For this year’s Heritage Week (15 – 23 August), we are celebrating Cork’s rich cinematic history with two special events that invite you to explore the city’s film heritage in new ways. Whether you’re joining us on the streets of Cork or watching from home, it is a chance to discover the people, places and stories that have shaped the Festival over the past 70 years.
As we approach our 71st edition, keep an eye out for seasonal roles across our box office, front of house and production teams, and make sure to follow us on social media for the latest call outs.
Moving Pictures: A Historic City Walk with CIFF
FRI 21 AUG | VQ | FREE BUT TICKETED | 18.00
Step back in time by joining architectural historian Danielle O’Donovan for Moving Pictures: A Historic City Walk with Cork International Film Festival, a guided tour through Cork’s VQ exploring the city’s cinema history.
Along the way, you will visit landmarks including The Everyman and the former Coliseum Cinema while discovering photographs, stories and material from the CIFF Digital Archive. The 90-minute walk will start outside Gallagher’s Pub on MacCurtain St and conclude at the historic Metropole Hotel, where refreshments will be served.
The walking tour operates on a pay-what-you-wish basis, but places are limited, so advance booking is essential.
A podcast of the tour will also be available on corkfilmfest.org from Saturday 15 August. Follow along in your own time and discover hidden cinematic gems in Cork’s historic VQ area.
Kindly supported by Cork City Council’s Local Community Heritage & Biodiversity Grant Scheme 2026.
Watch a Rare Piece of Festival History
To mark Heritage Week, we are also making our restored 1965 archive film, Féile Scannán Chorcaighe, Cork Film Festival, available to watch online for free.
Created to celebrate the Festival’s tenth anniversary, the short documentary offers a fascinating glimpse of Cork city and the Festival as they appeared six decades ago.
Rediscovered in 2018 and restored in collaboration with University College Cork and the Irish Film Institute Irish Film Archive, the film is now available for audiences everywhere to enjoy.
The Moving Pictures Walking Tour and 1965 archive film have been made available to mark Heritage Week 2026, which takes place from 15–23 August. CIFF’s programme of events is kindly supported by Cork City Council’s Local Community Heritage & Biodiversity Grant Scheme 2026.
Submission Deadlines Extended
Need a little more time? We’ve extended our submission deadlines for the 71st Cork International Film Festival.
If you’re putting the finishing touches on your film, now is your chance to submit.
As an Academy Award®, BAFTA, EFA and BIFA-qualifying festival, CIFF is the perfect platform to share your story with the world. The Festival invites submissions of feature films, shorts, and all forms of filmmaking, from fiction and documentary to animation and experimental.
Submission Deadlines:
Features & International Shorts: Friday, 7 August
Irish Shorts: Friday, 14 August
CIFF & UCC Shortlisted for Business to Arts Award
We’re delighted to share that Cork International Film Festival and University College Cork have been shortlisted for the 2026 Business to Arts Small Arts Partnership Award.
This recognition celebrates our long-standing collaboration and the many opportunities we’ve created together through film, education, research and community engagement. During our 70th Festival, we worked across multiple UCC departments to deliver initiatives that connected students, audiences and the wider community.
A huge thank you to everyone at UCC for their continued support, and congratulations to all of this year’s shortlisted organisations. The awards will be announced on Monday, 7 September.
A Special Evening of Film & Fine Dining
Last month, we were delighted to welcome partners, supporters and invited guests to our annual Culinary Cinema evening at The Montenotte, presented in partnership with the hotel and supported by our Whiskey Partner, Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Guests enjoyed an exclusive film screening in the Cameo Cinema, followed by a specially curated three-course dinner inspired by the flavours of the Italian Riviera.
Thank you to The Montenotte, Redbreast, and everyone who joined us for such a memorable evening. Events like these celebrate the power of film to bring people together and are an important part of CIFF’s year-round programme of partner engagement.
Volunteer with the 71st Festival
Want to be part of this year’s Cork International Film Festival?
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us deliver our 71st Festival from Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 November. Whether you are passionate about film, keen to gain behind-the-scenes experience, or simply looking to meet new people and be part of a fantastic team, volunteering at CIFF is a rewarding way to get involved.
Applications are open until Friday 16 October, and we’d love to hear from you.
Find out more and apply at corkfilmfest.org.
Blue Heron and Love Me Tender at GATE Screen at our Principal Venue Partner, The Arc Cinema
Looking for your next cinema trip? Our Principal Venue Partner, The Arc Cinema Cork, is screening Blue Heron and Love Me Tender, the latter of which previously screened during Cork International Film Festival’s European Film Weekend earlier this year.
Blue Heron: “An intelligent, valuable piece of film-making.” The Guardian
Love Me Tender: “Anna Cazenave Cambet’s quietly devastating adaptation of Constance Debré’s 2020 novel unfolds like a long exhale, exploring the fragile space where love, identity and motherhood collide.” Little White Lies
Located in Screen 6, GATE Screen is The Arc Cinema’s dedicated space for independent and international cinema, championing emerging filmmakers and bringing audiences the very best in arthouse film all year round.
