Young Filmmakers Take Centre Stage at Gala Screening in Cork County Hall

A group of people stadnding in front of a red flag

The 2023 Gala Screening Event for Cork Young Filmmakers was recently held at Cork County Hall. Hosted by Cork Young Filmmakers and Cork Film Centre with the support of Cork County Council and SECAD, the highly anticipated event celebrated a year long journey of filmmaking with young people from County Cork. 

The Gala event focused on the premiere screening of new work by young filmmakers from throughout the county during the Summer of 2023. The short films were created at workshops in Bandon, Cobh, Macroom, Mallow, and Midleton and were premiered at this event which takes place annually at the spectacular 'Vertigo' at Cork County Hall. 

This special screening event celebrates the creativity of young people from County Cork who made these short films as part of the Cork Young Filmmakers countywide Youth Arts Programme, generously supported by Cork County Council, SECAD, CETB and Creative Ireland.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn congratulated the participants saying, 
 

I am truly inspired by the immense talent and creativity displayed by Cork's young filmmakers. The outstanding support provided by Cork Young Filmmakers, Cork Film Centre, and the various organisations involved is also to be commended. Congratulations to each of the young filmmakers who contributed to making this event a resounding success. I am sure you have a bright future ahead.

A highlight of the evening was the presence of renowned filmmaker and visual artist, Claire Murphy, who is based in Cork. An alumna of NCAD, Claire graduated with a degree in Fine Art Painting in 2009 and later pursued an acclaimed master's degree in cinematography at Napier University Edinburgh in 2017. Claire’s exceptional work as a cinematographer and filmmaker has earned her recognition at festivals worldwide. One of her outstanding films, "To Be What We Are," was screened during the Gala.

The programmes were planned and coordinated by Cork Film Centre and funded in the main by Cork County Council and the Arts Council with support from SECAD, Cork ETB, Creative Ireland and CLCYP, (Cork Local Creative Youth Partnership) and supported also by Cork County Council’s Community Fund.