SOLAS NUA'S CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FULL FESTIVAL LINEUP FOR 2025
****CIFF2025 All-Access Passes have SOLD OUT****
****CIFF2025 Opening Night (MRS ROBINSON) SOLD OUT****
Lineup includes two North American premieres in a list of 16 features; 13 U.S. and Regional premieres; 3 shorts programs (23 titles); 8 Directorial and Feature Debuts; Award-Winning Filmmakers; 18 women directors and 14 women screenwriters; in-person conversations, Q&As with visiting filmmakers, special events and more
The Capital Irish Film Festival - one of the largest programs of Irish cinema in North America - presents the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films, and animation releases by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The 19th edition of the four-day festival takes place February 27 - March 2, 2025 in partnership with American Film Institute's Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (Silver Spring, MD). Capital Irish Film Festival provides a U.S. platform that promotes the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond, amplifies emerging voices on Irish screen, showcases the exceptional talent and skills in Irish filmmaking, and reflects the robust and thriving screen industry in Ireland.
This year’s program features biopics of cultural icons, musicians, artists and scientists as well as the most celebrated shorts and Irish language films of 2024! It presents D.C. audiences with an opportunity to explore new works that would not typically be screened in the U.S. including never before seen Irish dramas, psychological thrillers, horror, dark Irish comedy and much more! Committed to the representation of Irish women's stories on screen, the 2025 program highlights the work of Irish women directors and writers, with 17 titles directed by women, and 12 written or co-written by women. The festival also shines a spotlight on some of the most exciting rising stars of Irish screen and emerging Irish writers and directors- with 8 filmmakers making directorial and feature debuts! Program highlights also include award-winning 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.
CIFF Director Maedhbh Mc Cullagh shares, “The 19th edition of the festival explores a wide range of themes and subjects and presents a truly rich and diverse tapestry of Irish life and culture on screen. It is a showcase of excellence in Irish storytelling that our discerning and engaging audiences have come to expect from us, and it reflects the robust screen industry that is thriving across the island of Ireland today. This curated programme of work encompasses themes of feminism, human rights, trauma, migration, and climate change, in films that include uplifting coming-of-age stories, fascinating award-winning documentaries, sharp wit and dark Irish comedy. The program represents some of the most gripping, entertaining, and highly anticipated, acclaimed Irish films of the year, and I hope these films inspire and enrich as much as they entertain and inform.”
FESTIVAL DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE
DAY 1 | Thursday, February 27, 2025
Opening Night: MRS ROBINSON | 7:00 p.m. | T1 | Special Guest Q&A | Reception
KNEECAP | 9:45 p.m. | T1
DAY 2 | Friday, February 28, 2025
CIFF2025 SHORTS PROGRAM 1 | 11:00 a.m. | T2
BURKITT | 1:15 p.m. | T2
DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER | 3:00 p.m. | T2 | Special Guest Q&A
EAT/SLEEP/CHEER/REPEAT | 5:10 p.m. | T2 | Special Guest Q&A
TRAVEL SOCKS (Norman Houston Short Film Award) with THE WISE GUY | 7:00 p.m. | T1 | Award Presentation & Reception
AMONGST THE WOLVES | 9:40 p.m. | T1
DAY 3 | Saturday, March 1, 2025
CIFF2025 - SHORTS PROGRAM 2 | 10:00 a.m. | T2
BIRDSONG preceded by CUMHA | 12:10 p.m. | T2 | Special Guest Q&A
THE IRISH QUESTION | 2:00 p.m. | T2 | Special Guest Q&A
DAVID KEENAN - FOCLA AR CHANBHÁS | 4:30 p.m. | T2 | Special Guest Q&A
DEAD MAN’S MONEY | 6:30 p.m. | T1 | Special Guest Q&A
FRÉWAKA | 8:45 p.m. | T1 | Special Guest Q&A
DAY 4 | Sunday, March 2, 2025
CIFF2025 SHORTS PROGRAM 3 | 11:00 a.m. | T2
FIDIL GHORM (BLUE FIDDLE) | 1:10 a.m. | T2 | Special Guest
HOUSEWIFE OF THE YEAR | 3:30 p.m. | T2
BLUE ROAD: THE EDNA O'BRIEN STORY | 5:15 p.m. | T2
Closing Night: KATHLEEN IS HERE | 7:30 p.m. | T1 | Special Guest Q&A | Reception
CIFF ALL-ACCESS PASSES (SOLD OUT!)
See them all with the Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF) All-Access pass!
The pass grants one admission to every screening in the 2025 Capital Irish Film Festival, including Opening Night Gala Event and after party, and all other festival special events and receptions.
This year, your pass will provide you access to all of the screenings and special events during the festival. Your pass is your ticket for all screenings. However, you must check-in at least 15 minutes prior to screening time in order to secure your seat. Please note that if you do not arrive at least 15 minutes prior to screening, we cannot guarantee your seat. For all sold-out screenings, any unclaimed passholder seats will be released at the box office prior to screening.
You do not need to select or reserve tickets in advance, except for the special gala opening night screening and after party which you must RSVP to (passholders will be emailed in January). All film selections will be announced and individual tickets will be on sale on January 30, 2025.
ABOUT CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL
See Photos & Video Content From CIFF 2024 Here.
Read About All CIFF 2024 Program Announcements Here.
CIFF is 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 four-day festival provides a platform that not only highlights the rich cinematic culture in Ireland, but also amplifies the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond. The program spotlights emerging voices on Irish screen, celebrates the exceptional talent and passion of contemporary Irish filmmakers, and is a reflection of the robust and vibrant screen industry that has grown in Ireland in recent years.
“The festival films showcase the full humanity of the Irish people. They are tough without being mean, forgiving without being saccharine. Quiet, deadpan humor is never far from their lips. These films are almost all a welcome reprieve from the D.C. grind.” — Washington City Paper
For further inquiries please contact: capitalirishfilmfestival@solasnua.org.
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 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.
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 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 Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
Capital Irish Film Festival
February 27 - March 2
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
