Cork International Film Festival

What Cork International Film Festival does

Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) is Ireland's first and longest-running film festival, founded in 1956 and headquartered in Cork with operations across the Munster region. The organisation runs an annual flagship festival - the 71st edition is scheduled for 12th-22nd November 2026 - alongside an extensive year-round programming portfolio including a monthly cine club (CIFF Selects at GATE Screen), thematic seasons (Fear Screen for European thrillers and horror), special cultural events (Bastille Day French Film Weekend, European Film Weekend, Cruinniú na nÓg), and the CIFF Digital Archive that tracks 70+ years of festival history.

CIFF's underlying technology stack is composed primarily of third-party festival infrastructure rather than proprietary systems: FilmFreeway for international film submissions, Eventive for ticketing and online streaming (with a nationwide Republic of Ireland streaming footprint), and the myCIFF mobile application for festival information. Physical distribution relies on venue partnerships with The Arc Cinema (principal venue partner following the closure of Cork's Gate Cinema), The Everyman Theatre (gala screenings and awards), and Triskel Arts Centre (industry events and special screenings), with regional screenings in Bantry, Midleton, Mallow, and Youghal.

The organisation serves four primary segments: general festival audiences, young people and students reached through schools and youth programmes (over 3,000 annually via Look@Me, Aeráid, Intinn, Schools Programme, and Young Programmers), emerging and established filmmakers (via Lasair, IGNITE-Docs, First Take, Doc Day, and the Audentia Award co-funded with Eurimages), and corporate partners and members. As a registered non-profit, CIFF's revenue model is a hybrid of public grant funding (Arts Council of Ireland, Screen Ireland, Creative Europe MEDIA, Cork City Council), corporate sponsorships and memberships (ESB, Murphy's, Redbreast, Future Planet, Bank of Ireland), ticket and film pass sales (including Festival Friends annual memberships and The Director's Circle patron programme), donations in fixed tiers (€5-€50), and gift card sales. Festival Patron is Oscar-winning producer Lord David Puttnam; Festival Director and CEO is Fiona Clark. The festival is governed by a Board of Directors and operates with 28 staff.

Name

Cork International Film Festival

Legal name

Cork International Film Festival

Website

https://corkfilmfest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cork International Film Festival (CIFF), founded 1956, is Ireland's longest-running film festival, operating an annual November flagship event plus year-round cinema, youth, education, and industry programmes for audiences, schools, and filmmakers across Cork and the Munster region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival and Cultural Events

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Cultural Screenings (Museums, Cultural Centers) (MPADAKAH), Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools) (MPADAKAI)

Keywords

• Film festival events
• International cinema programming
• Youth filmmaking programs
• Documentary development programs
• Film industry networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Cork

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Film Passes: Revenue generated from individual tickets, 5 & 10 film passes, student/under-25 passes, and online passes for the annual festival and year-round screenings
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Corporate membership programs, sponsorship deals, and digital advertising opportunities reaching engaged cultural audiences. Includes partnerships with Murphy's, Redbreast Whiskey, and other brands
3. Donations and Philanthropic Support: Individual donations through online giving platform at various tiers (€5, €10, €20, €50), Festival Friends membership, and The Director's Circle patron program
4. Public Funding: Core operating funding from Arts Council of Ireland, Screen Ireland, Creative Europe MEDIA, Cork City Council, and other government bodies
5. Gift Cards: Festival gift cards redeemable year-round for tickets and passes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cork International Film Festival produces an annual 11-day international film festival in Cork, Ireland (71st edition, 12th–22nd November 2026) and a year-round programme of curated cinema screenings, youth filmmaking programmes (Look@Me, Aeráid, Intinn), filmmaker development initiatives (Lasair, IGNITE-Docs, First Take, Doc Day), schools outreach, and cultural events. Offerings are delivered across multiple Cork venues (The Arc Cinema, The Everyman, Triskel Arts Centre and regional cinemas), through online streaming on the Eventive platform, and via the myCIFF mobile app, supported by public grants, corporate sponsorship, donations, and ticket/pass sales.

Product overview

Cork International Film Festival operates as a comprehensive film festival organization offering a single integrated portfolio of cinema and filmmaking programs. The core offering is the annual Cork International Film Festival (71st edition, November 2026), supplemented by year-round programming including CIFF Selects Cine Club, youth filmmaking initiatives (Look@Me, Aeráid, Intinn), industry development programs (Lasair, IGNITE-Docs, First Take, Doc Day), educational outreach (Schools Programme, CineSpark), and cultural events (Bastille Day, European Film Weekend, Fear Screen). The festival serves audiences, emerging filmmakers, and industry professionals through in-person screenings, online streaming, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIFF Selects: Year-round cine-club screenings at GATE Screen featuring curated film programming
• Fear Screen
• Ignite-Docs
• Lasair
• First Take
• Doc Day
• Intinn
• Look@Me
• Aeráid
• Young Programmers

Products and services

• Cork International Film Festival (Annual) Ireland's longest-running annual international film festival, presenting a curated selection of Irish and international features, shorts and documentaries across multiple Cork venues with filmmaker Q&As, galas and awards. Targeted at general film audiences, filmmakers, industry and corporate partners.
• CIFF Selects (Cine Club) Monthly cine-club screenings at GATE Screen, Arc Cinema featuring curated film selections with Q&A sessions with filmmakers, for general adult film audiences in Cork.
• Look@Me Youth Filmmaking Youth filmmaking programme engaging primary school-aged children in hands-on filmmaking workshops, for schools and young people across Cork.
• Aeráid Youth Film & Climate Action Youth filmmaking programme combining film production with climate action themes, targeted at young participants and supported by ESB Energy for Generations Fund.
• Intinn Youth Film & Mental Health Youth film and mental health programme reaching over 3,000 young people annually and winner of the 2025 Emerald Literati Award.
• Young Programmers Training project for young cinephiles aged 18–24 that teaches film festival programming from screener to screening, run by CIFF's programming team.
• CIFF Schools Programme Educational film screenings and programmes for schools in Spring and Autumn seasons, reaching young audiences throughout the academic year.
• Lasair (Irish Short Documentary Development Programme) Irish-language short documentary development programme supporting filmmakers in creating short documentary content in Irish.
• IGNITE-Docs Cross-border documentary talent development programme supporting emerging documentary filmmakers, now in its sixth year.
• First Take Training and development platform for newly established film professionals and film/media students, run as part of CIFF's industry programming.
• Doc Day Documentary industry day featuring live and online sessions for documentary filmmakers and industry professionals.
• CIFF Awards (Features & Shorts) Annual film awards including Features Awards, Shorts Awards, Audience Awards and the €30,000 Audentia Award for female filmmakers (Council of Europe Eurimages).
• CIFF Digital Archive Online digital archive tracking the history of Cork International Film Festival and the cultural history of Cork, amassed over 70 years of festival operations.
• Bastille Day Film Weekend Annual free French film weekend held in partnership with the French Embassy and Institut Français, featuring free screenings (e.g., 17th–19th July 2026 at UCC Library).
• Fear Screen European thrillers and horror film season running from March each year at Triskel Arts Centre in Cork.
• CineSpark: Film & Education Day Annual film and education event connecting filmmakers with students and educators.
• European Film Weekend Weekend showcase of European films at The Arc Cinema, often featuring LUX Audience Award selections in partnership with Creative Europe MEDIA.
• Cruinniú na nÓg Programme Free online short film programme for children and young people run by CIFF as part of Ireland's national creativity celebration Cruinniú na nÓg.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 young people reached annually through schools and Intinn programmes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Arc CinemacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal venue partner continuing the rich tradition of cinematic excellence established by Cork's Gate Cinema. Screens all festival programming.
• The Everyman TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey venue partner for gala screenings and awards ceremonies including Opening and Closing Galas
• Triskel Arts CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for special screenings, industry events, and panel discussions
• Future PlanetmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreen screen sponsor and award partner, winning Best Small Sponsorship at Business to Arts Awards 2023
• Murphy'smajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival sponsor providing Murphy's Moments competition prizes and brand association with festival
• Redbreast WhiskeyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhiskey brand sponsor supporting festival programming
• University College Cork (UCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Lord Puttnam Scholars programme, Legacy Day, and research collaborations including Intinn programme evaluation
• EventivecoreTechnology or IntegrationTicketing and streaming platform powering online festival screenings and year-round catalogue
• FilmFreewaycoreTechnology or IntegrationFilm submission platform for international filmmakers to submit work to the festival
• Institut FrançaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Night of Ideas partner for special screening programming
• European Film AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner for European short film programming and European Film Awards selections
• Irish ExaminermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner supporting Best New Irish Feature Award
• RTÉminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational broadcaster supporting Irish arts and festival coverage

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IndieCork Film Festival: Direct same-city peer operating in Cork, sharing local venue pool (Arc, Everyman, Triskel) and competing for Cork-based audiences, sponsorships, and submissions from independent Irish and international filmmakers.
• Galway Film Fleadh: Ireland's other flagship film festival, comparable in mission and audience (arts/cinema enthusiasts) and overlapping in competing for Irish-language, Irish short, and documentary submissions and for the same Arts Council/Screen Ireland grants.
• Dublin International Film Festival: Ireland's other major competitive film festival, directly comparable as a national showcase competing for premieres, sponsorships (corporate and public), and audiences on the same island with similar programmes.
• Edinburgh International Film Festival: Long-running UK festival with analogous year-round programming, filmmaker development initiatives, and reliance on public arts funding and corporate sponsorship, competing for European premiere submissions.
• Belfast Film Festival: Northern Ireland's leading film festival with comparable scale, public funding mix (UK arts councils and local government), and curatorial ambitions around Irish and international cinema.

Broad incumbents

• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): Global incumbent festival comparable in core activity (film exhibition, industry programming, year-round cultural programmes) but operating at significantly larger scale with international corporate sponsors.
• BFI London Film Festival: Larger UK festival under BFI stewardship with overlapping curatorial targets (international and Irish cinema, industry events, youth audiences) and similar year-round educational programmes, but materially larger funding base and global profile.

Regional players

• Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Mid-sized European festival with comparable non-profit governance, public/EU co-funding model, and focus on independent and short-form cinema targeting a regional audience and European filmmaking community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CorkFilmFest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCo5Poqq1GT-kHYR4LT3d3tg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CorkInternationalFilmFestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cork-film-festival
• Instagraminstagram.com/corkfilmfest
• TikToktiktok.com/@corkfilmfestival

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cork International Film Festival