February’s free European film mini festival
Fancy catching some of the best current European films at a Cork cinema next month? And what if we told you it was free!?
Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) in inviting Corkonians to discover the best of contemporary European cinema at the CIFF European Film Weekend, a free, three-day celebration of bold storytelling from across the EU. It takes place on Friday 6 to Sunday 8 February at The Arc Cinema in Cork city.
Presented in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland and CIFF’s principal venue partner, The Arc Cinema, the pocket festival offers an opportunity to experience award-contending European films on the big screen, including Cork’s own ‘Christy’ directed by Brendan Canty, completely free. Film are but ticketed. Advance booking is required via corkfilmfest.org or the myCIFF app.
The weekend showcases the five feature films shortlisted for the 2026 LUX Audience Award - ‘Deaf’ (Sorda), ‘It Was Just an Accident’, ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Christy’ and ‘Sentimental Value' - alongside a specially curated programme of European Film Award–nominated short films, selected by CIFF Senior Programmer Don O’Mahony. Screenings take place in The Gate at The Arc Cinema, a dedicated space for independent and international film.
Have Your Say: LUX Audience Award
Audiences are encouraged to rate the LUX films they watch using a simple star-rating system, becoming part of the largest audience award in the world. Viewers who rate films before 12 April are in with a chance to win prizes, including a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels to attend the LUX Award Ceremony on 14 April, with opportunities to meet nominated filmmakers and crews.
CIFF European Film Weekend Schedule
Friday 6 – Sunday 8 February at The Arc Cinema, Cork City
On Friday 6 February Spanish film ‘Deaf’ (Sorda) will be screened at 6.30pm. A deaf woman faces profound challenges as she prepares to raise a child in a hearing world.
On Saturday 7 February ‘It Was Just an Accident’ by the Iranian director Jafar Panahi will be shown at 3.15pm. What begins as a minor accident sets in motion a series of escalating consequences.
French film ‘Love Me Tender’ will be on at 5.30pm. At the end of summer, Clémence tells her ex-husband that she’s had relationships with women. Her life is turned upside down when he files to strip her of their son’s custody.
Sunday 8 February starts with the European Film Award–Nominated Shorts Showcase at 1.15pm. Featuring award-nominated European short films, including ‘Man Number 4’, CIFF’s EFA Short Film Award candidate and winner of the 2024 Grand Prix Documentary Short Award.
Cork’s own ‘Christy’ will be on at 3.15pm. Directed by Brendan Canty, 17 year old Christy is at a crossroads. He’s just been thrown out of his pleasant suburban foster home and moved in with his estranged older brother Shane. After so many years apart, the brothers need to now reconcile their turbulent past whilst deciding what the future looks like.
It finishes with Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’ at 5.30pm. Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once renowned director. The two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their father and deal with an American star dropped right into their complex family dynamics.
CIFF is Ireland’s largest film festival and the country’s official representative at the European Film Academy Short Film Award.