Movies by the Lee

It’s the time of year when film fans head south for some cinematic Corkers. The 63rd Cork Film Festival takes place from November 9 to 18 and once again, RTÉ is the principal media partner. More than 3,600 film submissions have been whittled down in this year’s programme to 240 features and shorts. The Festival opens at the Everyman Theatre on Friday, November 9, with a gala screening of Carmel Winters’ eagerly awaited drama, Float Like a Butterfly, starring Hazel Doupe. It closes in the same venue on November 18, with Nadine Labaki’s Cannes-wooing drama Capernaum, a watercooler tale from Lebanon. Both productions are must-sees. Here are some more reasons to head south. Being There (November 11, The Everyman) ere are plenty of classic movies at this year’s festival (including Vertigo, Suddenly, Last Summer and Orphée) but Hal Ashby’s 1979 dark comedy is a must-watch. Peter Sellers is in terri c form as the simple gardener who nds himself in the corridors of power. Wild Strawberries (November 10, The Everyman) To mark the centenary of Ingmar Bergman, the great Swedish director pops up throughout the programme. e real must-see is this poignant tale of ageing and redemption starring a lmmaking hero of Bergman’s, Victor Sjöström. First Take (November 15, Triskel) is is an event for new lm professionals, emerging lmmakers and students of lm, combining interactive sessions and case studies. Speakers

and contributors include international lm consultant Beatrice Neumann; and the Tohill Brothers, co-directors of superb new drama, e Di g, which will screen in Cork on November 15 at e Everyman. Doc Day (November 16, Republic of Work) In partnership with Screen Ireland, Doc Day seeks to inform, inspire and connect established and emerging directors, producers and writers. It features a session on the topic of Documentary as the Cinema of Social Concern. I Do Not Care if We Go Down in History as Barbarians (November 12, Gate) Not only does this one win the prize for Best Title at the festival, it might become the Most Talked About Film in Cork. Directed by Radu Jude, it’s the provocative story of a museum director who is charged with mounting a spectacle that relates to Romanian history. All goes well until the subject of Nazi atrocities are raised. Nosferatu (November 13, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral) FW Murnau’s 1922 silent gem is still the nest vampire ick of all time, featuring a wonderfully creepy central performance from Max Schrek. is special screening of the lm features a new score from Cork composers Irene and Linda Buckley and takes place in the suitably gothic surroundings of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Shoplifters (November 17, Gate) is year’s Palme d’Or winner, this memorable Japanese tale is the story of a struggling family who take in a lonely little girl and then train her in the art of shopli ing. Another lm for the watercooler. Ordinary People (November 17, Triskel) A key segment of Cork lm programmes in recent years is the Illuminate programme, a series of lms and discussion events each focusing on di erent aspects of mental health. Presented in association with Arts+Minds and HSE Cork Mental Health Services, this year’s events include a screening of Robert Redford’s 1980 Oscar-winner, introduced by award-winning Irish lm-maker, Frank Berry.

Full details at cork lmfest.org