The Moelln Letters
Join us for this eye-opening, terribly moving documentary about empathy, institutional racism and the courage of a family who were targeted by right-wing terrorists. We are lucky and delighted to welcome from Germany survivor Namik Arslan on Sunday the 9th, 14:30.
In November 1992, a racist arson attack in Mölln shattered the lives of İbrahim Arslan and his family. At just seven years old, İbrahim survived, but he lost his sister, his cousin and his grandmother. In the aftermath of the attacks, the city received hundreds of letters of solidarity which were ignored for nearly three decades. Why did public service clerks store the letters into storage rather than making sure the Arslan family would see them when they needed them most? It is but one of the nagging questions that filmmaker Martina Priessner shrewdly explores in the most efficient manner.
She weaves the film into İbrahim’s poignant journey of discovery and his encounters with three letter writers, as well as the testimonies of his siblings Namik and Yeliz, painting a complex portrait of the lasting trauma that continues to affect them to this day.
An incredibly moving and illuminating film, The Mölln Letters unsurprisingly won the audience award at Berlinale where it premiered in Panorama Dokumente.
Followed by a Q&A with one of the film's protagonists, Namik Arslan on Sunday 9 November.
Complete the viewing of The Moelln Letters with our interview of director Martina Priessner as part of DOC DAY Online.
This film is eligible for the Best Documentary Award/Gradam na Féile do Scannáin Faisnéise.
This screening is supported by German-Films and the Goethe-Institut Irland
Presented in association with Amnesty International.
Watch our Director of Programming, Aurélie Godet talk about why she picked this film as one of her must-see movies of CIFF 2025, here.
Cork International Film Festival is delighted to return to its Principal Venue, The Arc Cinema on North Main St, Cork, for its 70th Festival edition, Thursday 6th to Sunday 16th November 2025.
The Arc Cinema Cork is home to The GATE Screen — a space dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of the beloved former Gate Cinema — and an ideal spot for meeting fellow festival goers in between screenings. The GATE Screen features luxurious double sofa seats and tables, creating an intimate and sophisticated viewing experience. It is dedicated to showcasing arthouse films, including independent and local productions, foreign and Irish language titles throughout the year.
