Join us for the 71st Cork International Film Festival’s unmissable Galas, celebrating outstanding Irish and international cinema, exceptional filmmaking talent and the magic of the big screen. Experience the films and the filmmakers making waves this year.
Ready to dive into the 71st Cork International Film Festival?
All Festival tickets are on sale now.
Grab a Festival Pass, including our ‘10 Film Anytime Pass’ (€99); ‘7 for €75’ film pass; and a 15-Film CineSaver Student/U25 for just €75, and unlock more films for less.
LUCY LOST
OPENING GALA
Olivier Clert | France | 2026 | 85 mins | Subtitled | Fiction
THU 12 | 19:00 | MTU CORK SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Set against the wild beauty of the Isles of Scilly during the First World War, Lucy Lost follows an 11-year-old girl with mysterious powers as she embarks on a magical quest to uncover the truth about herself. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s book Listen to the Moon, this luminous, atmospheric animation is a moving tale of friendship, courage and belonging, brought to life by a haunting score from Anne-Sophie Versnaeyen.
Join us for CIFF’s 71st Opening Gala, featuring a musical celebration and Q&A with the director and composer.
Irish Sign Language interpretation will be provided during the speeches.
A second screening takes place at the Arc Cinema at 11.30am on Sunday, 15 November.
HERE WE REMAIN
DOCUMENTARY GALA
Peadar Ó Goill, Ainle Ó Cairealláin | Ireland | 2026 | 90 mins | Documentary
FRI 20 | 20:45 | TRISKEL
Here We Remain follows Irish-speaking Ainle Ó Cairealláin on a six-year journey to help establish and run a gym in Aida Refugee Camp in the occupied West Bank.
What begins as an Irish-Palestinian solidarity initiative grows into a story of friendship, resilience and community in the face of arrests, attacks and the daily realities of Israeli occupation. Offering an intimate insight into Palestinian life, the film captures a community’s unwavering determination to overcome displacement and oppression and fight for freedom and the right to return home.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A.
This screening and conversation will be accompanied by Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences.
PAPER TIGER
AWARDS GALA
James Gray | United States | 2025 | 115 mins | Fiction
SAT 21 | 19:30 | EVERYMAN
Set in 1980s Queens, James Gray’s Paper Tiger follows brothers Gary (Adam Driver) and Irwin (Miles Teller) as a promising business venture pulls them into the dangerous world of the Russian mafia, threatening their family and their relationship.
Co-starring Scarlett Johansson as Irwin’s wife, Hester, the film is a gripping crime drama that explores family, loyalty and the bonds that hold people together. Anchored by three remarkable performances and Gray’s distinctive eye for character, Paper Tiger balances tension with a deeply human story.
This Gala screening will include the presentation of the CIFF Features Awards.
HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
FAMILY GALA
Duwayne Dunham | United States | 1993 | 84 mins | Fiction
SAT 21 | 11:30 | EVERYMAN
DOG-FRIENDLY SCREENING!
When three beloved pets find themselves left behind while their family goes on holiday, they set off on an unforgettable adventure to find their way home. This heartwarming 1993 adaptation of Disney’s classic Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey features the voices of Michael J. Fox, Sally Field and Don Ameche in a delightful tale of friendship, loyalty and adventure for all ages.
Bring your best friend along! CIFF’s dog-friendly Family Gala returns to The Everyman, where you and your well-behaved pup can enjoy this much-loved adventure together.
Please note that dogs are not permitted in the Everyman Theatre’s balcony.
This is a Relaxed Screening for young people with sensory sensitivities.
The Family Gala is supported by
JULIÁN
ANIMATION GALA
Louise Bagnall | Ireland, Canada, Luxembourg, Denmark | 2025 | 90 mins | Fiction
SUN 22 | 14:00 | MTU CORK SCHOOL OF MUSIC
When wide-eyed Julián spends the summer with a grandmother he barely knows, he discovers a world full of wonder, from his Caribbean heritage to the vibrant Brooklyn community around him. But his biggest surprise is yet to come: Julián discovers that he is, in fact, a mermaid!
From Academy Award®-nominated director Louise Bagnall, this joyful, colourful film is inspired by Jessica Love’s acclaimed children’s book Julián Is a Mermaid, celebrating identity, imagination and self-expression.
POST-SCREENING FUN!
Come dressed in your most colourful clothes and stay after the screening for more fun with Julián’s director Louise Bagnall.
THE DEBUT
CLOSING GALA
Jesse Eisenberg | United States | 2026 | 105 mins | Fiction
SUN 22 | 19:30 | EVERYMAN
Julianne Moore stars as Mona Friedman, a timid New Jersey housewife who escapes her stifling suburban life by joining a local community theatre production. Under the spell of its domineering director, Jerry (Paul Giamatti), Mona becomes an increasingly obsessive method actor, blurring the line between performance and reality.
Directed by Jesse Eisenberg, who also wrote seven songs for the film, The Debut is a darkly comic, surreal satire of artistic ambition, obsession and self-discovery, with a standout performance from Moore.
Irish Sign Language interpretation will be provided during the speeches.
The screening will be accompanied by Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences.
