WELCOME
The big screen is coming back! We’re thrilled that the doors of our beloved cinemas are opening again from Monday 7th June. As we make steady progress in Ireland’s re-opening phase, the team at CIFF are busy making plans for the months ahead. Meanwhile, we are delighted to offer a selection of exciting events to enjoy during the month of June.
Our next CIFF Film Club screening, Anshul Chauhan’s award-winning ‘Kontora’, takes place on Tuesday 15th June after which we will pause for a summer break until CIFF Film Club returns in September. Our sincere thanks to all who tuned in to our season of exceptional Irish and international features and documentaries.
Get the popcorn ready with the kids to celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg on Saturday 12th June with our free online programme of fun family-friendly shorts for children and parents nationwide. For documentary filmmakers, applications for Year Two of the IGNITE Documentary Talent Development Programme will soon open, and our partner Docs Ireland, Belfast will be hosting an information session on Wednesday 16th June.
Over 600 students in ten schools participated in our Intinn Youth Film and Mental Health Programme in April and May, and contributed to a vital new UCC Research Study on the impacts of this flagship education programme on students’ and teachers’ attitudes to mental health. For more information and the latest filmmaking and industry news and opportunities, see below.
CIFF2021 Film Club – ‘Kontora’
Japanese tale of a schoolgirl’s excavation of her family’s buried secrets
Join us for the season finale of the CIFF Film Club screening with this mystical award-winning feature from director Anshul Chauhan. We are pausing for a short summer break before returning in September and wish to thank all of you who participated in and enjoyed our special CIFF Film Club screenings and Q&As. We’ll see you in the autumn!
After her grandfather dies, Sora retraces the diary written by him during World War II and begins to search for a mysterious treasure buried in the local woods. Meanwhile, a mute backwards-walking homeless man appears and may be the catalyst to repairing the broken relationship between Sora and her father.
Winner: Grand Prix Best Film Award at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2019
“…Kontora delivers high-gloss monochrome visuals, strong performances and a layered narrative that wavers between past and present, realism and magical realism, straight family drama and poetic allegory.” – The Hollywood Reporter
Tuesday 15th June, 7pm
Join the conversation and let us know what you think #CIFFFilmClub
Individual screening €8.50
Festival Friends receive a 20% discount
Pass Holders must book their free ticket before the screening
Cruinniú na nÓg @ CIFF
Stock up on popcorn and join us for a free programme of Festival short films that will excite, inspire and delight on this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg, our national day of creativity for children and young people on Saturday 12th June. Simply log on to book your free ticket and experience a specially curated collection of short films from Cork International Film Festival’s previous programmes.
Method, dir. Polly Holland (ages 5+)
All Square Boi wants is his cuppa and he’s willing to face insanity for it.
Fisherman, dir. Narae Kim, Lewis Barfoot (ages 5+)
‘Fisherman’ follows the story of a young girl’s journey to reconnect with her ancestral heritage.
The Reckolahesperus, dir. Mary Smyth (ages 5+)
Sam’s misunderstanding of what his mother says leads him to have quite an unexpected adventure!
Forest, dir. Dermott Burns (ages 7+)
A reflection upon humanity’s ignorance of its destructive nature.
The Girl at the End of the Garden, dir. Bonnie Dempsey (ages 12+)
An unhappy young girl finds a mysterious runaway with psychic powers in her back garden.
134, dir. Sarah-Jane Drummey (ages 12+)
On the day of an Irish dancing competition, a couple struggle to cope with their child’s gender identity.
IGNITE – Filmmakers’ Information Session
Are you a documentary filmmaker interested in applying for the second year of the IGNITE Documentary Talent Development Programme?
To coincide with the launch of applications for Year Two of the IGNITE Documentary Talent Development Programme, Docs Ireland will host an informal information session on the scheme at 11.30am on Wednesday 16th June, with contributions from organisers and participants from Year One of the programme.
Please register your interest in this event with roisin@docsireland.ie
Submissions for IGNITE 2 opening soon. Please check corkfilmfest.org and our social media platforms for updates. Check out Docs Ireland’s schedule of events celebrating Irish and international documentary from 16th to 19th June.
Intinn Youth Film and Mental Health Programme
The spring 2021 edition of our Intinn Youth Film and Mental Health Programme was successfully delivered to over 600 Transition Year and Senior Cycle students online and nationwide in April and May along with a vital new Research Study on the impacts of the programme on students’ and teachers’ attitudes to mental health conducted by our partners UCC. Our thanks to all the students, teachers and TY coordinators and schools who participated this year.
We are also very grateful to all patrons who have kindly donated to our education and outreach programmes. With your help, since its pilot in Cork on World Suicide Prevention Day 2019, Intinn has engaged over 4,500 students throughout Ireland in exploring mental health and wellbeing through the accessible medium of film. Supported by Rethink Ireland, Creative Ireland and ESB Energy for Generations Fund.
Cinemas are back!
We can’t wait to step back into our beloved cinemas, to immerse ourselves in the joy of watching films on the big screen again. Best wishes to our friends at The Gate Cinemas in Cork, Midleton and Mallow who reopen their doors on Monday 7th June, and to all cinemas nationwide! Be sure to check out their cinema listings for brilliant Irish and international films to be screened over the coming months.
We also wish all our partners and sponsors, who are re-opening their doors during this period, the very best of luck – we look forward to seeing you in person again.
News & Opportunities
Vote for us! Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical is giving away over €1,000,000 to charities with the return of its Movement for Good awards. People can nominate a cause close to their hearts for a potential €1,000 award to help make a difference. Please vote for Cork International Film Festival (RCN 20080167), in support of our education and outreach programmes supporting young people in Cork and nationwide. Please vote here before 13th June.
The Arts Council and TG4 are delighted to announce a new season of ilDÁNA 2021/2022. This year they wish to fund the making of two feature-length landmark documentary films, each with a budget of up to €120,000. Application deadline 5pm, Friday, 25th June 2021.
Cork City Archives are inviting applications for the services of an artist to produce a creative response to commemorate the contributions of Tadhg Barry and Diarmaid Fawsitt during the revolutionary period. Supported by the Creative Ireland Programme. Application deadline 5pm, Friday 2nd July 2021.
Our Festival Programmers are busy attending film festivals virtually, including the forthcoming Shanghai International Film Festival (11th – 20th June). Cannes Film Festival also returns 6th to 17th July where we look forward to seeing and selecting the very best of European and international cinema to bring to Cork in November.
