The Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) has officially kicked off with the sold-out Irish premiere of Yorgos Lanthimos’ mad and award-winning Poor Things at the Cork Opera House.
The expanded 2023 Festival will screen over 200 Irish and international films over 18 days across Cork city and county, running until Sunday November 26th, including two World Premieres this weekend, So This Is Christmas, from award-winning Irish filmmaker Ken Wardrop screening on Friday night at The Everyman; and Irish Gala One Night In Millstreet, on Saturday 11th November, from director Andrew Gallimore, which tells the remarkable story of the World Title fight in Millstreet in the mid-’90s between honorary Corkman Steve Collins and Chris Eubank.
Celebrating it’s 68th anniversary, CIFF is Ireland’s first and largest film festival and was officially opened by Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy who sang to the crowd and said, “This year Cork International Film Festival continues to take its viewers on a viewing journey of some of the world’s greatest films, newest releases and art house masterpieces. The Festival creates an enormous heartfelt and soul-filled experience by bringing people together. It captures people’s imagination and emotions of viewing a great film. For nearly seven decades, the film Festival has filled the City and region with everything that is good about the City – culture, arts, heritage, sense of pride, sense of place and a sense of togetherness”.
Festival Patron Lord David Puttnam was also among the filmmakers and film lovers on opening night including Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures, producers of Poor Things, and acclaimed Irish Director of Photography Robbie Ryan.
There really is something for everyone at CIFF including the International Gala and Irish premiere of acclaimed All Of Us Strangers, starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal as well as a Culinary Cinema strand, with special packages blending screenings of three food-themed films and Cork food experiences, including a pop-up supper at The Farmgate Café, English Market; Italian treats at NeighbourFood Apple Market; and French dining and wine-pairing at L’Atitude 51.
The 68th Cork International Film Festival will run till Sunday 26th of November, 2023. For more information, tickets, to view the full programme, and to stay up to date with the latest news and programme announcements, visit corkfilmfest.org. or find the MyCIFF app.
