presented annually by
Solas Nua
SOLAS NUA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFI SILVER THEATRE AND CULTURAL CENTER PRESENTS THE ANNUAL CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF) FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 1, 2026.
Solas Nua announces CIFF 2026 dates and celebrates two decades of presenting Irish Film and Irish filmmakers in DC
Solas Nua’s annual Capital Irish Film Festival in Washington, D.C. presents 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. The 20th edition of the four-day festival takes place February 26 - March 1, 2026 in partnership with the prestigious American Film Institute's Silver Theatre & Cultural Center (Silver Spring, MD).
The festival provides a US platform that magnifies the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond and celebrates the great contemporary cinematic culture of Ireland. The program highlights the rich cultural heritage of Ireland but also fosters an inclusive and diverse community of Irish filmmakers. Capital Irish Film Festival amplifies emerging voices on Irish screen, showcases the exceptional talent and skills in Irish filmmaking, and reflects the robust and vibrant screen industry that has grown in Ireland in recent years.
The festival presents the annual Norman Houston Short Film Award dedicated to the memory of Norman Houston, the former Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau (NIB), in the United States. The award is an annual 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 at Solas Nua’s annual Capital Irish Film Festival, February 26 - March 1, 2026. The winning filmmaker will also be invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the screening of their film and receive the award in person at the festival.
FESTIVAL PASSES
Festival passes are on sale now. Key program announcements to follow in January.
FIRST FESTIVAL TITLES ANNOUNCED
Solas Nua has revealed the first two titles of the 2026 program: 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. To learn about these phenomenal films, please read the festival announcement here.
Sign-up here for future announcements.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CIFF2025
The 19th edition of the Solas Nua Capital Irish Film Festival, presented in partnership with American Film Institute's AFI Silver, closed on Sunday 2nd March, bringing an end to the most ambitious and successful festival to date–with 37 titles including 16 feature films (1 U.S., 2 North American, and 10 Regional Premieres); three shorts programs (23 short films across all programming); the Norman Houston Short Film Award presentation; three gala screening events with dignitaries; 10 in-person post-screening conversations on stage including 8 moderated Q&As with artists, writer, professors and arts leaders from the DC cultural sector. Special guests included dignitaries, guests of honor, writers, directors and actors from stage and screen, including the Ambassador, Geraldine Byrne Nason and Deputy Ambassador, Fionnuala Quinlan from the Embassy of Ireland; Richard Cushnie, Director, Northern Ireland Bureau, North America; Mrs. Mary Robinson, first woman President of Ireland, a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the former Chair of The Elders; writers and directors Tess Annan, Eva Birthistle, Heather Brumley, Aislinn Clarke, Kalia Firester, Elena Horgan, Paul Kennedy, Joe P. Madden and Ste Murray; directors Tanya Doyle, Alan Gilsenan, Kathleen Harris, Paddy Hayes, Ross Killeen, Pauline Vermare and Terence White; director and producer Marc Lesser; writers Denise Deegan and John Walsh; actors Grace Callan, Hazel Doupe, and Ciaran McMenamin; musicians David Keenan and Edith Lawlor; writer and actor, Declan Curran, and producer Claire McCaughley.
After a triumphant sold-out opening night, Solas Nua CIFF festival goers continued to come out in force. Not only was there an incredible turnout, there were multiple sold-out screenings and fascinating conversations from our highly engaged audiences. There were serious conversations and discussion on the subject of climate change, the decline and loss of natural habitats, the rise of authoritarianism and increasing global conflict, the challenges of mental health and complexities of the caring system, as well as the legacy of intergenerational trauma. There were plenty of uplifting and witty conversations as well, centering on the craft and process of filmmaking, the joy of music and art to sustain, and some of the most thought provoking questions came from our discerning DC metro audiences who also provided phenomenal feedback across all four days of the festival.
Other program highlights included animation and Irish language titles, with almost one-third of this year’s features containing Irish language dialogue, aligning with the festival’s mission to present more Irish language films. The program also strongly featured the work of Irish women directors and writers as part of the festival’s ongoing commitment to the representation of Irish women's stories on screen, including 17 titles directed by women, and 12 written or co-written by women. DC audiences were presented with an opportunity to watch some of the most eagerly awaited Irish films of the year and explore new works that would not typically be screened in the U.S., by some of the most notable emerging voices in Irish cinema, with 8 directorial and feature debuts, including 5 by women.
Look back at more of the highlights and photos from CIFF2025.
ABOUT SOLAS NUA
Solas Nua - ‘new light’ in Irish, is a leading multi-disciplinary arts organization that is dedicated exclusively to bringing contemporary Irish arts to Washington, D.C. Solas Nua acts as an ambassador and advocate for Irish arts in the U.S., promoting multi-disciplinary Irish arts and culture. Solas Nua presents, produces, and commissions thought-provoking and ground-breaking work across the arts, and is recognized for making a substantive, unique contribution to the artistic and cultural richness of the city of Washington, DC and beyond. Support and follow Solas Nua via their newsletters, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
ABOUT AFI SILVER THEATRE AND CULTURAL CENTER
A program of the American Film Institute (AFI), AFI Silver and Cultural Center 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 AFI Silver on social media at AFI.com/Silver, and follow AFI Silver on social media at Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
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.
Capital Irish Film Festival
February 26 - March 1, 2026
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
