The Right Honourable Councillor Fergal Dennehy

Ard Mhéara Chorcaí

It’s my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2026 edition of the Cork French Film Festival.

Across 37 years, the festival has made a long-standing contribution to the cultural life of the city. It’s a festival not just for the local French community, it’s also attractive to Cork’s Francophiles and cinéphiles.

Though primarily a festival of French cinema, it’s even more interesting that there are Francophone films from other countries in the programme. I understand that there are Swiss, Belgian and Luxembourg productions screening in this year’s festival. I’m pleased to learn that a number of Ambassadors to Ireland will visit Cork for the screenings of films from their home countries.

As every year, the programme is strong, with this year’s films having garnered some 18 nominations in the French César Awards. I’m pleased to see that there’s a Family Film in the programme, a charming animation, and that a film for schools is being screened in Mallow and in Middleton as well as in the Arc Cinema in the city.

As First Citizen of Cork, I wish to extend a warm Cork welcome to the venerable French director, Régis Wargnier, to thank him for attending the festival for the screening of his latest film La Réparation, and also for conducting a Masterclass in UCC for emerging Cork filmmakers.

I pay tribute to the good people at Alliance Française for organising the festival; in particular to President of Alliance Francaise de Cork, and the Festival Director, Valérie David-McGonnell.

It’s appropriate, and welcome, that Air France is one of the sponsors of the festival, reflecting the strong touristic and commercial links between Cork and France.

Bon Festival et bon succès!