1965 Cork International Film Festival Archive Film

To celebrate Heritage Week, Cork International Film Festival is making available online, free of charge, the newly restored archive film Féile Scannán Chorcaighe, Cork Film Festival (1965), offering audiences a rare opportunity to step back in time and experience Cork as it appeared 60 years ago.

Created to mark the Festival's tenth anniversary, this short documentary was directed by Cork librarian and historian Pádraig Ó Maidín and captures the sights, streets and atmosphere of Cork city alongside the excitement of the Festival during 1965. It provides a fascinating snapshot of the city's cultural life and celebrates the enduring legacy of Ireland's first and largest film festival.

The film was rediscovered by Cork International Film Festival Director & CEO Fiona Clark during an office move in 2018. Following restoration and digitisation in collaboration with UCC Department of Film & Screen Media and the Irish Film Institute Irish Film Archive, it received its world premiere at Cork International Film Festival's landmark 70th edition in November 2025.

Now, audiences everywhere can watch this unique piece of Cork's film heritage free of charge via the Cork International Film Festival website and YouTube channel. Suitable for all ages, the film offers a fascinating insight into Cork's architectural, cultural and cinematic history.

As part of Cork International Film Festival's Heritage Week programme, audiences are also invited to join Moving Pictures: A Historic City Walk with Cork International Film Festival, a free guided walking tour led by architectural historian Danielle O'Donovan.

Taking place on Friday 21 August at 6.00pm, the 90-minute tour explores Cork's VQ (MacCurtain Street), uncovering the stories behind the city's historic cinemas and entertainment venues. Drawing on material from the Cork International Film Festival Digital Archive, alongside historic photographs and local stories, the walk offers a fresh perspective on Cork's architectural, cultural and cinematic heritage.

The route includes landmarks such as The Everyman and the site of the former Coliseum Cinema, revealing how Cork's streets have shaped generations of filmgoers and how the city has evolved as a centre for cinema and culture since the Festival was founded in 1956.

For more information and to book the walking tour visit: corkfilmfest.org