One more sleep: over the next 11 days, dive into the latest and best Irish and international features, documentaries, and shorts, screening at venues throughout Cork City and County.
Here are some highlights of what’s to come this Friday 8th and Saturday 9th, and we’ll keep you updated throughout the Festival, including spotlighting screenings in our Programmer’s Pick, so you can see it first in Cork with CIFF.
RTÉ Lyric FM’s Movies & Musicals with Aedín Gormley will be hosting a special live broadcast from The Metropole Hotel with special Festival Guests, 1pm – 4pm on Saturday 9th – not to be missed.
All Festival tickets and passes are on sale now at corkfilmfest.org and the myCIFF app.
WORLD TOUR: SISTERS (MANAS)
Sisters (Manas) (8.30pm, Fri 8th Nov, Arc Cinema)
In the depths of the lush Amazon rainforest, Marcielle (13) grows up with dreams inspired by her older sister’s escape. But her illusions begin to crumble, revealing a dark abyss of silence held by her own family.
In her debut film, Marianna Brennand does more than realistically depict the obstacles that come when attempting to break a cycle of abuse by speaking up. Sisters is engaging, impactful, heartfelt and eautiful.
A poignant exploration of resilience and resistance, Sisters won the Director’s Award in the Venice Film Festival’s side section Venice Days.
RETROSPECTIVE: THE ART OF TIME + Q&A
The Art of Time + Q&A (8.15pm, Fri 8 Nov, Arc Cinema; 3pm, Tue 12 Nov, Triskel)
In contemporary culture we are often told that ‘time’ as we have experienced it historically is being obliterated by the speed and acceleration of our technology-driven society. Many artists, writers and creative practitioners in various fields feel that the work they make contests this process. The Art of Time asks: how are leading artists and thinkers responding to today’s new and rapidly changing world?
Directors Fergus Daly and Katherine Waugh will attend the Friday 8th screening and participate in a post-screening Q&A hosted by Don O’Mahony, Senior Programme Manager.
ILLUMINATE: WITCHES
Witches (7pm, Fri 8th Nov, Triskel)
British filmmaker and musician Elizabeth Sankey (Romantic Comedy, 2019) returns with a deeply personal essay on postpartum mental health, told in part through popular culture. By casting a light on the portrayal of witches in Western society and culture, she raises fundamental questions on the unreasonable expectations that society places on women.
Sankey explores how depictions of witches throughout film history, effect how women are veiwed culturally. Sankey offers her own personal experiences alongside interviews with academics and other women who also went through postpartum terror.
Illuminate is supported by the HSE
WORLD TOUR: THE FABLE + Q&A
The Fable (2.30pm, Sat 9th Nov, Arc Cinema; 1.15pm, Mon 11th Nov, Arc Cinema)
Spring 1989 in the Indian Himalayas. The soft-spoken Dev owns a sprawling estate of several orchards. He spends a lot of his time building human-sized wings which he puts on to take a quick morning flight over his land. One day, while walking through the estate, he discovers a single burnt apple tree. A few days later, more trees are burnt. A group of nomads comes under suspicion and a corrupt police officer gets involved, while loyal men camp out in the orchards to keep a vigilant watch at night. However even with the help of friend and family, matters get worse. Dev is forced to face the truth.
With this new, fabulously imaginative film, both political and ecological fairytale, he demonstrates again an indomitable artistic freedom and ambition, which we applaud and thank him for.
Director Raam Reddy will attend both screenings of the film.
IRISH VOICES: M/S + Q&A
M/S: (9pm, Sat 9th Nov, Arc Cinema)
M/S explores the representation of illness and the radical possibilities of love, care and dying on your own terms. The film draws on the filmmaker’s 17 years of experience as primary carer for his mother, Susan Heaney, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. The project is co-authored with Susan.
Seventeen years of care and fifty minutes of honesty, precision, inventiveness, tenderness, beauty, poetry and true connection. Fifty minutes of your time, well spent.
Director Eóin Heaney will attend the screening and participate in a post-screening Q&A hosted by Don O’Mahony, Senior Programme Manager.
FAMILY& YOUNG PEOPLE : THE MAGIC REINDEER- SAVING SANTA’S SLEIGH
The Magic Reindeer – Saving Santa’s Sleigh (11am, Sat 9th Nov, Arc Cinema)
In his third adventure, the flying reindeer Niko’s biggest dream is to become a member of Santa’s Flying Forces.
Niko leaves his family behind to take his place next to his father, Prancer on Santa’s Flying Forces. For Niko, it’s a dream come true. But Stella, an unknown challenger arrives, to compete for Niko’s spot. Despite their competitiveness, Niko admires her, and invites Stella to show her where Santa’s sleigh is hidden. However, on the night before Christmas Eve, Stella steals it.
Accompanied by his loyal friends, flying squirrel Julius and weasel Wilma, Niko embarks on a journey to recover the sleigh. As our heroes face grave danger, difficult choices are made that change Christmas forever.
This screening will be introduced by Moe Honan, co-producer of the film.
Relaxed Screenings: This screening will have additional accessibility for young people with sensory sensitivities.
PARALLAX: STRANGE ABANDONED DERANGED + Q&A
Strange Abandoned Deranged (2.45pm, Sat 9th Nov, Arc Cinema; 2pm, Mon 11th Nov, Arc Cinema)
The rise and catastrophic fall of Naturland Eco Park, the first eco-hotel in Turkey, unfolds in a kaleidoscopic journey through the derelict remains of the once idyllic resort.
Director Ceylan Özgün Özçelik presents a film which is hybrid in every way, a cast of narrators and performers perfectly encapsulating the bizarre location in its dystopian fairytale state. Both an absurd tale in itself and a reflection of Turkey’s recent history, Strange Abandoned Deranged is an eye-popping feast for adventurous eyes.
Producer Armağan Lale will attend the screening on Sat 9th Nov and participate in a post-screening Q&A hosted by Si Edwards, Senior Programme Manager.
