As Ireland’s first and largest film festival, we take great pride in premiering new Irish fiction and documentary films, both features and shorts. In addition to our Opening Gala screening of Frank Berry’s Aisha on Thursday 10th November, this year’s selection demonstrates the broad range and creativity of Irish filmmaking talent. Read on for some programme highlights.
All Festival tickets and passes are now on sale on corkfilmfest.org and the myCIFF app.
IRISH FEATURE PREMIERES
This year’s Irish fiction programme, selected by CIFF Programmers, features a psychological thriller, a bittersweet comedy drama, a period ghost horror, and a parallel universe…
Nocebo by Vivarium director, Lorcan Finnegan features a fashion designer (Eva Green) who suffers from a mysterious illness that might be cured by her new Filipino caretaker, showing on Sat 12th Nov at The Everyman (with Lorcan Finnegan in attendance). A strong cast also features Cathy Belton (Hidden Assets, Herself, Philomena) and Mark Strong (Cruella, 1917).
A dark comedy from Northern Ireland, Ballywalter by Prasanna Puwanarajah, is about an unlikely friendship and the power of humour in difficult times, starring Patrick Kielty and SeaĚna Kerslake (Wed, 16th and Fri 18th Nov at the Gate). Prasanna Puwanarajah will join us at the screening on 16th November.
Stephen Hallâs horror period drama The Gates is set in a 19th century London prison, all shot in Cork Gaol. Catch it on Fri 18th Nov and Sun 20th Nov at the Gate (director Stephen Hall will be in attendance at the screening on 18th November).
In Concrete Keys, director and interdisciplinary artist Natasha Bourke depicts a strange and familiar parallel universe that evokes the tragically poignant comic structures and absurd rituals of institution. Showing in the Gate on Mon 14th Nov, Natasha Bourke will be attendance.
IRISH DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES
2022 is a rich year for Irish documentary features and we are excited to showcase three of them in Cork.
A fascinating exploration of one of the most remarkable actors Ireland has ever produced, The Ghost of Richard Harris will screen on Sun 13th Nov at The Everyman, where we will be joined by the director Adrian Sibley. Drawing on previously unheard tapes and unseen family footage, this is an emotionally engaging celebration of a multi-faceted artist and man.
Paul Muldoon: Laoithe is Lirici (A Life In Lyrics): Directed by renowned Irish documentarian Alan Gilsenan (who will be in attendance), this feature creatively composes the story of Pulitzer Prize-winning Irish writer Paul Muldoon’s life through poetic interludes and special performances. The screening on Sat 19th Nov in The Gate will also be attended by none other than Paul Muldoon himself.
Game of Truth (Ar Lorg Na FiĚrinne), an investigative documentary by Fabienne Lips-Dumas, orbits the pain still present in the aftermath of the Good Friday agreement through the recent successful civil action by the family of Loughlin Maginn, who was shot dead in 1989 by the UDA. Writer and activist CiarĂĄn MacAirt will be in attendance for the screening on Tue 15th Nov at Triskel.
IRISH SHORTS PREMIERES
This year’s festival features six categories of Irish short, showcasing a range of themes and methods which paint a beautiful portrait of Irish cinema in its most condensed state. In-competition programmes are eligible for the Grand Prix Irish Short Award, one of three Academy AwardÂŽ-qualifying awards, ensuring that the winner in Cork will be automatically long-listed for the OscarsÂŽ.
 
Our Irish Shorts 1 programme (Tue 15th Nov, Gate) is made up of Irish and world premieres, featuring portrayals of complicated family dynamics, the mystical, and the cosmic, while Irish Shorts 2 (Wed 16th Nov, Gate) focuses on the mysterious, the poetic, and the intuitive.
As our Irish Shorts 3 category, Pure Cork (Sat 19th Nov, Everyman) showcases a collection of five new works from Cork filmmakers. Comedy, documentary, music and dark drama – in a word, Cork!
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Irish Shorts 4 (Fri 11th Nov, Gate) comprises madcap animations and sombre dramas, featuring the work of some of the best up-and-coming Irish filmmakers (not in competition). Also not in competition is the Irish Shorts 5 (Mon 14th Nov, Gate), showcasing innovative documentaries and an extraordinary animation, featuring the work of some of the best emerging Irish filmmakers.
Screen Ireland – Actor as Creator: In Competition, presented in association with Bow Street Academy and Screen Ireland, sees Irish acting talent go behind the camera. Wed 16th Nov, Gate.
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Images, from top: Thicker Than Water (Shorts I); Atal’i O Le Crescent (Shorts 2); A City Under Quiet Lights (Pure Cork);Â Empty Little People (Shorts 4); The Devotions (Shorts 5); Woman in Retrograde (Actor as Creator)
IRISH CLASSICS
A central part of our Irish programme is our collection of Irish classics through our various strands.
 
The Butcher Boy (Fri 18th Nov, Everyman) and War of The Buttons (Thu 17th Nov, Triskel) both will screen as part of our Wild Child Retrospective.
Our 1922 Commemorative events feature a screening of The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Sat, 19th Nov, Everyman) and Cork-themed treasures from collections in the IFI Irish Film Archive forming the Cork on Camera programme, including The Hebrew Lesson and Duhallow Home (Sun 20th Nov, Triskel). Supported by Cork City Council.
  
  
  
