As Official Irish LUX Partner, we’re thrilled to host our CIFF European Film Weekend for a third year, taking place from Friday January 24th to Sunday 26th. Join us for FREE screenings of features shortlisted for the 2025 LUX Audience Award, and two programmes of the top short films of 2024 as selected by the European Film Academy.
Submissions are now open for the 70th Cork International Film Festival. Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or an emerging voice, this is your opportunity to showcase your work on an international stage and be part of a milestone year in CIFF’s history.
European Film Weekend
Join us on a cinematic journey across Europe with our free European Film Weekend at the Arc Cinema Cork from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th January.
As the official Irish LUX partner we are delighted to join forces with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland to promote the LUX Audience Award which is presented every year by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas.
Five films were selected at the 2024 EFA Awards and are shortlisted for the LUX Audience Award 2025. CIFF will present four of these films for FREE, ahead of the LUX winner announcement in April, allowing audiences to discover acclaimed films from Europe and have a say in the world’s largest audience award by rating them.
LUX AUDIENCE AWARD FEATURES:
DAHOMEY directed by Mati Diop
Winner of the Golden Bear at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival.
In November 2021, 26 looted royal treasures of Dahomey were returned to Benin, sparking debate among University of Abomey-Calavi students on their cultural reintegration.
24 JAN | 18:30 | ARC CINEMA
INTERCEPTED directed by Oksana Karpovych
Sound and image stare each other in the face as Intercepted contrasts quiet compositions of everyday life of Ukrainians since the full-scale invasion with intercepted phone conversations between Russian soldiers and their families.
25 JAN | 15:30 | ARC CINEMA
JULIE KEEPS QUIET directed by Leonardo Van Dij
As the star player at an elite tennis academy, Julie’s life revolves around the game she loves. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club’s players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet…
25 JAN | 18:00 | ARC CINEMA
ANIMAL directed by Sofia Exarchou
Under the hot Greek sun, the animateurs at an all-inclusive island resort prepare for the busy tourist season.
26 JAN | 18:00 | ARC CINEMA
Free but ticketed.
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY SHORT FILM PROGRAMMES:
You can also catch two free programmes of European shorts during the CIFF European Film Weekend, with screenings of the top short films of 2024 as selected by the European Film Academy. Free but ticketed.
EFA SHORTS PROGRAMME 1
Absurdity: The conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any. Droll tales that illustrate this tension, but occasionally mine unexpected meaning, if not acceptance.
25 JAN | 12:00 | ARC CINEMA
EFA SHORTS PROGRAMME 2
The programme features a selection from the European Short Film Candidates, each of them selected at a renowned European film festival, including Cork International Film Festival, as candidate for the European Film Awards.
26 JAN | 15:30 | ARC CINEMA
Submit Your Film to CIFF
Enter your film to the 70th Cork International Film Festival and your work could make it all the way to the Academy Awards®. We welcome submissions of features and shorts, and all forms of film production – fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, etc. We champion new voices and celebrate excellence in filmmaking throughout our programme. We also recognise filmmakers’ achievements through our 14 Awards, three of which are Academy Award® qualifying.
For full guidelines and to submit your film, visit our website or FilmFreeway Submit by 28th March to avail of our early bird discounted submission rate. Submissions remain open until 30th July for features and international shorts, and August 1st for Irish shorts.
