Cork Film Festival

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NEW * 2003 Short Film Awards Announced. See the List here>

You Saw Them First In Cork

It sometimes seems that, within the bulging programme of the Cork festival, there is a Short Film Festival bursting to get out. Perhaps it's because of the regard which the festival has had for the art of the short film or simply because there are so many people making shorts, that we received an overwhelming 1,500 entries this year. Either way, it is very encouraging. After careful consideration, heated debate and often the result of sheer prejudice, 116 shorts were selected for International, National and 'Made In Cork' programmes. However, this year there are as many as 30 programmes devoted to the short film - see list below - a greater number than in many dedicated shorts festivals.

There are 15 programmes 'in competition', while the remaining 15 are special programmes of exceptional examples of the short form. Following on from previous years' programmes devoted to Aboriginal, South African, Estonian, Austrian and Iranian shorts, our focus this year is short films from the Basque Country. The Irish entries were especially strong and we include two programmes of Irish language shorts - new films in the 'Oscailt' strand (funded by the Irish Film Board and TG4) and a showcase of 'Lasair' films (produced through Filmbase with the support of TG4).

These are just a taste of the vibrant short film scene throughout Ireland. We present some of the best European shorts of recent years in 'Europe In Shorts' (devoted to experimental work) and in the programme of Jameson Short Film Award winners from various European festivals. Our biggest audience for shorts each year is the Eight Great Shorts programme in the Opera House and we believe that this year's is the strongest programme since we introduced the slot in 2000. We are delighted to yet again present the Jameson Short Film Award, a pan-European award celebrating achievement and creativity in short filmmaking, which rewards the winning director with a trophy and cheque for €6,000. We also host the presentation of the Irish UIP Directors' Awards, which include awards for Best Live Action Short and Best Short Animation.

Of course, the earliest examples of cinema were short films and a special festival event, which will be presented in the Farmgate in the English Market, is an evening of Charlie Chaplin shorts. We thank our many award sponsors for donating money and facilities in support of young filmmakers and those working in the short form. In particular we wish to thank Irish Distillers Ltd. for supporting the Jameson Short Film Award.

During the festival also we will be announcing a collaboration with RTE whereby the national broadcaster will screen the award-winning shorts from this year's festival. This is a most welcome initiative to expand the audience for shorts beyond that of festivalgoers. But remember, you saw them first in Cork.