Cork Film Festival has expanded countywide

CORK International Film Festival (CIFF) has announced that an expanded 2023 edition will take place across Cork city and county this November.

The 68th Cork International Film Festival will run from Thursday, November 9, to Sunday, November 26, screening the best in Irish and international film at venues including the Cork Opera House, The Everyman, Triskel, Gate Cinema, The Reel Picture, Ballincollig and Blackpool, Crawford Art Gallery, Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, the Gate, Midleton and Mallow, Cinemax Bantry, and Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh.

CIFF director and CEO Fiona Clark said: “This is an exciting development for CIFF; running an extended programme this year enables more cinemas across the city and county to participate, giving more cinema-goers access to the high quality of home-grown and international films in this year’s line-up.”

A prestigious new award will also be presented at this year’s Festival — the CIFF Best New Irish Feature Award supported by the Irish Examiner, the jury for which will be chaired by Oscar-winning film producer, education luminary and CIFF Patron, David Puttnam.

The CIFF Best New Irish Feature Award will include a cash prize of €3,000 and will be open to any 60+minute-length feature produced or co-produced by an ROI producer. The Festival programming team will select five to seven films that will compete for the grand prize.

Expressing his delight to be chairing the jury to select the recipient for this new award, Mr Puttnam said: “More than ever, film festivals create a unique space in which to be entertained and inspired and to champion our own storytellers.

“I’m delighted to be chairing this year’s jury for the inaugural CIFF Best New Irish Feature Award. The opportunity to profile Ireland’s globally recognised filmmaking talent at Ireland’s premiere film festival is a responsibility as well as a pleasure; I look forward to taking on the challenge of narrowing the selection down to a single winner.”

For more information on programme announcements, visit corkfilmfest.org.