Solas Nua presents the
17th Annual Capital Irish Film Festival
OSCAR®-NOMINATED IRISH LANGUAGE FILM THE QUIET GIRL/AN CAILÍN CIÚIN OPENS THE 17TH SOLAS NUA CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF)
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
In addition to an Academy Award® nominee, the festival includes 16 features, 9 U.S. and Regional premieres, 13 short films, featuring 11 women directors, two films in the newly-implemented family program, Q&As with filmmakers, and more.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 2, 2023) - Solas Nua announces the full lineup of films for the 17th annual Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF), which takes place March 2nd-5th and is presented in partnership with AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. The four-day festival is the largest program dedicated to Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films and animation releases. The CIFF program includes 16 feature films (9 U.S. and Regional premieres), the Norman Houston Short Film Award winner, two shorts programs, two films in the new family programming category, introductions and in-person Q&As with filmmakers, and special events with dignitaries.
CIFF Director, Maedhbh Mc Cullagh shares, "I am proud and excited to share this selection of films showcasing the extraordinary depth, breadth, and range of Irish storytelling. This program celebrates the incredible richness of talent, skill, and imagination in Irish cinema. It reflects the diverse and comprehensive expression of contemporary Irish identity today. It affirms the power of film to foster cross-cultural understanding and cultivate tolerance. Whether celebrating our exceptional literary and music culture, fearlessly confronting the cruelty and brutality of our dysfunctional past and complicated present, remembering our ghosts and reimagining our myths, these films champion the wonder, complexity and brilliance of who we are. There's a story for everyone, and festival passholders will experience a vibrant and immersive film experience."
Festival Schedule
Thursday, March 2
Opening Night: AN CAILÍN CIÚIN [THE QUIET GIRL] • 7:00 PM (Guest Q&A / Reception) SOLD OUT
NOTHING COMPARES • 9:45 PM
Friday, March 3
GHOSTS OF BAGGOTONIA • 12:00 PM
THE GHOST OF RICHARD HARRIS • 2:30 PM
BALLYWALTER • 4:45 PM (Guest Q&A)
HOMEBIRD (Norman Houston Short Film Award) with YOUNG PLATO • 7:00 PM (Guest Q&A / Reception)
LOLA • 10:00 PM
Saturday, March 4
SHORTS PROGRAM 1 • 11:00 AM
VICKY • 11:10 AM (Director Video Introduction)
THE CRY OF GRANUAILE • 12:45 PM (Guest Q&A)
AISHA • 3:05 PM (Director Video Introduction)
NORTH CIRCULAR • 5:15 PM (Director Introduction)
RÓISE AND FRANK • 7:15 PM
NOTHING COMPARES • 9:15 PM
Sunday, March 5
SHORTS PROGRAM 2 • 11:00 AM
HOW TO TELL A SECRET • 12:00 PM (Guest Q&A) SOLD OUT
FAMILY SHORTS PROGRAM • 12:45 PM
PRAY FOR OUR SINNERS • 2:05 PM (Guest Q&A)
THE SPARROW • 4:30 PM (Guest Q&A)
LAKELANDS • 7:00 PM (Guest Q&A)
LOLA • 9:45 PM
The Capital Irish Film Festival is supported by Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, the Northern Ireland Bureau, the Embassy of Ireland, the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme and Irish Film Institute. Solas Nua is also supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Solas Nua’s Capital Irish Film Festival has been showing Irish films, films by Ireland-based filmmakers and the best of Irish cinematic talent, annually for 17 years. The four-day festival is presented in partnership with AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center at their historic art-deco theater in Silver Spring, MD.
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.
FESTIVAL UNDERWRITERS
Pat Reilly • Chef Cathal Armstrong • Colette & Barry Breen • Martin & Mary Liz Burns • Mike Kirlin • Cóilín Parsons & Ryan Dolan • Dennis Houlihan & Mimi Conway • Kate Meenan-Waugh • Paddy & Darlene Meskell • Patrick McGlone & Kevin Taylor
Q&A MODERATORS
Cathal Armstrong, chef and author • Teri Ellen Cross Davis, poet and author • Miranda Driscoll, Executive Director, Solas Nua • Rex Daugherty, Artist Director of Theatre, Solas Nua • Dr. Darragh Gannon, visiting Fulbright scholar, Georgetown University, Head of Irish Studies at University College Dublin and Vice President of the Global Irish Diaspora Congress • Jackie Hoysted, visual artist • Catríona Palmer, journalist and author • Cóilín Parsons, Associate Professor in the Department of English and Director of the Global Irish Studies Initiative.
VOLUNTEERS
Mary Turkot (Volunteer Coordinator) • Greg Hindsley • Linda Keenan • Camilla Madden • John McShane • Meredyth Woody • Jen Miller • Avery Rosen • Michael Brown • Maryanne Henderson • Mike Sutterlin • Kate Meenan-Waugh • Mike Kirlin • Colette Breen • Rex Daugherty
JUDGES
John & Lori Collins • Colette & Barry Breen • Paddy & Darlene Meskell • Miranda Driscoll • Maedhbh Mc Cullagh • Tom McIntyre • Mike Kirlin • Luke Dunne • Darragh Gannon • Seán Wrenn
SPECIAL THANKS
Cathal Armstrong, Norma Ces, Lori & John Collins, DJ Corey, Mallori Edley, Alan Donnelly, Silvia Ferfuffino, Ron Graville, Bruce Guthrie, Rachel Hewitt, Niall Leogue, Lisa Martin, Eleanor Melinn, Sorcha Fennell Sheehan, Pat McCabe, Eamonn McConville, Isobel Murray, Rachel Media, Molly O’Shea, Lorcan Ryan, Krista Sonia, Greg Whelan, Cameron Whitman, and Seán Wrenn.
