| Cork International Film Festival enters 2026 with exciting opportunities for filmmakers, starting with our film submissions for the 71st edition next November, which are now open. Other sectoral opportunities - from the Arts Council, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, RTÉ and more - are below.
Don’t forget, our free European Cinema Weekend will return Friday 6th - Sunday 8th February, offering Cork audiences the chance to enjoy films shortlisted for the LUX Audience Award, presented in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland. Booking will open soon - keep an eye out for this and further year-round event announcements in the coming weeks. |
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| | | FILM SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN |
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| | CIFF welcomes submissions of features and shorts, and all forms of film production, including fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental. We champion new voices and celebrate excellence in filmmaking throughout our programme. We also recognise filmmakers’ achievements through our 15 Awards, three of which are Academy Award® qualifying.
Submission Deadlines 2026: Friday 27th March – Early Bird Deadline - avail of discounted rates Friday 29th May – Regular Deadline Friday 31st July – Late Deadline (Features, Feature Documentaries, International Shorts, International Documentary Shorts) Friday 7th August – Irish Shorts Late Deadline (Irish Shorts, Irish Documentary Shorts, Cork Shorts, Cork Documentary Shorts)
Before submitting, take a moment to review our terms and conditions. |
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| WATCH LIVE: 38TH EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS
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| | | The 38th European Film Awards - Europe’s most prestigious celebration of cinematic excellence - will take place this Saturday, 17th January.
Cork International Film Festival will host a livestream of the entire event, broadcast directly from the iconic Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin, in partnership with the European Film Academy. Join us from 5pm on our website to catch all the action live.
This year’s nominations feature an impressive number of films and filmmakers from CIFF’s 70th edition last November, including Tunisian-French director Kaouther Ben Hania (The Voice of Hind Rajab), Spanish director Oliver Laxe and Spanish actor Sergi López (Sirāt), Iranian director Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident), Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve, Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård and Norwegian director Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value). |
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| | | WHAT’S ON AT ‘THE GATE AT THE ARC’ |
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Our Principal Venue Partner, The Arc Cinema Cork, invites audiences to discover an exciting programme hosted in the Gate Screen (Screen 6), a space dedicated to bold, independent and international cinema.
The Arc Cinema continues the rich tradition of Cork’s beloved Gate Cinema, celebrated for its film festivals, independent productions, and foreign-language gems. Through the GATE at The Arc (Screen 6), they keep this spirit alive, honouring a legacy of cultural discovery and artistic exploration.
This week’s offering includes CIFF’s 2025 Audience Award winner, The Voice of Hind Rajab, and our hugely crowd-pleasing Awards Gala premiere, Song Sung Blue. If you missed these films during the 70th Festival, this is the perfect chance to catch them on the big screen. |
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THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB
Oscar®-nominated director Kaouther Ben Hania blends actual recordings and scripted performances to tell the devastating true story of Hind Rajab, a seven-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car under Israeli military fire, and the first responders who tried to save her. |
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SONG SUNG BLUE
Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams. |
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Several funding opportunities are open for filmmakers and creative professionals, supporting short film production, career development, and skills progression across live-action, animation and artistic practice. Whether you are an emerging talent or an experienced practitioner looking to develop new projects or expand your expertise, these programmes offer financial support, professional mentoring and valuable industry exposure. |
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Ardán and RTÉ are offering €18,000 in production funding for a 7–10 minute live-action short film by teams of Irish-based writers, directors and producers.
The selected film will be broadcast on RTÉ2 Shortscreen and featured on the RTÉ Player, with professional mentorship provided to the winning team.
Application deadline: 4pm, 21st January |
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Applications are now open for two short film funding programmes supported by the National Talent Academies and Screen Ireland: The First Credit Short Film Scheme (€8,000 per project) for new entrants, and the NTA Short Film Fund (€15,000 per project) for industry professionals looking to develop new skills. Both schemes support live-action and animation projects.
Application deadline: 10am, 6th March |
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The National Talent Academies Short Film Fund offers €15,000 per project to support industry professionals in upskilling or transitioning into directing their first funded live-action short film. Selected teams benefit from tailored mentoring, training and workshops delivered by experienced industry professionals. Applications must be submitted as a team.
Application deadline: 10am, 6th March
Information sessions: 26th January (online) & 21st February (Dublin) |
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Applications are now open for the Film Bursary Award, supporting individual artists to develop their practice. The award provides up to €20,000 to give artists time and resources to research, reflect, and engage deeply with their work.
Application Deadline: 5.30pm, 12th February
Shortlisting notifications: 8th May
Successful applicants announced: 29th May |
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| | | With Thanks to Our Partners and Sponsors |
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| Our mailing address is:
Cork International Film Festival
Bridge House
13 St Patrick's Quay
Cork City, Cork T23 DX9K
Ireland
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