Cork Cine Club to screen host of acclaimed new releases this season
Scenes from Palestine 36 (top), It Was Just An Accident (above) and Santosh (below), all to be screened by Cork Cine Club in the coming weeks
Since 2010, Cork Cine Club has brought independent Irish and world cinema to Cork, showcasing more than 300 films in 29 seasons.
Run by volunteers, the club curates two seasons each year. The 2026 season has just launched, featuring acclaimed new releases and a beloved classic.
Jamie Monagan, chair of Cork Cine Club, has been involved since its earliest days and says the volunteer team loves bringing cinema to audiences at Cork College of FET, Douglas Street Campus.
“Volunteer-run organisations can sometimes lose momentum, but we continue because we truly love what we do,” she said.
Monagan notes the quality of the films is a major draw for cinephiles and emphasises that the club always welcomes new attendees.
“Quality is at the heart of our selections. Each season, we carefully choose ten outstanding independent Irish and world cinema titles from around the globe. Our seasons begin in January and September. If you’re curious about the world, appreciate the art of film, and enjoy the sense of community that comes with shared viewing, Cork Cine Club is for you.”
The club accesses chosen films through an organisation which supports film clubs.
Monagan explains: “Our films come to us via Access Cinema, an Arts Council-supported group that assists film clubs nationwide. They organise screening weekends featuring a broad range of films.
“While it’s impossible to see them all, the Access Cinema team reviews each one and provides us with detailed insights, helping our committee select the most interesting choices for our audience.”
This year’s season began with Horseshow, co-written by Cork filmmaker Adam O’Keeffe, and continues this week with Santosh.
Santosh, Sandhya Suri’s debut, follows a newly widowed police constable facing caste, gender, and institutional challenges. Shahana Goswami stars in a Cannes-honoured role in a film that is quietly groundbreaking.
Cork Cine Club will screen eight more superb films in the coming weeks from a mix of genres and countries.
Holy Cow, released in 2024 and directed by Louise Courvoisier, is a heartfelt French coming-of-age story set in the Jura countryside. It follows Totone (Clément Faveau), who must care for his sister and try to save their farm by competing in a Comté cheese contest.
The film won the Un Certain Regard Youth Prize at Cannes and several César Awards.
With Urchin, director Harris Dickinson crafts an intimate portrait of life on the margins. Frank Dillane plays a homeless drifter whose chance encounter sparks hope amid addiction and violence. The film, acclaimed at festivals, is a compassionate, unsettling debut that avoids easy redemption.
While the programme mostly consists of new releases, it includes one classic film. Monagan, who comes from New Jersey but has lived in Cork for many years, says the club likes to introduce new strands. “Last year was the first time we showed a classic film. We like to experiment and listen to feedback from our members. The older choice was very well received last year, so we decided to show another classic this year and have chosen A Heart In Winter.”
Claude Sautet’s elegant, human drama, released in 1992 and a multiple César Award winner, explores emotional reserve with subtlety and grace. Daniel Auteuil stars as a reserved violin-maker whose cool demeanour confuses a passionate musician, played by Emmanuelle Béart. With clear storytelling and understated direction, Sautet examines love, pride, and miscommunication in a film that remains quietly affecting.
Palestine 36, directed by Annemarie Jacir, brings 1936 Palestine to life during the Arab revolt against British colonial rule. Starring Robert Aramayo, Liam Cunningham, and Jeremy Irons, the film weaves personal stories against a backdrop of political upheaval. Jacir’s drama, praised at festivals, resonates with ongoing struggles.
Young Mothers (Jeunes Mères) is a drama from acclaimed Belgian filmmakers, the Dardenne brothers, following teenage girls as they navigate pregnancy, friendship, and survival on society’s margins. With a strong ensemble, it blends social realism and compassion.
A festival favourite, it offers an unsentimental, hopeful portrait of resilience and young womanhood.
Shot in black-and-white and set in Paris, Nouvelle Vague, directed by Richard Linklater, reimagines the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless. The film follows actors portraying artists, collaborators, and lovers as the New Wave takes shape, capturing the creative spirit of a pivotal moment in film history.
Souleymane’s Story, directed by Boris Lojkine, follows Guinean immigrant Souleymane (Abou Sangaré) as he cycles through Paris delivering meals while preparing his asylum application. Premiering in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, it won awards and offers an intimate portrait of resilience, dignity, and the challenges of immigrant life.
It Was Just An Accident is a film by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who continues to create despite facing jail sentences, a 20-year ban on filmmaking, and restrictions preventing him leaving Iran. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and was France’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film.
When a car pulls into the garage where Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) works, it sets off a chain of darkly funny, deeply memorable events.
Monagan says the club is about much more than watching films, it’s about belonging to a community.
“There’s a sense of community within the club; it’s not like going to a multiplex. People are encouraged to chat, mingle, then enjoy the film together. Tickets are low-priced, and there’s no booking fee because we absorb it. As a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation, we’re committed to keeping ticket prices as low as possible.”
For tickets and information see https://corkcineclub.com/
