First Film Titles Announced & Passes on Sale for the 20th Edition of the Annual Capital Irish Film Festival in 2026
IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY - Award Winning Documentary about iconic Irish folk musician, producer, and founding member of bands such as Planxty, The Bothy Band, and Moving Hearts.
Award Winning SANATORIUM - Ireland's Official Entry for Best International Film at the 2026 Oscars.
The festival from Solas Nua and AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center - also known as CIFF - brings one of the largest programs of new Irish cinema to North America.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 26, 2025) - Solas Nua, Washington, D.C.’s premier contemporary Irish arts organization, announces the first two titles to its 20th edition of the annual Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF): IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY, an award-winning documentary on the legendary Irish folk musician and producer, and SANATORIUM, Ireland’s official submission for Best International Film at the 2026 Oscars.
CIFF, presented in partnership with the American Film Institute's prestigious Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (Silver Spring, MD), will take place February 26 - March 1, 2026 — and early bird all-access passes go on sale December 1, 2025. The festival brings one of the largest programs of Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films, and animation releases by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers.
As it marks 20 years of presenting Irish film in Washington, D.C., CIFF continues to celebrate the rich contemporary culture, identities, and heritage from across the island of Ireland on screen. The four-day festival provides a US platform for emerging voices in Irish cinema, showcases the exceptional home-grown creative talent both on screen and behind the camera, and reflects the rapid expansion and success of the Irish screen industry internationally. As well as providing audiences with the opportunity to see a selection of the latest Irish films never before screened in the Washington metro area, CIFF also gives attendees the chance to meet and greet the many visiting filmmakers and artists from Ireland after the screenings. This year’s program includes North American and East Coast premieres, debut features, VIP guests and dignitaries, Q&As, talkbacks and gala events, as well as special talent appearances.
First announced titles include the North American Premiere of the highly anticipated award-winning documentary IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY (Best Documentary Feature, Kerry International Film Festival), a tender and intimate portrait chronicling the life and work of one of the most iconic and influential Irish musicians of his generation, written and directed by Nuala O’Connor. A founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts, Lunny played a central role in reviving and transforming Irish traditional and folk music for new generations. The film reflects his creative process and peerless contribution to Irish music and culture. The documentary produced by South Wind Blows (Other Voices, Ireland's Edge) also features rare and powerful performances by many of Ireland’s most celebrated musicians—including a moving reunion with music icon Christy Moore.
"I am delighted that In Time – Dónal Lunny will have its North American premiere at the Capital Irish Film Festival in 2026.
Dónal is the standout musician, composer, arranger, and producer in Irish traditional and folk music over the last sixty years, and his significance as an Irish artist cannot be overstated. Referred to by Bono as 'the Quincy Jones of Irish music,' his influence is especially timely today, as we are witnessing a vibrant resurgence of Irish folk and traditional music with artists such as Lankum, Lisa O’Neill, Ye Vagabonds, Anna Mieke, The Mary Wallopers, John Francis Flynn, and many more.
This film speaks both to this new generation of musicians and music lovers, and to those who have been long-standing fans. It recognizes Dónal Lunny’s stature in Irish culture, framing his life as an artist against the backdrop of an explosive and fertile interplay of cultural, political, and social forces and the making of art."
-Writer & Director Nuala O'Connor
IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY was produced by South Wind Blows (OTHER VOICES, IRELAND’S EDGE), by Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, with executive producers Philip King, PJ Matthews, Greg Martin, and U2’s founding member Adam Clayton. Colm Hogan (CHRISTY) was Director of Photography. The film was made with the support of Fís Eireann / Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, incentives for the Irish Film Industry provided by the Government of Ireland, University College Dublin and Creative Futures Academy.
“Few documentaries [at the Galway Film Fleadh] this year were more bewitching than Nuala O’Connor’s lovely, monochrome IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY. The musician meditates wisely on a hugely influential career as colleagues such as Christy Moore and Andy Irvine drop in to remind us of the wild times that accompanied the rise of Planxty and The Bothy Band. There is a wintry sadness to a film that, along with a celebration of the good years, touches on tragedy such as the recent death of Lunny’s son, Shane.”
- Donald Clarke, The Irish Times
“I urge everyone to go and see it; it’s a stunning piece of work by director Nuala O’Connor. When you see Lunny’s influence on traditional music, it’s just phenomenal."
- Cillian Murphy
The festival will also include the East Coast Premiere of Irish director Gar O’Rourke’s award-winning directorial debut SANATORIUM (Best Irish Documentary, Galway Film Fleadh; Student Jury Award, Kraków Film Festival). The film explores the imposing Kuyalnik Sanatorium, a fading Soviet-era health resort on the shores of Odesa in Southern Ukraine, which despite the ongoing war nearby continues to offer mud treatments and electro-therapies to the courageous and determined guests in search of relief, healing, and happiness. SANATORIUM had its World Premiere at 2025 CPH:DOX in Copenhagen in their main international competition and has screened widely internationally. The film has subsequently been selected as Ireland's Official Entry for Best International Film at the 2026 Oscars.
"We are honoured to have Sanatorium have its East Coast Premier at the fantastic Capital Irish Film Festival. The festival has been an integral force in promoting and supporting Irish filmmakers and talent over many years in North America, and we are delighted to be part of their exciting and dynamic festival program."
-Writer & Director Gar O'Rourke
SANATORIUM was produced by Venom Films by IFTA-winning Ken Wardrop and Andrew Freedman (HIS & HERS, MAKING THE GRADE), along with Samantha Corr. The film was edited by John Murphy (editor of AN CAILÍN CIÚIN), with Denys Melnyk (MILITANTROPOS) as Director of Photography. SANATORIUM was co-produced by 2332 Films Ukraine and made with support from Screen Ireland, BBC Storyville, MetFilm Sales, France Télévisions, and Creative Europe.
"The heart of this film lies in its warmth, grounded in the minutiae of routine. Gar has built a deep rapport with each of these subjects. This space of trust allows not only for authenticity, but for a surprising helping of humour."
- Gemma Creagh, Film Ireland
PASSES ON SALE
Capital Irish Film Festival passes go on sale December 1, 2025 with further programming announcements and individual tickets on sale in January, 2026.
THE NORMAN HOUSTON AWARD
The 2026 Capital Irish Film Festival will also include the fifth annual Norman Houston Short Film Award from Solas Nua, an honor for the best new short film created by a filmmaker based in or from Northern Ireland made within the previous two years. This award, including prize money of $2,500, will be presented during the festival’s run. The winning filmmaker will also be invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the screening of their film and receive the award in person. The 2026 Norman Houston Short Film Award will be announced by Solas Nua on Thursday, 12 December, 2025.
The Capital Irish Film Festival is supported by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Culture Ireland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Embassy of Ireland, Northern Ireland Bureau, Northern Ireland Screen, and the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme supported by Culture Ireland. Solas Nua is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
ABOUT SOLAS NUA
Solas Nua–‘new light’ in Irish–is dedicated exclusively to contemporary Irish arts. Founded in 2005, Solas Nua acts as an ambassador and advocate for Irish arts in the U.S., promoting contemporary Irish culture, multi-disciplinary arts and creativity. Solas Nua commissions, produces, and presents thought-provoking and groundbreaking work across genres, work that is cross-cultural, representing today’s Ireland–a contemporary, globally diverse society–and reflecting how Irish culture is shared across borders, ethnicity, and economic lines. Follow us on Facebook @solasnuacht, Instagram @solasnua_ and Twitter @solasnuacht.
ABOUT AFI SILVER THEATRE AND CULTURAL CENTER
The AFI Silver and Cultural Center is one of the nation’s premier film theatres, building an appreciation of the art and artists through exploring and celebrating new and classic films and filmmakers from around the globe. AFI Silver offers a year-round program of the best in American and international cinema, featuring a dynamic mix of retrospectives, special events, tributes, on-stage guest appearances, specialty first-run movies, festivals, premieres and education and community-based programs in a theatrical setting of the highest standards. Anchored by the stunningly restored 1938 Silver Theatre, the three-screen AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center is a state-of-the-art film and digital media exhibition venue that serves as a national model for preserving and honoring our shared film and film-going heritage. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com/Silver, and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/afisilvertheatre, youtube.com/AFISilverTheatre, X.com/AFISilver and Instagram.com/afisilvertheatre/.
February 26 - March 1, 2026
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
