One of the longest running industrial disputes in the history of the Irish State will be the subject of a film at this year’s Cork Film Festival.

161 Days: The Vita Cortex Workers’ Struggle, directed by Declan O’Connell and produced by his son, Barra, will be screened as part of this year’s line-up.
The film features the story of the 23 workers who engaged in a five-month occupation of the Vita Cortex plant. Their struggle for redundancy payments and sit-in made headlines all over the world.
December 16 was to be their final day at the foam factory plant on the Kinsale Road.
Their redundancy payments had been agreed, but in the final days of their employment the payments were not made.
A decision was made to occupy the plant, which they did for 161 days, one of the longest running industrial disputes in the history of the Irish State.
The campaign attracted support from football stars Alex Ferguson and Paul McGrath, former President Mary Robinson, actor Cillian Murphy and philosopher Noam Chomsky.
After several failed mediation attempts, and the intervention of senior Labour Relations Commission figures, a severance deal was finally agreed in early May.
Workers maintained their sit-in for another two weeks, until May 24 when everyone was paid.
The film about their story will be given its world premiere as part of the Cork Film Festival on Monday, November 12, at 9pm in the Gate Cinema and is expected to draw much attention.
The full programme for the festival, which runs from November 11-18, will be unveiled at the Bodega tomorrow night.
For more see website www.corkfilmfest.org.