Cork To Host Ireland's Only Dedicated Short Film Festival This Autumn

Cork is set to welcome a new addition to Ireland's cultural calendar this autumn with the launch of Gearr - Cork International Short Film Festival, the country's only festival dedicated solely to short film.

The inaugural event will take place from 8 to 11 October 2026 at the Arc Cinema in Cork City, showcasing the work of local, national and international filmmakers across screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions and workshops.

Gearr, the Irish word for "short," has been built on the legacy of IndieCork Film Festival, which championed independent film and music for more than a decade. The programme will feature established and emerging filmmakers, including work in the music video genre, and will culminate in awards for Best International Short Film, Best Irish Short Film and Best "Made in Cork" Short Film.

Peter Zemek, Festival Director and former IndieCork programmer, said:

"We are excited to bring Gearr - Cork International Short Film Festival to life and to provide a platform for short film that is vital in every sense of the word. While strongly supporting new and emerging voices, Gearr will also present work by established and mid-career artists, creating a dynamic meeting point between fresh perspectives and experienced practitioners.

The festival atmosphere will prioritise exchange, encouragement, and visibility for diverse creative voices, and engage fresh local curatorial eyes in selecting our award winners. We are thrilled to be hosted by Screen 6 at The Arc Cinema - Cork's premier arthouse screen - and are hugely grateful to our sponsors, Blacknight Solutions for coming onboard and believing in the project from day one."

Aysegul Yuzel, Festival Producer, added:

"Our connections with sister festivals and film industry organisations worldwide mean that a wealth of international titles will be available to screen at Gearr but it's the work of our Cork and Irish filmmakers that we are most looking forward to showcasing. We are now open for entries on the FilmFreeway platform and encourage filmmakers to show us your films! Peter and I will also operate an open-door policy in terms of developing the festival. We want to work with everyone and invite anyone who would like to get involved or support the festival to get in touch. We look forward to growing the team and serving the film community with a celebration of short filmmaking at The Arc in October."

The festival has secured Blacknight Solutions as its founding sponsor. Michele Neylon, Owner and Managing Director of Blacknight Solutions, said: "Blacknight is happy to get behind this exciting new festival in Cork. We have long supported independent creative enterprises, believing that they are very important in giving opportunity to emerging new talent in the media, arts and industry. We look forward to working with the Gearr team and enabling their support of the film community."

Entries are now open via FilmFreeway. Further details are available at www.gearrshortfilmfest.com.