Festival is a powerful platform that harnesses the power of storytelling to create unique shared experiences. We offer bespoke partnership opportunities and imaginative activations to align with your values, objectives and spend. Check out our strategic partnerships and corporate support packages, and get in touch.
The 33rd Awards will take place on the evening of Monday, 8th September at the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
PRISMA Workshop Callout
PRISMA – Cork’s Queer Film Festival is proud to announce the launch of PRISMA Gemstones, a filmmaking workshop designed exclusively for young LGBTQ+ people and allies aged 14-18 in Cork City and County.
This ground-breaking initiative will take place from Monday, August 25th to Friday, August 29th, 2025, offering 20 young participants the chance to explore LGBTQ+ cinema history, learn professional filmmaking skills, and create their own short films that will be screened at the PRISMA Film Festival. Read More
National Heritage Week
National Heritage Week celebrates Ireland’s cultural, built and natural heritage. It brings together volunteers, community groups and heritage enthusiasts.
CIFF is very grateful to have received support from the Cork City Council Local Community Heritage Grant Scheme for our 70th Festival: look out for our programme this autumn for exciting film heritage activities. Read More
National Heritage Week 2025 runs from Saturday, 16th to Sunday, 24th August.
