ABOUT US
Cork Film Centre was founded in 1993 by a group of cinephiles, artists and aspiring filmmakers.
Milestones:
1996: Received first Arts Council funding, and opened office in Marlboro St.
1997: Moved to larger premises on Grand Parade, and set up first editing suite
1998: Initiated student video art awards
1999: Disbursed first CFC/RTÉ Short Script Award, Enda Walsh's Not A Bad Christmas
Initiated ‘Made in Cork' award at the Cork Film Festival
2000: Held first video art event (in Fenton Gallery)
with Claire Langan, Nigel Rolfe, Pauline Cummins, and IAT
2001: Organised first VAMP (Video Art Mentoring Project)
Arts Council Commission (film) for Ciara Moore
Arts Council Commission (performance) for Nigel Rolfe
2002: Began association with Kerry Film Festival Script Award
2003: Set up digital animation suite and facilitated Frameworks project (Nose: Trigger Productions)
2005: Peripheral Visions - an exhibition of 39 artists during Cork 2005, culminating in an
international symposium on video art
2006: Organised first experimental film event, which featured James Fotopoulos
2007: Organised Tension, Breakout and artist in residence video art exhibitions
2008: Set up Experimental Conversations website
2010: Curated and installed Postcards from the Celtic Tiger video art exhibition in Shanghai
From The Sources: collaboration with the Glucksman Gallery and UCC School of Music (Fleischman centenary)
2011: Tasked by Cork City and County Councils to set up Cork Screen Commission
VIDEO ART
Cork Film Centre's policy of developing interdisciplinary arts projects has focused on the area of video art. CFC has organized exhibitions of work by video artists, and has set up a number of annual Video Art Awards for excellence.
In 2001 Cork Film Centre established VAMP (Video Art Mentoring Project), through which artist and educator Nigel Rolfe engaged in hands-on projects with a number of emerging artists, mentoring them in the production of new work, and culminating in the exhibition of their works. This was followed by Re-VAMP in 2003, which, in turn, led to Peripheral Visions in 2005, a major Cork Capital of Culture 2005 project devised by Cork Film Centre. It consisted of an exhibition of 39 videos and an international symposium on video art.
In 2007, CFC held three further video art exhibitions, and by the end of 2010 had curated and organised group exhibitions of Irish video artists in Melbourne and Shanghai.
FILM
In 1996 there was only one Cork-made film screened at Cork Film Festival. This has increased in recent years to 16 selected from an entry of over 75 in 2008.
Since 1999, CFC has disbursed an annual RTE Short Script Award, and, among other awards, an annual Award at Samhlaiocht/Kerry Film Festival.
CFC has been actively promoting experimental film through screenings, workshops, and through the Experimental Conversations online magazine.
Also, in recent years, we have run annual documentary mentoring projects.
Cork Film Centre has been tasked by Cork City Council and Cork County Council to set up Cork Screen Commission. The Screen Commission's key roles will be:
- • To actively market the Cork region as a prime location for film and TV production.
- • To support the region's indigenous film and TV industry which consists of a highly talented group of professionals.
- • To provide a comprehensive production support service for those involved in the industry.
It is planned to have a Screen Commissioner in place by July 2011.
ANIMATION
Cork Film Centre actively pursues a policy of promoting excellence in animation, and has invested in a suite of digital animation and audio creation stations. Nose, an Irish Film Board/Arts Council/RTE Frameworks animation by Trigger Productions, was the first to emanate from the new suite. In 2005, Jane Lee completed Bare, another Frameworks animation.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Throughout the year, Cork Film Centre runs film education courses, masterclasses and workshops for members in order to transfer skills to those wishing to use the moving image creatively.
Cork Film Centre supports second and third level colleges by running workshops and mentored projects. CFC also facilitates arts and community groups in documenting activities, and collaborates with Cork Film Festival in organizing workshops and seminars during the festival week.
Cork Film Centre, in association with Cork County Council, organizes and runs workshops and screenings in venues throughout the county.
Cork Film Centre Staff:
Chris Hurley (Director)
Maximilian Le Cain (E-mag editor & Projects)
Christine Utzeri (Administrator)
Kieran O'Connor (Projects)
Mike Bohan (Technician)
Cork Film Centre Board:
Helen Guerin (Chair)
Kieran O'Connor (Secretary)
Louis Marcus
Donal Ó Céilleachair
Ailbhe Ní Bhriain
Eimear O'Herlihy
Ciara Hyland
John Henry Donovan
Jane Lee
