Cork International Film Festival is thrilled to offer a free programme of Festival short films from Ireland and Europe that will inspire and delight as part of this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg, our national day of creativity for children and young people. Enjoy a selection of wonderful short animations and live-action film gems, and a chat with Irish animator Mary Smyth, director of The Reckolahesperus!
As well as shorts from Cork International Film Festival's previous programmes, we're delighted to have collaborated with Athens International Children's Film Festival and Fest Anča International Animation Festival in compiling an extended programme especially for young people.
Experience this specially curated collection of short films from Cork International Film Festival’s previous programmes from 9am to 9pm on Saturday, 11th June.
Help us to continue offering free programmes to young people
In order to present our annual Festival, offer a year-round programme of events, support and promote local and national talent, and enable our Intinn film and mental health programme to reach over 4,000 young people a year, we need support. While we gratefully receive approximately 35% public funding from the Arts Council to support our core mission, as a charity we rely on the generosity and support of film lovers like you to help sustain and grow our vital activities. To read more about our activities and to donate, visit here.
Your donation, no matter what the size, makes a huge difference. If you can, please donate here.
The Programme
Films from Cork International Film Festival:
I’m a Pebble (Dir. Berteraut Mélanie, Bresson Yasmine, Coulombier Léo, Grondin Nicolas, le Chapelain Maxime, Massé Louise)
France / 2020
Bubble, a young otter, lives with three mossy stones and thinks of them as her family. Bulle imagines them as real otters, but as she becomes aware of their true nature, she has to face her loneliness.
The Reckolahesperus (Dir. Mary Smyth)
Ireland / 2020
The story follows Sam a young boy who misunderstands his mother when she refers to him as ‘the Wreck of the Hesperus’ after getting mucky playing outside. The reference is from a poem written in 1842 by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which describes a shipwreck. Sam as a young child understands it as ‘The Reckolahesperus’, a magical creature. This confusion leads Sam to have quite an unexpected adventure!
Melting Heart Cake (Dir. Benoît Chieux)
France / 2020
To share her chocolate « cœur fondant » with her friend, Anna must cross a glacial forest. Said forest is haunted by a new resident, a terrifying bearded giant. All animals that cross his path disappear and, of course, the mole’s route leads to him… but the leviathan has a warmer heart than it may seem.
Rawr (Dir. Sorcha McGlinchey)
UK / 2020
A young dinosaur enthusiast is thrilled to discover her favourite show has announced a feature film to be released in April! But when the day comes for her to see the film, Clíodhna learns that the UK has entered lockdown. How will Clíodhna overcome this huge disappointment?
Rehak (Dir. Pierre B)
France, UK / 2020
A young woman discovers Rehak, a magical drawing, hidden behind her bedroom wall.
Mishou (Dir. Milen Vitanov)
Germany, Bulgaria / 2020
The lives of four lively Arctic hares take a turn after discovering a strange new creature.
Bango Vassil (Dir.Milen Vitanov)
Bulgaria, Germany / 2016
On the afternoon of January 14th, a girl claims that it’s New Year’s Eve! Is it true?
When I Grow Up (Dir. Ester Kasalová)
Czech Republic / 2021
The author, together with her staff, goes on an excursion to a kindergarten to ask the children what they would like to do when they grow up. The children have very clear ideas about their future, which the director visualizes with ease and an artistic abbreviation typical of children's drawing.
Children of Gainmore (Dir. Petr Mischinger)
Czech Republic / 2020
One morning, a magic stone appears in the kindergarten yard. A group of 7 kids find it, but the greedy Prof. Jarin wants to steal it from them.
Cuckoo (Dir. Daniela Hýbnerová)
Czech Republic / 2020
An animated documentary that humorously shows how a cuckoo can lay eggs in other birds’ nests.
Films from Athens International Children’s Festival:
Catching Rainbows (Dir. Anton Setola)
Belgium, Ireland / 2020
Right in the middle of a very busy city, there is a peaceful place. It’s a cosy park, closed off and forgotten, a true oasis. This is where you will find Ollie, the little blue owl and his friends – a small stork, a young frog and five little birds. Together they all have lots of adventures. If you want to meet them, you are very welcome there… if you can find it.
Kiki the Feather (Dir. Nicolas Bianco-Levrin, Julie Rembauville)
France / 2020
Kiki the canary only knows his cage and the old lady who feeds him. He dreams of flying with the free birds from outside. When at last the door of the cage stays open, he escapes and discovers the big outside where it’s necessary to know how to fly. Finally, being a free bird, it’s scary.
Lost & Found (Dir. Vivian Papageorgiou)
Greece / 2020
Α rebellious suitcase wants to be left free at the airport.
Elevator Alone (Dir. Anastasia Papadopoulou)
Greece / 2021
Elevator Alone is a comedic short film using stop motion animation technique. Inspired by everyday life and by the difference in people’s behaviour when they are alone, in contrast to the socially acceptable behaviour that individuals adopt when in public space and especially in the confined and always awkward setting of an elevator.
The Penguin Who Couldn’t Swim (Dir. Tom Rourke)
UK / 2019
“The Penguin Who Couldn’t Swim” is an animation about disability – in fact it is about a disabled penguin. A penguin who lives on a rocky island in the southern seas where she feels isolated from the rest of her colony. She is inventive, resourceful and tough but frustrated about what she cannot do. This is an animation about disability, made by a disabled animator.
A Pet (Dir. Vera Doneva)
Bulgaria / 2020
When a girl, who needs some company and more attention, dreams of having a pet, she tries to have her parents’ attention to make her dream come true …. But at one point, she finds a solution to her problem herself….
Pirat’tack (Dir. Benjamin Langagne, Marine Beuvain, Pierre Guislain, Kerrian Detay, Camille Flinois, Tana Gallais)
France / 2020
Two crazy pirates sail on the English Channel, facing them: an island and a treasure.
A Long Drive (Dir. Axel De Lafforest)
France / 2021
What a boring day… Ines and her little brother Achille leave on for an endless car journey. But their boundless imagination will soon make this long journey the most incredible day of adventures!
The Alien Nightmare (Dir. Marc Antoine Alonso, Lauriane Balestrat, Elie Berthoumieu, Alexis Sabalza, Lucas Soupou)
France / 2020
Mike, Bob and Frank land on Earth for a scientific expedition. A routine mission for these aliens, but this time, everything won’t go as planned…
In the Right Side of the Hair (Dir. Bertille Rondard)
FRANCE / 2020
A little cat loves to be the centre of attention but her first day at school doesn’t go as expected…
Twin Trees (Dir. Emmanuel Ollivier)
France / 2020
A sister and a brother, each carrying their small potted tree, cross paths with a parrot and a reclining statue. The brother decides to plant his tree, while the sister sets out on a trip with hers.
Tobi and the Turbobus (Dir. Verena Fels)
Germany / 2019
You fly with no seat! That’s the rule in the Turbobus. To get one is a hard day job for a young wolf on his turbo-journey to find real friendship.
Films from Fest Anča International Animation Festival:
Bearing (Dir. Daniela Hýbnerová)
Czech Republic / 2019
A baby bear gets lost to its mother bear and tries to get back to her.
A Tiny Tale (Dir. Chloé Bourdic, Théophile Coursimault, Sylvain Cuvillier, Noémie Halberstam, Maÿlis Mosny, Zijing Ye)
France / 2020
A dog gets abandoned on the side of the road. Attached to a street light, he stays alone until the day he meets a young astronaut wannabe and a professional cyclist who keeps on trying to beat her highest score.
Heat Wave (Dir. Fokion Xenos)
Greece / 2019
In the midst of a searing heatwave, two little children find a way to cool everyone down! A playful stop motion short film animated in a hybrid technique between cut out, claymation and thousands of replacements pieces.
Fly (Dir. Julia Ocker)
Germany / 2018
Three frogs are fighting over a tasty fly. But there is something the fly can teach them.
The Little Bird and the Bees (Dir. Lena von Döhren)
Switzerland / 2020
The little Bird can’t fly yet. Nevertheless, it happily explores its forest. The little Bird is being followed by a hungry but very clumsy fox, but its friends help it and luck is on its side.
Marmalade (Dir. Radostina Neykova)
Bulgaria / 2020
If you want to become a hero, sometimes you just have to fly.
Sun-Kissed (Dir. Ignasi Tarruella)
SPAIN / 2019
A couple of eggs go to the beach. One of them doesn’t want to be under the umbrella. He will suffer the consequences.
Cork International Film Festival is thrilled to offer a free programme of Festival short films from Ireland and Europe that will inspire and delight as part of this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg, our national day of creativity for children and young people. Enjoy a selection of wonderful short animations and live-action film gems, and a chat with Irish animator Mary Smyth, director of The Reckolahesperus!
As well as shorts from Cork International Film Festival's previous programmes, we're delighted to have collaborated with Athens International Children's Film Festival and Fest Anča International Animation Festival in compiling an extended programme especially for young people.
Experience this specially curated collection of short films from Cork International Film Festival’s previous programmes from 9am to 9pm on Saturday, 11th June.
Help us to continue offering free programmes to young people
In order to present our annual Festival, offer a year-round programme of events, support and promote local and national talent, and enable our Intinn film and mental health programme to reach over 4,000 young people a year, we need support. While we gratefully receive approximately 35% public funding from the Arts Council to support our core mission, as a charity we rely on the generosity and support of film lovers like you to help sustain and grow our vital activities. To read more about our activities and to donate, visit here.
Your donation, no matter what the size, makes a huge difference. If you can, please donate here.
The Programme
Films from Cork International Film Festival:
I’m a Pebble (Dir. Berteraut Mélanie, Bresson Yasmine, Coulombier Léo, Grondin Nicolas, le Chapelain Maxime, Massé Louise)
France / 2020
Bubble, a young otter, lives with three mossy stones and thinks of them as her family. Bulle imagines them as real otters, but as she becomes aware of their true nature, she has to face her loneliness.
The Reckolahesperus (Dir. Mary Smyth)
Ireland / 2020
The story follows Sam a young boy who misunderstands his mother when she refers to him as ‘the Wreck of the Hesperus’ after getting mucky playing outside. The reference is from a poem written in 1842 by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which describes a shipwreck. Sam as a young child understands it as ‘The Reckolahesperus’, a magical creature. This confusion leads Sam to have quite an unexpected adventure!
Melting Heart Cake (Dir. Benoît Chieux)
France / 2020
To share her chocolate « cœur fondant » with her friend, Anna must cross a glacial forest. Said forest is haunted by a new resident, a terrifying bearded giant. All animals that cross his path disappear and, of course, the mole’s route leads to him… but the leviathan has a warmer heart than it may seem.
Rawr (Dir. Sorcha McGlinchey)
UK / 2020
A young dinosaur enthusiast is thrilled to discover her favourite show has announced a feature film to be released in April! But when the day comes for her to see the film, Clíodhna learns that the UK has entered lockdown. How will Clíodhna overcome this huge disappointment?
Rehak (Dir. Pierre B)
France, UK / 2020
A young woman discovers Rehak, a magical drawing, hidden behind her bedroom wall.
Mishou (Dir. Milen Vitanov)
Germany, Bulgaria / 2020
The lives of four lively Arctic hares take a turn after discovering a strange new creature.
Bango Vassil (Dir.Milen Vitanov)
Bulgaria, Germany / 2016
On the afternoon of January 14th, a girl claims that it’s New Year’s Eve! Is it true?
When I Grow Up (Dir. Ester Kasalová)
Czech Republic / 2021
The author, together with her staff, goes on an excursion to a kindergarten to ask the children what they would like to do when they grow up. The children have very clear ideas about their future, which the director visualizes with ease and an artistic abbreviation typical of children's drawing.
Children of Gainmore (Dir. Petr Mischinger)
Czech Republic / 2020
One morning, a magic stone appears in the kindergarten yard. A group of 7 kids find it, but the greedy Prof. Jarin wants to steal it from them.
Cuckoo (Dir. Daniela Hýbnerová)
Czech Republic / 2020
An animated documentary that humorously shows how a cuckoo can lay eggs in other birds’ nests.
Films from Athens International Children’s Festival:
Catching Rainbows (Dir. Anton Setola)
Belgium, Ireland / 2020
Right in the middle of a very busy city, there is a peaceful place. It’s a cosy park, closed off and forgotten, a true oasis. This is where you will find Ollie, the little blue owl and his friends – a small stork, a young frog and five little birds. Together they all have lots of adventures. If you want to meet them, you are very welcome there… if you can find it.
Kiki the Feather (Dir. Nicolas Bianco-Levrin, Julie Rembauville)
France / 2020
Kiki the canary only knows his cage and the old lady who feeds him. He dreams of flying with the free birds from outside. When at last the door of the cage stays open, he escapes and discovers the big outside where it’s necessary to know how to fly. Finally, being a free bird, it’s scary.
Lost & Found (Dir. Vivian Papageorgiou)
Greece / 2020
Α rebellious suitcase wants to be left free at the airport.
Elevator Alone (Dir. Anastasia Papadopoulou)
Greece / 2021
Elevator Alone is a comedic short film using stop motion animation technique. Inspired by everyday life and by the difference in people’s behaviour when they are alone, in contrast to the socially acceptable behaviour that individuals adopt when in public space and especially in the confined and always awkward setting of an elevator.
The Penguin Who Couldn’t Swim (Dir. Tom Rourke)
UK / 2019
“The Penguin Who Couldn’t Swim” is an animation about disability – in fact it is about a disabled penguin. A penguin who lives on a rocky island in the southern seas where she feels isolated from the rest of her colony. She is inventive, resourceful and tough but frustrated about what she cannot do. This is an animation about disability, made by a disabled animator.
A Pet (Dir. Vera Doneva)
Bulgaria / 2020
When a girl, who needs some company and more attention, dreams of having a pet, she tries to have her parents’ attention to make her dream come true …. But at one point, she finds a solution to her problem herself….
Pirat’tack (Dir. Benjamin Langagne, Marine Beuvain, Pierre Guislain, Kerrian Detay, Camille Flinois, Tana Gallais)
France / 2020
Two crazy pirates sail on the English Channel, facing them: an island and a treasure.
A Long Drive (Dir. Axel De Lafforest)
France / 2021
What a boring day… Ines and her little brother Achille leave on for an endless car journey. But their boundless imagination will soon make this long journey the most incredible day of adventures!
The Alien Nightmare (Dir. Marc Antoine Alonso, Lauriane Balestrat, Elie Berthoumieu, Alexis Sabalza, Lucas Soupou)
France / 2020
Mike, Bob and Frank land on Earth for a scientific expedition. A routine mission for these aliens, but this time, everything won’t go as planned…
In the Right Side of the Hair (Dir. Bertille Rondard)
FRANCE / 2020
A little cat loves to be the centre of attention but her first day at school doesn’t go as expected…
Twin Trees (Dir. Emmanuel Ollivier)
France / 2020
A sister and a brother, each carrying their small potted tree, cross paths with a parrot and a reclining statue. The brother decides to plant his tree, while the sister sets out on a trip with hers.
Tobi and the Turbobus (Dir. Verena Fels)
Germany / 2019
You fly with no seat! That’s the rule in the Turbobus. To get one is a hard day job for a young wolf on his turbo-journey to find real friendship.
Films from Fest Anča International Animation Festival:
Bearing (Dir. Daniela Hýbnerová)
Czech Republic / 2019
A baby bear gets lost to its mother bear and tries to get back to her.
A Tiny Tale (Dir. Chloé Bourdic, Théophile Coursimault, Sylvain Cuvillier, Noémie Halberstam, Maÿlis Mosny, Zijing Ye)
France / 2020
A dog gets abandoned on the side of the road. Attached to a street light, he stays alone until the day he meets a young astronaut wannabe and a professional cyclist who keeps on trying to beat her highest score.
Heat Wave (Dir. Fokion Xenos)
Greece / 2019
In the midst of a searing heatwave, two little children find a way to cool everyone down! A playful stop motion short film animated in a hybrid technique between cut out, claymation and thousands of replacements pieces.
Fly (Dir. Julia Ocker)
Germany / 2018
Three frogs are fighting over a tasty fly. But there is something the fly can teach them.
The Little Bird and the Bees (Dir. Lena von Döhren)
Switzerland / 2020
The little Bird can’t fly yet. Nevertheless, it happily explores its forest. The little Bird is being followed by a hungry but very clumsy fox, but its friends help it and luck is on its side.
Marmalade (Dir. Radostina Neykova)
Bulgaria / 2020
If you want to become a hero, sometimes you just have to fly.
Sun-Kissed (Dir. Ignasi Tarruella)
SPAIN / 2019
A couple of eggs go to the beach. One of them doesn’t want to be under the umbrella. He will suffer the consequences.
