What not to miss at this year's IndieCork Festival

The IndieCork Festival kicks off this weekend for its twelfth year, and is ready to celebrate the best in Irish and international film.

This year’s programme comprises top-notch Irish and international indie films from more than 30 countries. The festival also has its largest contingent of Cork-made films since the event began.

Mick Hannigan and Una Feely jointly lead the festival. Mick curates the selection of Irish films, while Una selects and organises the international ones showcased at the festival.

Hannigan says that the wealth of Cork films submitted to the festival this year was of such a high calibre that they extended the Made in Cork strand.

“Twenty years ago, we were lucky to see one film made in Cork in a year, but that’s no longer true,” said Hannigan.

We received 60 entries from films made in Cork, city and county, or by Cork film-makers working abroad.

“The standard made it difficult to choose which films to schedule, and this year, we have two features, two documentaries, and 25 shorts connected to Cork.

“The level of activity in the region is huge, and it continues to grow each year.”

In addition to the Made in Cork programme, a panel discussion entitled Cork as a Filmmaking Hub will discuss how the local film industry can further develop.

Meitheal Mara - The Voyage is a documentary by Emma Bowell that focuses on Cork’s maritime history through a community boatyard in the heart of Cork city. Hannigan says it shows the tradition of boatbuilding and is also a social commentary on the people involved over the years.

Amongst the Cork-based features is A Hell Of A Difference by local filmmakers Stephen Broekhuizen and Emmet O’Brien, who have both had long associations with the festival, as Hannigan explains.

“Emmet has had a short film in every IndieCork since the beginning. This is his first feature co-directed with Stephen Broekhuizen, who, like Emmet, is a previous IndieCork winner. We are proud to support them once again.”

Emmet O’Brien says it feels special to have his new film play at the festival.

“There is something special about premiering a feature film at a home-grown festival that has always championed independent cinema and the underdog,” he said.

A Hell Of A Difference is a coming-of-age story, and we are continuing to grow alongside a supportive film network in beautiful Cork.

Feely says one of the festival’s joys is fostering local film-makers and maintaining the connections year after year.

“IndieCork’s goal is to be there for filmmakers as a platform, particularly for Cork film-makers, so we have people returning repeatedly,” she said.

“IndieCork is a festival for film-makers who categorise themselves as indie film-makers, and giving them space is so rewarding, especially when filmmakers want to come back each year, like Frédéric Pell, a French film-maker returning this year.”

Pell returns with A Bee In His Bonnet, set in France in the 1950s, about an ageing cowherd dealing with the loss of two of his cows. The festival will also screen Pieces Of My Wife, one of Pell’s earlier shorts.

This year, the festival opens with a French film, Juliette In Spring, directed by Blandine Lenoir. Feely describes it as a family drama comedy.

It is very warm-hearted, about a big family, a divorced couple and their children, with Juliette at the centre of it all, trying to find her way in the world.

“It is based on a very popular French graphic novel, and it’s a charming, humanistic film in that wonderful tradition of French film-making.”

Feely says that Xoftex, set in a refugee camp in Greece, is one of the strongest films this year.

“It’s the story of brothers and their long wait to move out of the immigration system, who engage in drama workshops, and the film becomes a really imaginative and surreal element.

We have given it the Saturday night main slot at the festival because it is special and deserves to be seen by a big audience.

IndieCork has a strong music strand this year, with a documentary on the band The Stunning; We Come Alive, directed by Dave O’Carroll, and a fascinating look at one man’s mission to collect a piece of rare vinyl in the former Yugoslavia, called Funk YU, directed by and starring Franko Dujmic.

Hannigan recommends Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann, a documentary by Mal Marken celebrating the work of the legendary Thomas Moore.

“Moore might have fallen out of fashion, but he lived a fascinating life,” said Hannigan. “He was friends with Lord Byron and wrote this incredible body of songs through the complex life he led. I think anyone who sees this will discover a love for Moore.”

Music features in The Pav With Reaction, which Feely describes as a meeting of music and film.

“Tony Langlois, one of our committee members, worked with the Contemporary Music Centre in Dublin and their composers. 

Each film-maker was given a short film, and they have to compose a new score for it within two weeks, and then it’s screened at the festival.

“We did this for the first time last year, which was wonderful. Some are old silent films, and some are experimental or animation.”

Both Hannigan and Feely say they are delighted to continue their partnership with the Arc Cinema, which has supported the festival since its inception.

“Having a partner is so important for an independent film festival,” says Feely, “and the Arc is a wonderful partner.

“We have the beautiful Arc screen, their art house screen, where we will screen films back-to-back from early morning to late at night.

“Then, in the evening, we have films on in a second screen, so for the first time, we will have simultaneous films on, offering more choice.”

The IndieCork Festival runs from October 6-13, see www.indiecork.com