International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
CIFF champions female filmmakers throughout our programmes such as Female Visions in CIFF2021, our retrospective programme which celebrated female directors and their uncompromising, original artistic visions.
As part of Female Visions, we were excited to also present a special screening of two short films made by women. To the Western World, the first film by Anglo-Irish director Margy Kinmonth, screened in Cork four decades ago and tells the story of a journey made by playwright JM Synge and artist Jack B Yeats to Galway and Mayo in 1905.
Engagement and Endurance: Cork City Women in the 1920s focuses on the hitherto overlooked role played by Cork women in the events of the 1920s (also explored in our 1921 Commemoration Gala The Last September). Its world premiere was at CIFF and documentary will also be available to view for free from International Women’s Day on 8th March on Cork City Council’s website.
Our 66th Edition saw female directors and female-driven films being recognised through our Academy Award® qualifying awards. Features such as Blue Moon by Aline Grigore which was awarded Gradam Spiorad na Féile (The Spirit of the Festival Award). In this compelling film Iona Chitu gives a mesmerising performance as a young woman driven to the brink by her oppressive family in Alina Grigore’s tension-filled debut.
This Rain Will Never Stop directed by Ukrainian documentary filmmaker Alina Gorlova and awarded Gradam Na Féile Do Scannáin Faisnéise (Award for Cinematic Documentary). The film follows a Kurdish Red Cross volunteer assisting others who are caught up in the military conflict in Ukraine. The result is a darkly atmospheric confrontation with war and its consequences, and ever more pertinent given the deeply troubling war now being waged in Ukraine.
Mina Meliva’s and Visela Kazakova’s Women Do Cry – awarded The Cork International Film Festival Youth Jury Award. The Youth Jury Award is selected from the Spirit of the Festival and Cinematic Documentary Awards. The jury comprises students from UCC, MTU and St John’s Central College.
While Kelly Campbell’s short film An Encounter was awarded The Grand Prix Irish Short (also Best Irish Short winner at Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2022).
The poignant and moving Lyra, directed by Alison Millar, celebrated the life and work of the internationally renowned investigative journalist, Lyra McKee and won the Feature Audience Award at CIFF2021. Catch our Audience Award Winner of 2021 for a special International Women’s Day preview in the IFI tonight, Tuesday 8th March, followed by a Q&A with Director Alison Millar.
