Ireland’s oldest film fest marks 70 years of joy

The Cork International Film Festival is always a huge deal, but each time it notches another decade on its belt, excitement levels are cranked to 11 here on Leeside.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of what is Ireland’s first and largest film festival.

Running from 6-16 November, film addicts can look forward to 75 Irish feature premieres, as well as some high-profile titles like the Irish-produced ‘Blue Moon’ starring Ethan Hawke and Andrew Scott.

Other high profile films include ‘Song Sung Blue’ starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, and ‘Pillion’ starring Alexander Skarsgård.

This anniversary outing for Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) will welcome a host of talented filmmakers and distinguished guests from across the film world who will present their work, discuss their careers, share their ideas, and engage with the audience.

Speaking on the 70th anniversary, Oscar-winning producer, educator, and festival patron, David Puttnam, said: “Festivals like this matter today more than ever: CIFF offers a place for us to come together and experience collective joy – or anguish, or hope, or empathy, or laughter. It gives us a chance to reflect upon ourselves in a truly authentic way. It is a place – like Cork itself – for everyone; where the everyday community can gather and be celebrated in the stories on screen.”

As well as Mr Puttnam, key guests at this year’s festival include multi-award winning actor Gabriel Byrne; actress and star of Excalibur, Cherie Lunghi; cinematographer Seamus Deasy; co-CEO of Element Pictures, Ed Guiney; legendary costume designer, Joan Bergin; photographer Misan Harriman; and actress and podcaster, Hilary Rose.

Along with experts and academics who will participate in post-film panel discussions and industry events, CIFF will welcome filmmakers from Ireland and across the world, including Lisa Barros D’Sa; Glenn Leyburn; Brendan Canty; Ruán Magan; Alison Millar; Andy Mundy-Castle and Jacqueline Jansen to name a few.

CIFF Director and CEO, Fiona Clark spoke about this year’s festival: “Seventy years on, we share the festival founders’ vision of delivering an extraordinary experience for our audiences, that celebrates the exceptional creativity of stories on screen, upholding the promise of our name: firmly rooted in Cork, but open and welcoming to the world, celebrating film in all its kaleidoscopic forms, and bringing people together in a shared festival experience.”

One of the big highlights every year is the Best New Irish Feature Award which showcases acclaimed Irish films and filmmaking talent. In addition to Richard Linklater’s ‘Blue Moon’, features included this year are: Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s ‘Saipan’; Dennis Harvey and Lars Lovén’s ‘Celtic Utopia’; Brendan Canty’s documentary ‘Gealtra’; and Akinola Davies Jr’s ‘My Father’s Shadow’. All will be presented with their filmmakers in attendance.

Family films and activities for children, schools, and young people are a key focus for CIFF again this year. Headlining this element of the festival will be a dog-friendly showing of the beloved Disney classic ‘Lady and the Tramp’ at the Everyman on 9 November.

The short film strand at CIFF has for decades been regarded as the central showcase for short filmmakers in Ireland. Competitive and non-competitive programmes present the best of Irish and international short film. This year’s offering includes family, experimental, Cork, Irish, international programmes. As part of the short film element, organisers have announced a multi-year whiskey partnership with Redbreast Single Pot Still Whiskey to champion new filmmaking talent, and together they will present the new Redbreast UNHIDDEN Short Film Award as part of the 2025 Short Awards announcement in the Triskel on 13 November.

Another returning festival favourite is the Disruptors strand which embraces maverick filmmakers of cinema's past and present, and CIFF's Honorary Disruptor Award 2025 will be awarded this year to the renowned filmmaker John Boorman. The ceremony will precede the screening of his visionary 1974 sci-fi, ‘Zardoz’. Cherie Lunghi, star of ‘Excalibur’, will present the award. The ceremony will also include video messages from Callum Turner, Jamie Lee Curtis, Liam Neeson, Juliette Binoche, Seamus Deasy and other major artists who have worked with John Boorman.

As the festival celebrates its 70th edition, this year’s Cork Film Trail invites guests to discover the story of Cork’s cinematic heritage between festival screenings through a series of vibrant, interactive installations across Cork city centre. From the very first festival in 1956, through seven decades of evolving projector technology, to the famous filmmakers and industry icons who have visited Cork, the trail brings the city’s film history to life in a fun and immersive way.