CIFF Welcomes Expressions of Interest to join its Board in 2026
Position: Board Director (Trustee)
Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) is welcoming expressions of interest to join its Board in 2026. CIFF is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Board members are Trustees of the charity, and are responsible for the governance of the organisation. Their primary duties focus on strategic planning, financial oversight and policy development. As a governance board, directors are not involved in programming or operational matters, which are delegated to the Executive.
About Cork International Film Festival
Cork International Film Festival is Ireland’s first and largest film festival and one of Cork’s most significant and popular annual cultural events. The Festival is a local, national and international celebration of cinema, running annually in venues and online in November. Award-winning films from the international film festival circuit, new discoveries, and cinema classics are selected by our experienced curatorial team to premiere in cinemas in Cork and be screened online via the Festival Digital Platform, available to viewers nationwide.
The Festival presents 12 awards, including the CIFF Best New Irish Feature Award, proudly supported by the Irish Examiner. Its awards for Grand Prix Irish Short, Grand Prix International Short and Grand Prix Documentary Short Award are Academy Award qualifying, ensuring that the winners in Cork automatically join the Oscars long list.
Why Join Our Board?
CIFF is a registered charity and non-profit organisation that seeks the skills and experience of a diverse volunteer Board to support the delivery of its ambitions
You will have a varied and interesting engagement with a leading arts & cultural organisation
You will have opportunities to experience and participate in the Festival first-hand
You will play a part in celebrating and developing Ireland’s oldest and largest film festival, including its landmark 70th anniversary in 2025 – a pivotal and significant milestone
What do our Board members do?
The Board of Cork International Film Festival is responsible for overseeing the strategic development of the organisation, ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are in place to manage any risks to its operation and success. The Board also looks to:
Ensure the organisation’s activities align with its established vision, mission and values
Engage in strategic planning and the setting of annual goals and priorities
Provide support and high-level oversight to the Executive
Financial oversight and internal controls
Support fundraising through shared access to networks
The Commitment of our Board
Prepare for, attend and participate in approximately six board meetings a year and our annual Board Strategy Away Day. Meetings are scheduled in advance for the year to enable maximum attendance (in person and online)
Act as an ambassador for Cork International Film Festival in the community and open their network to encourage wider engagement and support
We encourage our Board to fully engage in the Festival and our year-round events
Term of office
Directors serve for a term of three years and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Qualifications
The CIFF Board members have a diverse array of professional skills and experience. We are currently interested in candidates with senior-level experience in:
Legal sector
Film Industry (domestic and international)
Business Development (fundraising)
Cork Business/Civic representation
Tourism & Hospitality sector
Previous not-for-profit Board experience is also desirable
To Apply
Expressions of interest are welcomed by submitting an application letter for the attention of our Chair, Cian Blackwell, contact the Chief Executive at fiona@corkfilmfest.org, with the subject line “Board Member Application”.
Your letter should outline your interest in the Festival and what skills and experience you would bring to the CIFF Board. Please provide details of relevant experience, any service as a Board Director, Trustee or other arts/voluntary/community organisation, or commercial organisation, together with a short resume.
Please note the closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday, 29th May 2026.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Cork International Film Festival is an equal‑opportunity organisation, committed to reflecting our community’s diversity. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
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