For well over a century, film has charted not only narratives, but transport, geography, fashions, inventions, social mores, rituals and traditions. A crucial part of this history belongs to the spaces where films were viewed, and the way in which the general public interacted with cinema as both entertainment and art. Film festivals are markers of the cultural heritage of a place. In exploring how art reaches an audience in a city, town or country, we learn about the social fabric and cultural soul of a location.

Cork is a city rich in cultural heritage, home to the Cork International Film Festival, one of oldest festivals in the world. While modest in size, this archive provides a lens through which the social and cultural histories of Cork might be viewed. Developed by the Department of Digital Humanities at University College Cork, the materials exhibited offer a glimpse into the beating heart of the city. The project is ongoing, and further content, descriptions and corrections will be added as this resource continues to develop.