Cork Film Fest brings 'different dimension' to movie-going experience

From sold-out film marathons to live music, special screenings and animation premieres, cinemas are finding new ways to get audiences in the door. Cork International Film Festival is embracing the trend with a programme designed to make movie-going an experience, writes Esther McCarthy.

From left; a still from Lucy Lost; Filmmaker and animator Louise Bagnall. Picture: Vicky Comerford; A still from Julián.

Unique events at cinemas have grown hugely in popularity in recent years.

Concert films such as Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour have demonstrated the draw of big-screen events, while anniversary screenings and special presentations of much-loved classics offer audiences the chance to experience familiar favourites together. The Lighthouse Cinema’s annual Twilight marathon, screening all five films back-to-back from 11am to 11.30pm, sells out year after year, while screenings of Christmas classics such as Love Actually and Home Alone, accompanied by a live orchestra, have become a festive night out in their own right.