1. French Fancy

As she gets ready to present her film in Cork, Manal Issa is doing her best not to get swept up in the hype around her as one of French cinema’s brightest new stars, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

Five things from the worlds of arts, culture and film to keep you occupied this week

IndieCork is proud of its niche status and ability to foster emerging talent, writes Colette Sheridan

Here’s a quick look at the latest music, gig, film and entertainment news.

MUSIC NEWS: Hozier’s latest video, for ‘Someone New’ off his debut album, features Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer. 

The kids are off school next week and because a week’s skiing isn’t an option for most, Ellie O’Byrne checks out fun and cheap day trips that will keep them off screens

Eoghan O’Sullivan reports on next week’s Quarter Block Party which takes place at various venues around North and South Main Streets

Apart from the unsettled weather, there was a distinct Down Under feel to the first night of the 59th Cork Film Festival at Cork Opera House.

It’s a needle-in-a-haystack documentary — with a twist — about a Corkman who survived the Nagasaki nuclear blast and ended up with a Samurai sword given to him by a Japanese officer.

MUSIC NEWS:

Cork’s programme for Culture Night is bigger and better than ever, writes Colette Sheridan

The Underground Short Film Festival, which takes place in Cork from Saturday to August 16, will, for the first time in its four-year history, screen five feature films.

Rosalie Varda-Demy will launch a special programme of her stepfather Jacques Demy’s work at Cork French Film Festival on Sunday, says Joe Dermody

Cork French Film Festival celebrates its 25th birthday in style, writes Colette Sheridan

A unique filmic portrait of Cork will be premiered at Ireland’s newest film festival for independent film makers next week.

THE 58th Cork Film Festival catalogue will be launched at the Electric bar this evening. The festival is six weeks away, but its new creative director, James Mullighan — a former director of the Edinburgh Film Festival — says the lead-in will allow for as many tickets as possible to be sold.

NOW in its third year, the Dare Media Underground Short Film Festival, in Cork, runs from Aug 10-17.

A man in his 20s has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 58-year-old man whose body was found in a waste chute in Cork city centre.

A Garda investigation is under way following the discovery of man’s body in a waste chute in Cork city centre yesterday.

A new film festival is to be held in Cork next October — a month before Cork Film Festival.

Vincent Cassel in La Haine, the film that made his name and which is as provocative today as it was in 1995.

Kirsten Sheridan was seven months pregnant when she used her dad’s house as the location for a film about a group of wild teenagers, says Colette Sheridan

Pic 1: Tom Dunne at the Dublin premiere of new Irish comedy Grabbers, at Cineworld Cinema, Dublin.

Reality television has many ethical question marks hanging over its short history, says Colette Sheridan , who puts the dark side of light entertainment under the spotlight

John Boorman sent four men on an ill-fated hunting trip in his classic film Deliverance, which still shocks 40 years on, says Carl Dixon

The shorts and documentary strands again produced the main highlights of the Corona Cork Film Festival, says Carl Dixon

THE 56th Corona Cork Film Festival closed last night with the Gala Screening of Ivan Sen’s Australian film Toomelah, set among the indigenous population of New South Wales.

PERKS Amusements hope to begin operating a family entertainment and casino centre in Midleton early in the New Year.

THE 56th Corona Cork Film Festival was officially opened at Cork Opera House last night by arts minister Jimmy Deenihan.

The Corona Cork Film Festival showcases the work of cutting edge artists, writes Colette Sheridan.

THE body which represents Cork’s business community has expressed disappointment that, a year on from the flood, few lessons appear to have been learned.

GARDAÍ launched two major investigations yesterday after a spate of arson attacks in Cork city at the weekend.

WELL-KNOWN showbusiness personality Mark Leen was among the protestors outside a cinema in Tralee where The Da Vinci Code was shown last night.

A Hollywood romantic comedy will today become the first film to be shown digitally in cinemas across the country.