IndieCork Festival Returns with a Host of New Irish Talent

The IndieCork Festival, now in its ninth year, is set again to hit the big screen at The Gate Cinema from September 19th to 26th. 

With a wide range of independent cinema on offer from international, Irish and local filmmakers, the festival is looking forward to a return to The Gate Cinema, and to reigniting cinematic passions. In addition, the festival continues with its online offering, which has an extended week of availability. IndieCork Online is sponsored by Blacknight solutions.

New Irish talent is top of the list of this year’s festival, which opens with Gateway, the debut feature of Cork writer/director Niall Owens. 

Mick Hannigan, Festival Co-Director said: “IndieCork is a festival for nurturing new talent. Niall Owens has screened his short films with us and we’re honoured to present the World Premiere of his first feature. Gateway is a thoroughly accomplished and exciting psychological thriller and we think audiences will really take to this film. Throughout our programmes, we give a platform for new and emerging filmmakers. It’s significant that all of our International features this year are debut features, something which says a lot about IndieCork.”

The festival also welcomes renowned US filmmaker Bill Morrison, who will present his new feature ‘The Village Detective: a song cycle’. Morrison is a highly regarded and acclaimed filmmaker with many International awards for his unique work. 

Festival Co-Director Úna Feely commented: “We’re especially delighted to welcome Bill Morrison to Cork. Bill is a unique figure in avant-garde cinema, and is presenting his very special film here in advance of its release in America. Filmmaker Ché Walker will travel from the UK to present the World Premiere of ‘Connie’, with the subject of his film, working-class black Londoner, Connie Dalrymple. Many Cork and Irish filmmakers will attend to present their films in an expanded Irish shorts programme, including a focus on short filmmaking in Northern Ireland.”

Another International focus is Baloji, an artist from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Belgium. In addition, the festival presents Hungarian, horror, and experimental, shorts and a programme of work by local filmmaker and composer Arran Tenzin Bradstock.

The music side of the festival has embraced an imaginative handling of the continuing Covid restrictions, with live-streamed performances and improvisation from sound artists and an album launch by The Quiet Club.

Music programmer Tony Langlois commented: “While we are not at full return to live music, we expect this curious mix of music, sound and improvisation to whet people’s appetite for the spirit of IndieCork’s approach to performance and sound.”

IndieCork is Ireland’s only arts festival in shared ownership, meaning that members own the festival and have a say in its development. The Members’ Scheme will be relaunched at this year’s festival. 

Chairperson Dr. Eileen Hogan commented: “We approach this festival with a lot of enthusiasm, not only for the audiences, filmmakers and musicians we engage with, but for our unique form of organisation. As the only festival co-operative in Ireland, we’re committed to this shared model of ownership. This year we relaunch our Members’ Scheme and invite people to get involved and pledge support. We thank our existing members, who have helped us develop in a sustainable way. Anyone interested can visit our website and take out membership there, which is a direct and invaluable support to us.”

Tickets will be now on sale from Friday from The Gate Cinema at: www.gatecinemas.com

Full information on the festival from www.indiecork.com

September 19th to 26th – The Gate Cinema

September 19th to October 3rd – IndieCork Online