Culture Night 2026 at CIFF
This Culture Night, Cork International Film Festival joins forces with the Estonian Film Institute for a special online celebration of Estonian short filmmaking.
Audiences across Ireland can discover two specially curated programmes showcasing Estonia’s rich cinematic heritage, from fascinating documentary portraits of everyday life to imaginative vintage animation for younger viewers.
Tallinn Time Capsule
A 90-minute journey through Estonia from 1968 to 1985, featuring documentary shorts presented in chronological order. Through everyday scenes, the programme offers a fascinating glimpse into the country’s history, culture and changing society.
Estonian Family Shorts
A 45-minute selection of vintage short films for audiences aged 6+, filled with imaginative stories and engaging animation. A playful introduction to Estonia’s celebrated animation heritage for viewers of all ages.
Priosma Queer Film Festival Returns to Cork
CIFF is proud to be a Feature Programme Supporter of Priosma Queer Film Festival, which returns this month for its biggest edition yet, bringing four days of LGBTQ+ cinema, conversation and community to venues across Cork City from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 September.
Presented by Out of Frame Cork, this year’s festival expands to nine feature films and 30 shorts from around the world, alongside industry talks, workshops and special events at Triskel Arts Centre, The Arc Cinema and The Everyman.
The festival opens on Thursday 10 September at Triskel Arts Centre with the Irish premiere of Mexican coming-of-age film Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building.
Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building
Mexico City, early 90s. The day Bruno turns 11, his growing feelings for his best friend Vladimir clash with the sudden announcement that his father has HIV. Like in salsa songs, his family tries to sing and dance their pain away. Thirty years later, Bruno films and reimagines the memory of what he could not quite perceive as a child.
Other highlights include the Cork premiere of Cara Holmes’ documentary Lesbian Lines, a project that participated in CIFF and Docs Ireland Belfast’s IGNITE-Docs mentorship programme, followed by a filmmaker discussion and the HOTLINE afterparty at the Savoy.
The programme also includes exceptional international features like F*ck Drugs andGo Fish.
F*ck Drugs
Do you need drugs to have ecstatic sex? In this film, directed by Jesse Bleekemolen and Rein van Leeuwen, we see how Davo (22), Anthony (35), and Erik (61) explore their boundaries in the world of chemsex and push them further and further. Chemsex is (group) sex under the influence of drugs, a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly common among queer men. Does it concern boundless pleasure and sexual freedom, or rather inner emptiness and the fear of real intimacy in an age of individualism and increasing loneliness? The film explores the world of chemsex in a liberating, honest, and ecstatic, yet also critical and uncomfortable way. And it asks the question: is there still a way back after blissful sex under the influence of drugs?
Followed by a Q&A with director Jesse Bleekemolen
Go Fish
Max is a trendy, pretty, young lesbian, who is having trouble finding love. A friend sets her up with Ely, whom Max likes, but Ely is frumpy, homely, and older. Nor do they have much in common. Can Max learn to look past the packaging?
This 1994 Lesbian classic first screened in Ireland as part of the 4th Irish Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in Cork in the same year. We are excited to bring it back, followed by a conversation with Geraldine McCarthy, who organised the inaugural Irish Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in 1991.
Alongside short-film programmes and industry events in partnership with Screen Ireland’s National Talent Academies.
Flora Kerrigan Workshop
Orla Egan presents the work of forgotten Cork filmmaker Flora Kerrigan, whose award-winning films and animations gained international recognition in the 1950s and 60s. The workshop explores Kerrigan’s life, poetry and filmmaking, followed by screenings of four of her films. Participants will also be invited to consider possible queer readings of her work, recently rediscovered through the Women in Focus Film Archives project.
Priosma closes on Sunday 13 September at The Everyman with the Irish premiere of Another Man, followed by Krystal & The Queers: Krissy Down Under, a new play created by Cork drag artist Krystal Queer.
Another Man
Marc and Eudald’s six-year relationship begins to strain as Eudald pushes for greater commitment and Marc feels increasingly trapped. When an alluring new neighbour, Carlos, moves in opposite, Marc becomes drawn into an obsessive erotic game of watching him from afar. Caught between desire, dissatisfaction and unresolved memories, Marc begins to question the life he has built.
Feature Programme supported by Cork International Film Festival.
And watch the full trailer here:
National Cinema Weekend at The Arc Cinema
National Cinema Weekend returns this weekend, with cinema tickets for just €4 at our Principal Venue Partner, The Arc Cinema Cork.
Whether you’re catching a new release, planning a family trip to the cinema or simply looking for an excuse to get back in front of the big screen, audiences can enjoy any film for the special €4 ticket price on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September.
Grab your cinema buddy and make a weekend of it.
Join the CIFF Team
Want to help bring the 71st Cork International Film Festival, taking place from 12–22 November, to life?
We are currently seeking passionate, friendly and dedicated seasonal staff to join the Festival team.
Current opportunities include:
- Venue Managers
- Box Office and Customer Services Staff
- Production Runner
- Technical Runner
To apply, send a one-page covering letter and short CV to info@corkfilmfest.org, with the job title clearly marked in the subject line, by Friday 11 September.
Volunteer at Our Festival
Want to be part of the 71st Cork International Film Festival, taking place from 12–22 November 2026?
Volunteers play a vital role in the Festival, helping across front-of-house and ticket scanning, accessibility support, event stewarding, sustainability initiatives and audience information.
It’s a great opportunity to experience the Festival from behind the scenes, meet fellow film lovers and help us welcome audiences to CIFF 2026.
To apply, send an expression of interest to volunteer@corkfilmfest.org with “CIFF Volunteering” in the subject line by Friday 16 October.
TRY! In Cinemas Nationwide from 2 October
What happens when the sport you love finally makes space for everyone?
TRY! is a new feature documentary following four Irish players as they prepare for the Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup, an inclusive but fiercely competitive tournament bringing together players of all abilities.
The film follows Richie from Sundays Well Rebels, Maeve from the Ballincollig Trailblazers, Tommy from the Malone Tornadoes and Paul from the DLSP Vikings, from wet and windy training sessions in Ireland all the way to the nail-biting culmination of their World Cup journey.
The team behind TRY! completed the IGNITE-Docs Documentary Talent Development Programme, a joint initiative of Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland, Belfast, and we are thrilled to support the film’s release in cinemas nationwide from Friday 2 October.
Visit tryfilm.ie to find a screening near you or sign up to be notified when the film comes to your local cinema.
And watch the trailer here:
Coming Up at CIFF
With the 71st Cork International Film Festival fast approaching this November, preparations are well underway.
Keep an eye on our website, social channels and newsletters over the coming weeks for Festival pre-announcements, programme news and more as we count down to 12–22 November 2026.
