Box office ‘essential’ to success of film festival

WITH no title sponsor following the withdrawal of Murphys from the Cork Film Festival two years ago, festival manager Emer O’Herlihy says, financially, this year’s festival is a struggle.

“Not having a main sponsor makes a huge difference to the festival. When Murphys were on board, the festival grew and now we have to maintain that standard. We’re barely managing,” she said, prior to the launch of the festival programme at Luigi Malones yesterday afternoon.

The 48th Cork Film Festival is hugely dependent on the box office and Emer says about 35,000 people will pass through the Cork Opera House, the Triskel Arts Centre and the Kino where films will be screened.