Cork International Film Festival June Updates

 

This month, join us for the final CIFF Selects film club event: We Believe You, the powerful Belgian drama that was awarded the Spirit of the Festival and Lookout Awards at CIFF 2025. We’re also celebrating creativity with a free online Cruinniú na nÓg programme for young audiences nationwide, and welcoming submissions and seeking volunteers as preparations continue for the 71st edition this November. CIFF Selects: We Believe You (On Vous Croit) WED 24 JUN | GATE SCREEN AT THE ARC CINEMA | 18:00 Arnaud Dufeys, Charlotte Devillers | Belgium | 2025 | 78 mins | Subtitled Winner of the Spiorad Na Féile/Spirit of the Festival Award for Best Film and Lookout Award at the 70th Cork International Film Festival in 2025. Today, Alice stands before a judge, knowing there’s no room for error. She must speak up for her children and confront their father, as custody is being called into question. Can she make their voices heard and protect them before it’s too late? “We believe you” are the words that Alice and her children are dying to hear, in the soulless courtroom that feels far, too far away from the reality of what their life is. “This tense Belgian family custody drama is a knockout. A powerful drama about why victims need to be believed” Screen Daily We Believe You will be introduced by a CIFF Director Programming Aurélie Godet and audiences are invited to stay afterwards for a hosted Cine Club discussion. BOOK NOW Cruinniú na nÓg @ CIFF Cork International Film Festival is delighted to present a FREE lineup of Festival short films from Ireland and Europe that will inspire and delight as part of this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg, our national celebration of creativity for children and young people. Immerse yourself in a handpicked selection of enchanting short animations and live-action film gems, along with a chat with Little Caesar director Amy Tierney and CIFF Senior Programmer Don O’Mahony!  Watch online for free from 9am to 9pm on Saturday, 6th June. BOOK NOW Regular Submissions Deadline Extended Due to strong interest, we have extended our Regular Deadline by one week - submissions are now open on FilmFreeway until this Friday, 5 June 2026. Cork International Film Festival welcomes bold and original features, shorts, documentaries, animation, and experimental work from around the world for this year’s Festival taking place this November. As an Academy Award®, BAFTA, and European Film Award qualifying festival, CIFF is proud to champion exciting new voices and outstanding cinema on an international stage.  New Regular Deadline: Friday, 5 June 2026 SUBMIT YOUR FILM Volunteering & Supporting CIFF Cork International Film Festival is celebrating its 71st edition from Thursday 12th to Sunday 22nd November, and we are looking for passionate and dedicated volunteers to help make this year’s event unforgettable. Volunteer registration is now open and we would love to hear from you. Read more about volunteering at CIFF and register your interest here. You can also help us to continue to bring world-class cinema and education programmes to Cork and beyond. Our Festival is eligible for the AIB Community Fund, and your nomination could make a big difference. Nominations are open until Friday 19th June and you can nominate CIFF here. Thank you. VOLUNTEER WITH CIFF Stupid August: European Premiere Following its World Premiere at the 70th CIFF last November, we are delighted to let you know that the European premiere of Stupid August will be in Naples in early July as part of the Social World Festival. An amnesiac clown finds himself exiled to the Ireland of the early 1960s; as the shadows of his past re-emerge, Gus must navigate the present dangers to find himself again and be finally free. Directed by Cork filmmaker Pádraig Trehy, Stupid August is a historical fantasy which explores the dangers of burying our collective histories and the lasting traumas of our inhumanity. Stupid August was produced under the Arts Council’s Authored Works scheme. Coexistence, My Ass! - Watch on Kinema Following its Irish Premiere at CIFF2025 where it received an honourable mention from our Documentary Jury,  Coexistence, My Ass! is now available to watch worldwide on Kinema. Raised by an Iranian Jewish mom and Romanian Jewish father, Noam Shuster-Eliassi was born into activism and the pursuit of equal human rights in Israel/Palestine. She grew up in Neve Shalom, an intentionally integrated “oasis of peace”, and after college became a co-director of a UN peace-building organisation. Coexistence, My Ass! won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression at Sundance 2025, and the Human Rights in Motion Award, presented by the Council of Europe. Cork Midsummer Festival: Isabelle Huppert Calling all film fans: as part of this year’s Cork Midsummer Festival, Isabelle Huppert Reads Maupassant will take place on Sunday 14th June at Devere Hall, UCC, featuring the international screen and stage icon in a rare live literary performance. A unique opportunity to experience one of the world’s great performers up close, as part of one of Cork’s most vibrant cultural festivals. Our friends at Cork Midsummer Festival will present an outstanding programme of theatre, music, literature and performance across the Cork City from 12th to 21st June. Explore the full programme here.