The 20th edition of the Solas Nua Capital Irish Film Festival, presented in partnership with the American Film Institute's AFI Silver, wrapped in March with record attendances and ticket sales and overwhelmingly positive feedback.
This year’s program centered on new voices in documentaries and drama (12 directorial and feature debuts), and films by 15 women directors and 17 women writers, as well as award-winning filmmakers. It was the most expansive and ambitious to date – with 42 titles screened including 18 feature films (7 North American, and 8 Regional Premieres); three shorts programs (24 short films across all programming); Irish music, politics, marginalized voices, and the Irish language permeated the program this year, with 13 films featuring Irish dialogue, and the first ever Irish language CIFF Pop-Up Gaeltacht; the fifth annual Norman Houston Short Film Award presentation; three gala screening events with dignitaries and VIP guests from DC; nine in-person artist introductions and post-screening conversations on stage including six moderated Q&As and a panel discussion with artists, writers, professors and arts leaders from the DC cultural sector.
Gala Screenings
On Thursday, February 26, the festival opened with the East Coast premiere gala screening of SAIPAN, from award-winning directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (GOOD VIRATIONS). The screening took place at the historic Art Deco AFI Silver Theatre, and included an introduction from the Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason. A post-screening Q&A with directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, moderated by Dr. Darragh Gannon, Assistant Teaching Professor and Associate Director of Global Irish Studies, Georgetown University, followed, and the Embassy of Ireland sponsored an opening night reception in the AFI lobby for all festival ticket and passholders. On Sunday, March 1, the festival closed with a gala screening of the internationally acclaimed CHRISTY. Presented in partnership with the European Parliament Directorate-General for Parliamentary Democracy Partnerships, the screening was followed by a closing party at McGinty's Public House, adjacent to AFI.
On Friday, February 27, CIFF shone a spotlight on Northern Ireland film with the fifth annual Norman Houston Short Film Award presentation, a double-bill gala screening, panel discussion, audience talkback, and food and drinks reception. Presented in partnership with the Northern Ireland Bureau, North America, and Georgetown University Global Irish Studies Initiative, the program included a welcome introduction by bureau director Richard Cushnie. The screening of Oliver McGoldrick’s award-winning debut short film, THREE KEENINGS, was followed by the East Coast premiere of NO ORDINARY HEIST, a tense thriller based on the true story of the 2004 Northern Bank robbery in Belfast, directed by Colin McIvor. A post-screening Q&A followed with the director and producer, Ruth Carter, moderated by The Irish Stew podcast hosts Martin Nutty and John Lee in a live recording for their award-winning podcast. The Q&A was followed by a reception for all ticket holders at AFI, sponsored by the Northern Ireland Bureau.
As well as the titles mentioned above, other Northern Ireland filmmakers and films set in the North of Ireland featured strongly, including the North American premiere of director Trisha Zaff’s award-winning documentary GERRY ADAMS: A BALLYMURPHY MAN (Best International Documentary at Galway Film Fleadh, 2025), and Damian McCann’s award-winning Irish language thriller, AONTAS. Both films were introduced by their directors via a video link.
Other Highlights
On Saturday, February 28, the festival partnered with University College Dublin’s Creative Futures Academy to present the North American premiere of the documentary IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY (Best Documentary Feature: Kerry International Film Festival) about the life and work of Irish music Legend Dónal Lunny. The screening was followed by an in-person Q&A with director Nuala O’Connor and UCD CFA Director, P.J. Mathews, who traveled from Ireland for the event.
Other Screenings included the East Coast premiere of director Ruán Magan’s Irish language murder-mystery feature BÁITE (Best Irish Feature Film at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh), adapted by writer Sheena Lambert from her 2015 novel The Lake, and included a Q&A with the director, writer, and lead actor Eleanor O’Brien, who also traveled to DC for the event.
On Sunday, March 1, a special screening of director Maurice O’Brien’s documentary LISTEN TO THE LAND SPEAK took place, featuring and focusing on the late broadcaster and writer Manchán Magan. The screening was presented in partnership with the DC Environmental Film Festival [DCEFF].
The North American premiere of Ruán Magan’s documentary DANIEL O’CONNELL: THE EMANCIPATOR, presented in partnership with Notre Dame University and University College Cork, screened and was followed by a panel discussion with leading scholars from the film, including Chanté Mouton Kinyon, Assistant Professor of English, University of Notre Dame, and Jay Roszman, historian and lecturer at the School of History, University College Cork. The panel was moderated by Christopher Morash, author and diplomat.
That afternoon the eagerly awaited SANATORIUM, (previously announced), about the lives of the residents at a health spa on the edge of Odessa set against the backdrop of the ongoing war, nearby, also screened and this was followed by a post-screening Q&A with director Gar O’Rourke and Professor Sky Sitney, of the Film and Media Studies Program, Georgetown University, and Co-Founder & Festival Director, DC/DOX.
Shorts Program Highlights
The festival presented 24 short films across four programs, including a family-focused program for younger children. The shorts program features a lineup of award-winning filmmakers, including John Kelly with RETIREMENT PLAN, the Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland-supported short film that has been nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards and a selection of Irish short films funded under Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland's flagship Focus Shorts and Frameworks scheme, including Zoe Gibney's I FOUND A PLACE, Jeda de Brí’s NAKED LIGHTS, Helen O’Reilly’s COME BACK, and Paul Ó Muiris’ METEORIC. Screening alongside animation and Irish language shorts was Michael Carolan’s NIGHT DRIVER and Niamh Bryson’s TRASNA NA LÍNE (Across The Line), part of the Virgin Media Discovers series in partnership with Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland.
New Talent & Rising Stars
The lineup included some of the most critically acclaimed and new Irish narrative feature films, including opening and closing night films, Irish language crime and mystery thrillers, as well as exciting directorial feature debuts, HORSESHOE and GIRLS & BOYS. Provocative and incisive documentary films including the North American premiere Aoife Kelleher's TESTIMONY; the BAFTA nominated Myrid Carten's multi-award-winning debut A WANT IN HER, (2025 Best Feature Documentary, British Independent Film Award; 2025 British Independent Film Maverick Award; 2025 Winner Helsinki Doc Point Award International Competition); the North American premiere of award-winning director Garry Keane's A QUIET LOVE, (IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT, GAZA); and Ireland's Official Entry for Best International Film at the 2026 Oscars, Gar O’Rourke’s award-winning directorial debut SANATORIUM, featured.
CIFF2026 spotlighted the next generation of Irish talent and introduced audiences to the stars of tomorrow: rising stars of international screen Éanna Hardwicke (SAIPAN, NO ORDINARY HEIST) and Alison Oliver (CHRISTY, SALTBURN); emerging Irish talent including Carolyn Bracken (HORESEHOE, YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER) and Moe Dunford (BÁITE); Bingham Ray New Talent Award Nominees Eleanor O’Brien(BÁITE, THE LAST RIGHT), Diarmuid Noyes (CHRISTY, PUREBRED), and Edwin Mullane and Adam O’Keeffe (HORSESHOE); Screen International’s 2025 Rising Stars (Ireland): Lewis Brophy (CHRISTY, SEAHORSE) and writer, director, and actor, Hannah Mamalis (NAKED LIGHTS, BABY STEPS); newcomers Danny Power (CHRISTY), Liath Hannon and Adam Lunnon-Collery (GIRLS & BOYS) making their feature acting debuts; and the 2026 Norman Houston Short Film Award winner, writer and director Oliver McGoldrick’s THREE KEENINGS (2026 Tiernan McBride Award for Best Short Drama).
Special Guests & Partnerships
Thanks to funding from Culture Ireland the festival had the honor of hosting special guests, artists and filmmakers from Ireland including directors Lisa Barros D’Sa [SAIPAN], Dennis Harvey [CELTIC UTOPIA], Glenn Leyburn [SAIPAN], Gar O’Rourke [SANATORIUM], Ruán Magan [DANIEL O'CONNELL & BÁITE], Colin McIvor [NO ORDINARY HEIST]; directors & writers, Gemma Creagh [CONVEYANCE], Nuala O’Connor [IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY]; writer Sheena Lambert and actor Eleanor O'Brien [BÁITE]; producer Ruth Carter [NO ORDINARY HEIST].
The festival also welcomed Director of Notre Dame Dublin, Eimear Clowry Delaney, who introduced the DANIEL O’CONNELL: THE EMANCIPATOR screening; William Tranghese, Senior Vice President at Platinum Advisors, who introduced GERRY ADAMS: A BALLYMURPHY MAN; and Alberto Paoletti, Outreach and Public Diplomacy Counselor from the EU-Congress Liaison Office in DC.
Solas Nua partnered with Georgetown University Global Irish Studies Initiative (GIS), and Associate Director and Assistant Teaching Professor, Dr. Darragh Gannon, moderated the Q&A following the opening night gala screening of SAIPAN; The University of Notre Dame, Dublin and University College Cork on the screening of DANIEL O’CONNELL: THE EMANCIPATOR, presenting a post-screening panel discussion with visiting special guests director Ruán Magan, Dr. Chanté Mouton Kinyon, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame, and Dr. Jay Roszman, Lecturer, School of History, University College Cork, moderated by author and diplomat, Christopher Morash; University College Dublin Creative Futures Academy in the presentation of IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY and a post-screening Q&A between visiting director Nuala O’Connor and P.J. Mathews, CFA Director and Professor of Irish Literature, Drama, and Culture at University College Dublin; and the DC Environmental Film Festival on the screening of LISTEN TO THE LAND SPEAK.
Festival Team
Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, Festival Curator & Director • Mary Turkot, Festival Assistant Producer • Grace Carter, Festival Volunteer Coordinator & Artist Liaison
Solas Nua Staff
Andrew Dolan, Executive Director • Rex Daugherty, Artistic Director of Theatre • Mekala Sridhar, Creative Producer • Isabel Cabezas, Development & Marketing Manager
Festival Co-presenter
AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center: Todd Hitchcock • Abbie Algar • Tiffany Graham-Golden • Javier Chavez • Josh Gardner • Eli Prysant • Juliet Burch
Visiting Filmmakers
Director Lisa Barros D’Sa • Producer Ruth Carter • Director & Writer Gemma Creagh • Director Dennis Harvey • Writer Sheena Lambert • Director Glenn Leyburn • Director Ruán Magan • Director Colin McIvor • Actor Eleanor O'Brien • Director & Writer Nuala O’Connor • Director Gar O’Rourke
Norman Houston Short Film Award Judges
Lori Collins • John Collins • Colette Breen • Jackie Hoysted • Kate Meenan-Waugh • Paddy Meskell • Darlene Meskell • Pat Reilly • Thomas Meenan • Andrew McCarty • Maedhbh Mc Cullagh
Q&A Moderators, Panelists & Guest Speakers
Eimear Clowry Delaney, Director, Notre Dame Dublin • Dr. Darragh Gannon, Associate Director of Global Irish Studies, Georgetown University • John Lee, Host, The Irish Stew Podcast • Ruán Magan, Director & Writer • PJ Mathews, Professor of Irish Literature, Drama, and Culture at University College Dublin and Director of the UCD Creative Futures Academy • Patrick Meskell, Solas Nua Board Chair Emeritus • Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, CIFF Festival Director • Christopher Morash, Author and Diplomat • Dr. Chanté Mouton Kinyon, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame • Martin Nutty, Host, The Irish Stew Podcast • Alberto Paoletti, Outreach and Public Diplomacy Counsellor at the EU-Congress Liaison Office in DC • Dr. Jay Royzman, Lecturer, School of History, University College Cork • Sky Sitney, Professor of Film and Media Studies Program at Georgetown University, and Co-Founder & Festival Director of DC/DOX • William Tranghese, Senior Vice President, Platinum Advisors
Volunteer Team
Gregory Bilberry • Siobhan Cooney • Barrett Doyle • Peggy Gleason • Annie Jernigan Goldberg • Greg Hindsley • Clodagh Johnston • Jim Kane • Linda Keenan • Camilla Madden • Jerry McCausland • Jen Miller • John McShane • Mike Sutterlin • Meredyth A. Woody
Festival Documentation
Videographers: Happy Medium Productions
Photographers: Daniel J Corey • Bruce Guthrie
Festival Media Partners in Residence
The Irish Stew Podcast
Film Ireland Podcast
Festival Donors
Colette & Barry Breen • Martin & Mary Liz Burns • Andrew Clarke & Chip Sherrill • Dennis Houlihan & Mimi Conway • Gerri Fiala • Brian Maney & Barbara Stauffer • Ruth Meyler • Patrick McGlone & Kevin Taylor • Niall Leogue • Kate Meenan-Waugh • Paddy & Darlene Meskell • Cóilín Parsons & Ryan Dolan • Meredyth A. Woody
Festival Sponsors
Blessinger Legal PLLC • Caddie Tours • Georgetown University Global Irish Studies Initiative • Irish Network DC • Marriott Courtyard Silver Spring • Silver Spring Town Center Inc • Washington DC Gaels GAA Club
Festival Funders
Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme • Culture Ireland • Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland • Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme supported by Culture Ireland • Northern Ireland Bureau • Northern Ireland Screen • Embassy of Ireland, Washington, D.C. Solas Nua is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Community Partners
Alliance for Peacebuilding • Allied in Pride at George Washington University • American - Film & Media Arts • Ancient Order of Hibernians - Navy Yard • Blessinger Legal • Capital Celtic Band • Celtic Throne- Armstrong International Cultural Foundation • Comhaltas Ceoltóirí • Éireann O’Neill Malcolm Branch • DC Area Transmasculine Society • DC Fraternal Order of Police • DC LGBTQ+ Community Center • DC Peace Team • DC Regional Trans Ladies' Association • DC Trans Coalition • DC Trans Expansive District of Columbia Association of the Deaf • DC Fire Department Emerald Society • The Dubliner Pub • DC International FilmFest • Gallaudet University • European Parliament Directorate-General for Parliamentary Democracy Partnerships • Georgetown - Film & Media Studies • Greater Washington Ceili Club • GW Language Exchange • Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital • Immigration Film Fest • Irish American Club • Irish American Club of Washington DC • Irish America 250 • Irish Central • Irish Echo • IRISH NETWORK DC • Irish Studies - Catholic University • Let's Learn Irish • McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University • Ministry of Folk • University of Notre Dame • ReelAbilities Film Festival • Screen Directors Guild of Ireland • Shift Irish Cultural Network • The Folklore Society of Greater Washington • The St. Patrick’s Parade Committee of D.C • Trans Pride DC • University College Cork • University College Dublin, Creative Futures Academy • University of Notre Dame, Indiana • Washington Ireland Program • Washington Area Film Critics Association • Washington Conservatory of Music • Washington DC Film Society • Washington Folk Festival • Washington Ireland Program • Washington Parent Women in Film & Video • DC World Folk Music Association
Festival Catering & Hospitality
McGinty’s Public House • DMV Staffing
Norman Houston Award
Award Crafters, Inc.
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