Papal thriller gets Cork Film Festival under way at Everyman
Cork Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle with Cian Blackwell, Fiona Clark, and Aurelie Godet of Cork International Film Festival at the opening reception. Picture: Darragh Kane
Cork International Film Festival kicked off on Thursday evening with a mix of film fans, industry figures and local dignitaries attending a busy Everyman for the opening offering of Conclave.
The papal thriller starring Ralph Fiennes may have been quite a mainstream choice to launch the event, but the programme of the 69th festival has hundreds of films catering to all tastes.
Running until Sunday, November 17, screenings at the various venues often begin at 10am, and continue into the night.
“It’s a major cultural event, it’s almost our 70th anniversary – it will be next year— and it’s a vital component of the cultural life of the city,” commented festival patron David Puttnam in a video message.
Lord Mayor Dan Boyle may not have repeated the introductory song of last year’s incumbent Kieran McCarthy, but the Green Party councillor did pay homage to the festival’s importance in Cork’s cultural calendar since it was founded in 1956.
Highlights over the next few days include the homecoming of celebrated Cork director John Crowley (Brooklyn, etc), who will attend a screening of his yet-to-be-released We Live In Time, starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.
Another local hero will be celebrated with a 50th anniversary screening of Irish Tour ’74, the Rory Gallagher tour film that had its premiere in the Capitol cinema as part of the festival 50 years ago.
Among the awards presented by the festival is a prize for Best New Irish Feature – again sponsored by the Irish Examiner – which has an eclectic mix of six dramas and documentaries nominated.
Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance at the screenings of their creations, and will also take part in Q&A sessions or workshops. The festival will also get a sprinkle of filmmaking royalty when Withnail And I writer/director Bruce Robinson will be awarded with the inaugural Honorary Disruptor Award by star Paul McGann at the Triskel.
At the Everyman on Thursday evening, film festival director and CEO Fiona Clark spoke of the importance of such ‘disruptors’, and films that challenge the norm for audiences. “We invite them to partake in conversations across the globe and throughout time. It’s the power of imagination that is vital to film, and equally as vital to our culture at large,” said Clarke.
- Cork International Film Festival, November 7-17. See corkfilmfest.org
