Tickets are now on sale for the Cork International Film Festival – with nearly 200 films on the programme, it can be tough to figure out what to see first.
From November 7th to 17th, venues across Cork city and county will play host to a diverse range of films, documentaries and more. Now in its 69th year, CIFF is Ireland’s oldest and most expansive film festival, attracting guests and filmmakers from all around the world.
You can browse the full programme and book your tickets on the festival’s website, but some may find the choice overwhelming – that’s why we’ve put together this handy list of highlights from across the entire festival.
No matter your taste in film, there’s guaranteed to be something that will catch your fancy – from new Irish and international releases to timeless classics, short films and even more, here are just some of the highlights from this year’s packed programme.
Gala Screenings
The Gala screenings are always some of the biggest events for CIFF and this year is no different. If any of these catch your eye then you should get booking straight away, as they tend to sell out quickly every year.
Kicking things off is the Opening Gala screening of Conclave. This new drama stars Ralph Fiennes as a powerful Catholic Cardinal who must lead the Conclave to select a new Pope. Irish cast member Brian F. O’Byrne will be in attendance on the night. Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story is this year’s Irish Gala pick. A thoughtful documentary about the revered feminist novelist, the film features an interview with Edna herself conducted shortly before her passing earlier this year.
This year’s Documentary Gala is The Making of a Japanese, a study of how Japanese schooling differs from what we’re familiar with. For the Awards Gala, they’ve selected the new Amy Adams film Nightbitch, which follows a suburban mother who becomes convinced she’s transforming into a dog, mentally and physically. The Closing Gala film will be Rumours, a dark comedy about the leaders of the G7 nations making fools of themselves at their annual summit.
Irish Films
It’s only fair that an Irish festival should represent some of the very best home-grown films that the country has to offer. With features, shorts and documentaries, there’s plenty of choice if you want to check out the local talent.
The Best New Irish Feature contest is a safe bet for interesting new films. This year’s offerings include rural drama Bring Them Down, starring Colm Meany and Barry Keoghan, Buddhist documentary Chasing the Light and supernatural horror Fréwaka.
This year also has two Special Presentations of Irish films on the programme, both on Thursday, October 14. First up is the 40th Anniversary screening of Rory Gallagher: Irish Tour ’74, which captures Ireland’s first rock star during a string of live performances across the country. Gallagher’s guitar was recently purchased at auction to be displayed in Cork.
To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, there’ll be a screening of Cal, starring John Lynch and Hellen Mirren. This acclaimed portrayal of life in Northern Ireland was produced by festival patron David Puttnam.
Kids and Family
Smallies won’t be left out of the fun, with plenty of family-friendly films set to be shown during the festival.
The main event will be the Family Gala screening of Fox and Hare Save the Forest, a wonderful animated adventure about two woodland friends working together to save their home from a flood.
Kids can also look forward to a live-action re-telling of Bambi, new Christmas cartoon The Magic Reindeer – Saving Santa’s Sleigh and the Irish premiere of Paddington in Peru, where everyone’s favourite bear will meet Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas on a jungle adventure.
Awards Favourites
A handful of films on this year’s programme have already been tipped for Academy Award nods, so why not check them out and see if you can predict who’ll be going home with that golden statue next year?
Barry Keoghan stars in Andrea Arnold’s Bird, where he plays a single father raising two kids in the North of Kent. The film has had an acclaimed festival run, winning the Citizenship Prize at Cannes, with Keoghan being tipped for BAFTA and Oscars recognition.
Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist has been earning rave reviews since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Starring Adrian Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and Joe Alwyn, the film is a sweeping epic that follows the life of a Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust and attempts to build a new life in America.
If you’re in the mood for love, you can catch Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh in We Live In Time, a tear-jerking romance that has seen praise heaped on both of its stars. Director John Crowley will introduce the film and also participate in a career interview later in the week.
Golden Oldies
As always, the festival will be presenting a range of classic films, with two main themes this year – Disruptors and The Relativity of Time.
The Disruptors programme includes some really ‘out there’ works by maverick filmmakers. You can catch Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, starring Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix, the ludicrous comedy Serial Mom from self-proclaimed ‘King of Trash’ John Waters, and a special screening of British cult film Withnail and I, where star Paul McGann will present director Bruce Robinson with a unique prize – the inaugural Honorary Disruptor Award.
The Relativity of Time Retrospective is a selection of films that deal with the passage or distortion of time in one way or another. From visions of the future in Donnie Darko, ticking clocks in High Noon and Before Sunrise, or dizzying time-twisters like Irréversible and Millennium Actress, you won’t look at a clock the same way once you’re done with these screenings.
Online Offerings
If you can’t make it to the cinema for whatever reason, CIFF has you covered with an extensive digital programme that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Included in the online selection are a handful of exciting international feature films, like The Deposition, Hands In The Fire and My Sunshine.
Once again, you can browse the full programme and book your tickets, festival passes and more at corkfilmfest.org.
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