MEDIA Films News November 2023

We also highlight films showing in independent cinemas and cinema clubs that are part of the Europa Cinemas network as well as films and film festivals supported by Creative Europe and other EU initiatives such as Eurimages Cinema Fund, European Film Promotion, the European Film Awards, European Cinema Night, and the LUX Audience Award.

The Irish members of Europa Cinemas include:

• IFI, Dublin
• Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
• Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin
• Palás, Galway
• Access Cinema Network of regional cinema clubs
• Volta VOD online
• MyCinema.ie is an EU-supported platform, operated by access>CINEMA Ireland, on which you can you can rent a curated selection of the best world cinema & live events on demand.

Cork Film International Film Festival, 68th Edition, 9 - 26 November 2023

Creative Europe MEDIA is proud to support the 68th edition of Cork International Film Festival! From 9th to the 26th November you can discover amazing features films, documentaries, and short films from Ireland, Europe and beyond.

Check out the CIFF programme of screenings and events here.

MEDIA Office Dublin will support the CIFF Industry Event, Doc Day Live networking reception on Friday 24th November from 5pm to 6.30pm.

Some of the MEDIA and EU supported films screening at CIFF 2023 include:

• SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS by Ken Wardrop (Ireland) - see below for details.
• KIDNAPPED (Rapito) by Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
• ROBOT DREAMS by Pablo Berger (Spain, France)
• TIGER STRIPES by Amanda Nell Eu (Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, Qatar)
• SEVEN WINTERS IN TEHRAN by Steffi Niderzoll (France, Germany) (Eurimages funding)

SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS | Irish Premiere at Cork Film Festival, 8pm, Friday 10th November

In competition for the inaugural CIFF Best New Irish Feature Award, So This is Christmas is an emotional journey featuring five ordinary characters as they navigate personal dilemmas triggered by Christmas. Brought to life in a creative documentary form, the film explores the deeper complexities that emerge when expectations collide with reality. Directed by Ken Wardrop and produced by Venom Film who received development funding for the project from Creative Europe MEDIA.

Venom Film will participate in Doc Day with a Company Case Study on Friday 24th November as part of CIFF Industry Event Doc Day Live. The team will join Doc Day to discuss Venom’s company’s development structure and their filmography, with a focus on their new feature So this is Christmas, directed by Ken Wardrop. Speakers: Samantha Corr, Producer, Venom Film; Heidi Fleisher, International Development Consultant, Venom Film; Andrew Friedman, Producer / Company Partner, Venom Film.

So This is Christmas opens at the IFI Dublin on Friday 17th November and will be released across Irish cinemas from 17th November 2023.

Cork International Film Festival | Screenings at Triskel Arts Centre, Cork

Triskel is one of the principal venues for CIFF 2023. Discover all the films showing at Triskel during CIFF. Book your tickets are via corkfilmfest.org or the myCIFF app (available on Apple iOS and Android) only.

Las Chicas están bien (The Girls Are Alright), Wednesday 15th November

NORTHERN LIGHTS | Premiere Tuesday 14th November on TG4

Northern Lights from Deadpan Pictures was developed the series with MEDIA Slate Funding. Also supported by Lionsgate and Screen Ireland the series will premiere on Tuesday,14th November on TG4 at 10:30 pm and will air weekly exclusively on TG4 for six episodes which will also be available on TG4 Player.

Castar beirt strainséirí chroíbhriste ar a chéile oíche fhliuch i mBaile Átha Cliath. Ní bhíonn sé i bhfad go mbíonn siad ag scaoileadh rún lena chéile. Sraith ghrinn dhorcha faoi dhóchas a bheith agat agus léargas fíor ar mhuintir Bhaile Átha Cliath sa lá atá inniu ann.

Northern Lights tells the story of two grieving strangers whose worlds collide on a rainy night in Dublin. Revelations, confessions, secrets, and lies envelop this darkly humorous, intimate series of hope.

Northern Lights is Stephen Jones’s (Love/ Hate, KIN, Red Rock) screenwriting debut, with the Dubliner taking up a starring role as haplessly optimistic Lloyd alongside award-winning and Silgo native, Elva Trill (Line of Duty, Ripper Street, Jurassic World: Dominion, Starstruck) who takes on the role of Áine and rising Irish star, Jay Duffy (Derry Girls, The Wheel of Time) who plays Seán.

EFA Young Audience Film Day | Galway & Dublin Sunday 5th November

Generation Fleadh will host an EFA Young Audience Film Day on Sunday, 5th November in Pálás Cinema, Galway. This initiative is specifically tailored for young audiences aged 12 to 19. A film - EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE - will be shown simultaneously in cinemas all across Europe including IFI Dublin and Pálás Galway. After the screening, discussions about the film will take place in cinemas throughout Europe, led by knowledgeable local moderators.

LA SYNDICALISTE | IFI@Home

The true story of Irishwoman Maureen Kearney (Isabelle Huppert), head trade union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse who turns whistle-blower. Based on the book 'La Syndicaliste' by investigative journalist Caroline Michel-Aguirre, the film tells the story of how Kearney takes on a nuclear company and makes some very powerful enemies in the process.

NOVEMBER - MONTH OF EUROPEAN FILM

European Film Academy presents the Month of European Film 2023 as Europe’s own film and award season. Starting on 1st November, it celebrates the diversity of European film for six weeks until its grand finale on 9th December with the European Film Awards in Berlin.

Across Europe, thanks to the Academy’s partner Europa Cinemas, flagship cinemas in 40 countries from Iceland to Greece, from Portugal to Georgia – including capital cities, small towns and national cinema networks – highlight European films, presenting special programmes, events and dedicated retrospectives.

At the same time, the global streaming platform MUBI presents a special focus on European films, and for the first time, the VOD portal DAFilms highlights a selection of European documentaries, both allowing film lovers around the world to participate.

One of the highlights of the Month of European Film will be the Young Audience Film Weekend (4-5 November), during which the launch of the European Film Club will take place, followed by 'Europe’s Biggest Watch Party' of the film EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE. During the weekend, the three films nominated for the annual Young Audience Award will be announced. In Ireland, IFI Dublin and Pálás Galway will take part.

The Month of European Film will also see the European Arthouse Cinema Day on 12th November, a project organised by CICAE, the international confederation of arthouse cinemas.