34TH ANNUAL CORK FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL IS LAUNCHED 

The event runs from March 9th to 12th at The Gate Cinema

The launch of the 34th annual Cork French Film Festival took place on Friday morning 3rd March in the historical and ornate surrounds of the Imperial Hotel, where the French Circle, which went on to become the Alliance Francaise de Cork, held its committee meetings in the 1950s. 

This year’s festival at The Gate Cinema features an exceptionally strong programme, packed with multi-award nominated films, Irish premieres, and a special screening for schools. With the theme of travel, the lineup features the best of French and Francophone cinema with films from France, Belgium, Canada and Senegal being screened. 

Speaking at the launch of the festival, Finance Minister Michael McGrath said: “The Cork French Film Festival is a firm favourite on the arts calendar in Cork and beyond. It’s another example of the strong ties between France and Ireland; historically, culturally and commercially. The programme is a testament to the dedication of the festival’s directors, its hardworking committee and the sponsors, all of whom have helped to curate an exceptional programme of world class cinema in Cork.”

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Damian Boylan, also in attendance at the launch, said: “The Cork French Film Festival is one of the longest running festivals in Munster and is very close to the hearts of Cork people. Cork is home to the second largest French community in Ireland and has been twinned for over 40 years with Rennes in Brittany. The organisers of the Cork French Film Festival, which has been running successfully for decades, have yet again outdone themselves with this programme. It’s especially heartwarming to see the inclusion of “Rémi, Nobody’s Boy,” aimed specifically at school children. The festival attracts hundreds of students every year across Cork and Limerick and I’m sure 2023 will be no exception.”

Alliance Française de Cork President and Festival Co-Director Valérie David-McGonnell said: “As March is Francophonie Month, which celebrates the French language, it is the perfect time for the Cork French Film Festival to showcase the best of French cinema to Cork audiences. Francophonie Month also celebrates the diversity of the French-speaking world as 29 countries have French as an official or co-official language. In this year’s programme, we have endeavoured to reflect this diversity with French but also Belgian, Canadian and Senegalese films. However, the Cork French Film Festival is not only for people who can speak French, as all our movies have English subtitles. There is something for everyone: excellent comedies, dramas, family film, and school screenings.”

Cork French Film Festival Co-Director and French Honorary Consul in Cork Josselin Le Gall said: “The Cork French Film Festival is more than just a celebration of cinema. It is a celebration of the deep and strong ties between Ireland and France. For centuries, our two nations have shared a close bond, built on a shared history, culture, sport and values. The festival is a testament to the strength of that bond and the enduring friendship between our peoples. The recent visit of the Lord Mayor of Cork to Rennes as part of the 40th twinning anniversary was a significant event in the ongoing relationship between two great cities and it represents an additional and important step forward in strengthening the cultural and economic ties between Ireland and France.”

“The Innocent” (“L’Innocent”) by Louis Garrel opens the festival with its Irish premiere at The Gate Cinema on March 9th. The dark comedy has been nominated for eleven French César awards, the national cinema awards of France, making it the most nominated French film this year. “Rise” (“En Corps”) will close off what promises to be a hugely impressive festival on March 12th. The life-affirming Cédric Klapisch film about a ballet prima donna of the Paris Opera is also César nominated in nine categories. 

The festival will also screen a number of other Irish premieres this year: “Xalé” by Moussa Sène Absa (Senegal), “Lie With Me” (“Arrête avec tes mensonges”) by Olivier Peyron (France), “Viking” by Stéphane Lafleur (Canada), “Two Tickets to Greece” (“Les Cyclades”) by Marc Fitoussi (France), ‘Driving Madeleine,’ by Christian Carion (France), which features on this year’s festival poster, as well as the major biopic “Eiffel” by Martin Bourboulon (France), which receives its first Irish cinema screening at the festival. 

The full programme is available through corkfrenchfilmfestival.com. Tickets are available at The Gate Cinema and online at gatecinemas.com