69th Festival takes place Thursday 7th to Sunday 17th November across Cork city and county
An ambitious selection of major Irish films will screen at the 69th edition of the Cork International Film Festival, along with Irish premieres of international titles
Thursday, November 7th, Cork City. The Cork International Film Festival kicked off its 69th Edition in style, debuting with a spectacular Opening Gala that featured a sold-out screening of Edward Berger’s critically-acclaimed Conclave at the historic Everyman Theatre. Following this energetic opening, the festival continues to generate excitement with a sold-out Irish premiere screening of John Crowley’s highly anticipated We Live in Time, complemented by an insightful “in conversation” career interview with the Cork-born director scheduled for Sunday, November 10th, at the picturesque Triskel Arts Centre.
Following the successful Opening Night Gala, the 69th Edition of the Festival presents a carefully curated programme showcasing an impressive range of international and Irish talent across both fiction and documentary genres. Notably, the opening weekend highlights the crème de la crème of Irish filmmaking, featuring Aislinn Clarke’s riveting Irish-language horror film Fréwaka (Fréamhacha), alongside Ariane Labed’s September Says, which made a grand entrance with its world premiere at the prestigious 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the esteemed Un Certain Regard section. Festival-goers can look forward to an engaging Q+A session with Aislinn Clarke after her film’s screening, as well as her participation in the Festival’s Industry Days, where she will present an insightful case study of Fréwaka. Additionally, producers Lara Hickey and Chelsea Morgan Hoffman from September Says will discuss the developmental journey of their debut feature film.
These compelling films are being showcased as part of the competition for Best New Irish Feature, an initiative supported by the Irish Examiner. This prestigious competition also includes Sinéad O’Shea’s poignant documentary Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story; Chris Andrews’ gripping film Bring Them Down, featuring acclaimed actor Barry Keoghan; the insightful documentary Chasing The Light, crafted by Maurice O’Brien; and the historical drama The Damned, helmed by director Thordur Palsson. Each of these thought-provoking features will be showcased throughout the Opening Weekend.
This year, the Festival programme has a particular focus on global perspectives alongside Irish ones, with the innovative new World Tour Strand—including We Live in Time—featuring Andrea Arnold’s much-anticipated Bird, Raam Reddy’s Indian-American co-production The Fable, and Mike Leigh’s widely acclaimed family drama Hard Truths. All these remarkable films are scheduled to screen during the opening weekend, with even more set to grace the screens as the Festival unfolds.
Festival Patron David Puttnam remarked, “It’s a special evening for Cork in general, as well as the Festival. It’s a major cultural event; next year marks our 70th anniversary—and it’s a vital component of the cultural life of the city.” He further emphasized, “Cinema is playing an ever more important role in the life of Ireland, and certainly with the significance of Irish filmmakers, it is a wonderful time to celebrate our achievements.”
CIFF Director & CEO Fiona Clark addressed the enthusiastic audience in attendance, stating, “This year, more than ever, we reflect through our programme the spirit imbued in the heart of Cork. We disrupt, we challenge the norm, we amplify and celebrate lived experiences with our audiences. We invite them to partake in conversations across the globe and throughout time. It is the power of imagination that is vital to film, and equally as vital to our culture at large. I am thrilled to open this year’s edition with the audacious Conclave, and excited to welcome both audiences and filmmakers to our 69th Festival.”
The Festival maintains its notable variety across multiple strands and formats. The Opening Weekend also premieres eight Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland shorts on Saturday, November 9th, along with four additional short editions throughout the weekend. There will be films for families and young audiences, including the charming Irish co-produced animated film The Magic Reindeer – Saving Santa’s Sleigh, and Bambi, A Tale of Life in the Woods. In addition, the Family Gala presentation of Fox and Hare Save The Forest will take place on Saturday, November 16th, at The Everyman, promising entertainment for audiences of all ages.
About Cork International Film Festival
Cork International Film Festival stands as Ireland’s first and largest film festival, proudly celebrating its 69th-anniversary edition in November 2024. This illustrious Festival is generously supported by Principal Funder the Arts Council, joined by Industry Partner Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland as well as Cork City Council, Creative Europe MEDIA, Coimisiún na Meán, Murphy’s, Future Planet, and Principal Venue Partner, ARC Cinemas. Media Partners include RTÉ Supporting the Arts and the Irish Examiner. Cork International Film Festival also proudly aligns itself as a member of the Cultural Cinema Partnership, which encompasses the Irish Film Institute, Galway Film Fleadh, Dublin International Film Festival and Access Cinema.
**Interview with Fiona Clark, CIFF Director & CEO, on the 69th Cork International Film Festival**
**Interviewer:** Fiona, thank you for joining us today. The 69th Cork International Film Festival is upon us, kicking off with such an exhilarating start. What can you tell us about this year’s festival highlights?
**Fiona Clark:** Thank you for having me! We’re thrilled to launch the 69th edition with a spectacular opening gala featuring Edward Berger’s *Conclave*. It was a joy to see a sold-out audience at the Everyman Theatre, setting a vibrant tone for the festival! We’re also excited about our Irish premiere of John Crowley’s *We Live in Time*, which comes with a special in-conversation session that I think festival-goers will find incredibly insightful.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like the programming this year is quite ambitious. What’s unique about this year’s selection of films?
**Fiona Clark:** This year, we’ve taken a conscious approach to showcase a broad spectrum of storytelling, emphasizing both Irish talent and international voices. We have highlights like Aislinn Clarke’s *Fréwaka* and Ariane Labed’s *September Says*, which just premiered at Cannes. Additionally, we’re introducing a new World Tour Strand that features films like Andrea Arnold’s *Bird* and Mike Leigh’s *Hard Truths*, aiming to connect global narratives to our local context.
**Interviewer:** The competition for Best New Irish Feature seems quite competitive. Can you shed some light on the participating films?
**Fiona Clark:** Absolutely! We’re proud to present a diverse array of films in this competition, including Sinéad O’Shea’s *Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story* and Chris Andrews’ *Bring Them Down* starring Barry Keoghan. Each of these films brings something profound to the table, fostering discussions around important themes and narratives.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the festival’s theme of reflecting Cork’s spirit. Can you elaborate on how this is represented in the festival’s programming?
**Fiona Clark:** Definitely. Our program this year is all about disruption and celebration of lived experiences. We want our audience to feel connected, challenged, and inspired by the stories told. We gathered films that not only entertain but also provoke thought and discussion about our society.
**Interviewer:** with the festival celebrating its 70th anniversary next year, what do you envision as the future of CIFF?
**Fiona Clark:** The future is bright! We aim to continue amplifying voices from Ireland and beyond while remaining a vital cultural component of Cork. We’re excited to innovate and evolve, ensuring that cinema remains a relevant and powerful medium for connection and storytelling.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Fiona. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the festival has in store!
**Fiona Clark:** Thank you! We’re excited to share this journey with everyone.
