Solas Nua’s Capital Irish Film Festival Announces Full Festival Lineup for 2025 Features in Partnership with AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center Featuring Eva Birthistle, Mary Robinson, Michael Fassbender, Gabriel Byrne, KNEECAP, Nell McCafferty and More
SCREENING OF CLOSING NIGHT FILM KATHLEEN IS HERE CONFIRMS IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE FROM DIRECTOR EVA BIRTHISTLE [BAD SISTERS] AND LEAD ACTOR HAZEL DOUPE [SAY NOTHING]
Lineup includes two North American premieres in a list of 16 features; 11 U.S. and Regional premieres; 3 shorts programs (23 titles); 8 Directorial and Feature Debuts; 17 women directors and 12 women screenwriters; Award-Winning Filmmakers; in-person conversations, Q&As with visiting filmmakers, special events and more
WASHINGTON, DC (February 7, 2025) - Solas Nua, Washington, DC’s premiere contemporary Irish arts organization, announces the full lineup of films for the 19th annual Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF), presented in partnership with AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, which takes place February 27 - March 2, 2025.
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 annual festival provides a US 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.
The lineup includes 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 winner; three gala screening events; introductions, meet n’ greets, and in-person Q&As with filmmakers; and special events with dignitaries.
This year’s program features new Irish talent and rising stars of Irish screen including Hazel Doupe (SAY NOTHING, YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER), and Liadán Dunlea (SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE), as well as Senan Jennings (THE WISE GUY), and newcomer Edith Lawlor (FIDIL GHORM). The program also strongly features 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. The program presents DC audiences 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. Other program highlights include 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 festival will close on Sunday, March 2, with the gala screening and East Coast premiere of the award-winning film KATHLEEN IS HERE — written and directed by Eva Birthistle [BAD SISTERS] in an exceptional feature debut. This emotionally taut and tense psychological thriller features rising Irish talent Hazel Doupe [SAY NOTHING] in the lead role as 18-year-old Kathleen, who has aged out of the foster care system and finds herself alone in the world. The film had its world premiere at the Galway Fleadh and garnered Birthistle the 2024 Bingham Ray New Talent Award. The screening of KATHLEEN IS HERE will be attended by Ireland’s Deputy Ambassador to the United States, Fionnuala Quinlan. There will be a post-screening Q&A with Director Eva Birthistle and lead actor Hazel Doupe in conversation with Festival Director Maedhbh Mc Cullagh followed by an exclusive closing festival reception for all ticket and festival pass holders at McGinty’s.
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 thriving filmmaking culture and screen industry across the island of Ireland today. The program encompasses themes of feminism, human rights, trauma, migration, and climate change in socially, politically, and culturally relevant films that represent some of the most gripping, entertaining, and highly anticipated acclaimed Irish films of the year. I hope these films inspire and enrich as much as they entertain and inform.”
The festival has developed long-term and impactful strategic partnerships with many Irish funding agencies in Ireland and the U.S., without whose support the festival would not be possible. These relationships reflect the increasing platform and profile that the festival offers filmmakers and productions from the entire island of Ireland in Washington, DC, and beyond, including, the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Culture Ireland, and the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme supported by Culture Ireland. Thanks to Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland - the Irish national body for film, television, and animation - and Northern Ireland Screen - the national screen agency for Northern Ireland - the festival will promote and support almost forty film productions from across the island of Ireland. This year, the festival will also present a total of 13 titles directly funded by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and 7 titles directly funded by Northern Ireland Screen. Thanks to Culture Ireland, the festival will also welcome special guests and visiting artists from Ireland to DC to talk about their films and promote their work. Thanks to the Embassy of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Bureau, North America in Washington DC, CIFF will present a number of gala screenings and special events across the festival.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Two North American Premieres: THE IRISH QUESTION by acclaimed Irish director Alan Gilsenan and writer John Walsh is a provocative, poetic, and cinematic meditation on the prospect of a united Ireland. With the increasing likelihood of a border poll on this subject, the film takes a fresh look at the dark trauma of the past and asks if the visions and possibilities of newly-agreed Ireland are compatible with all the identities of those living on the island. THE IRISH QUESTION features contributions from Bill Clinton, Alex Kane, Fintan O’Toole, Jan Carson, and Mary Lou McDonald, amongst others. Presented in partnership with the Global Irish Studies at Georgetown University, the event will feature a post-screening Q&A with director Alan Gilsenan and writer John Walsh in conversation with moderator Dr. Darragh Gannon, Assistant Teaching Professor and Associate Director of Global Irish Studies. First-time filmmaker Éanna Mac Cana’s BURKITT:, is a fascinating exploration of the life and work of Northern Ireland doctor and scientific researcher, Denis Burkitt, who was responsible for two major contributions to medical science affecting the lives of millions of people across the world. Combining personal recordings with Denis Burkitt's own astonishing archive of photographs and films from sub-Saharan Africa, the film examines the nonlinear impact of trauma, colonialism, and the ethics of medical work through an artistic lens in this remarkable debut.
The festival will present the US Premiere of EAT/SLEEP/CHEER/REPEAT —an uplifting coming-of-age documentary about a group of misfits from a working-class area on the western edge of Europe, fighting against all odds for a place at the World Cheer Championships. Award-winning director Tanya Doyle’s (THE HOUSE) charming film explores gender, identity, strength, and why things that are considered female are not
taken seriously. With music by Stephen Rennicks & Hugh Drumm (THE QUIET GIRL). Director Tanya Doyle will attend the festival in person.
OTHER DEBUTS INCLUDE:
The East Coast Premiere of BIRDSONG, Kathleen Harris’ outstanding film debut, features ornithologist Seán Ronayne who is on a mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland. At once inspiring and cautionary, Seán’s journey illustrates the beauty and preciousness of Irish landscapes and habitats, and what listening can tell us about the state of our natural world. Q&A with director Kathleen Harris moderated by Dr. Peter P. Marra, Dean of The Earth Commons, Georgetown's Institute for Environment & Sustainability; Laudato Si’ Professor of, Biology and the Environment; Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy; Emeritus Senior Scientist, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center; will follow the screening. The East Coast Premiere of THE WISE GUY, written and directed by Sam O’Mahony, tells the story of eleven-year-old only child and devout atheist, Francis, who is navigating his parent’s divorce, loneliness, and the schoolyard bully. Desperate for guidance and protection, he finds an unconventional mentor in an American Gangster hiding in the woods. Made via Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus scheme, this debut feature premiered in Galway and has since gone on to have its US premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival, followed closely by a screening at Austin Film Festival as a Jury Nominee for Narrative Feature.
OTHER PREMIERES INCLUDE:
DEAD MAN’S MONEY: From director, writer, and actor Paul Kennedy [HOUSE OF THE DRAGON], comes this tragi-comedy of errors with a tour-de-force cast. When Young Henry’s (Ciarán McMenamin – HOPE STREET, RIG 45) wealthy uncle (Pat Shortt – THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, THE GUARD) starts courting “the Widow” Maureen Tweed (Kathy Kiera Clarke – DERRY GIRLS, BLOODLANDS) - he and his wife, Pauline (Judith Roddy - SAY NOTHING, DERRY GIRLS) fear they’ll be left out of Old Henry’s will and put a plan in motion to make sure that she never sees a penny of the inheritance he thinks is rightfully his. Q&A with director and writer Paul Kennedy and actor Ciarán McMenamin in conversation with Solas Nua’s Artistic Director of Theatre, Rex Daugherty, to follow the screening. In director Paddy Hayes’ portrait: DAVID KEENAN - FOCLA AR CHANBHÁS [WORDS ON CANVAS], we meet the Dundalk songwriter, musician, and composer four years after the breakthrough success of his debut album Beginner's Guide to Bravery. After touring extensively and building a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading live performers, he returns to the studio to record new music and to authentically and powerfully stay true to himself. Funded through an Arts Council of Ireland ilDÁNA award. Q&A with director Paddy Hayes and artist David Keenan in conversation with Eaton DC’s Pete Danelski to follow the screening (with live music). AMONGST THE WOLVES: Danny - a homeless man, grappling with the ghosts of his past and caught up in a cycle of despair and survival is forced to confront his inner demons when he encounters fellow homeless teen, Will (featuring newcomer, Daniel Fee). Director and writer Mark O’Connor’s [DARKLANDS] and co-writer and actor Luke McQuillan’s gritty yet compassionate character-driven story of revenge and redemption portrays the harsh realities of trauma, displacement, and survival. Director Ross Killeen’s DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER is a collaboration with the artist Asbestos, in a tender and haunting portrayal of the artist’s exploration of memory, and the lived experience of his mother’s advancing Alzheimers. Funded through the Arts Council of Ireland’s Reel Art scheme, the film culminates in a public art project by the artists as a means to come to terms with his grief at the loss of his mother’s memory and identity. Q&A with director Ross Killeen in conversation with artist Sheldon Scott to follow the screening.
OTHER TITLES:
BLUE ROAD: THE EDNA O'BRIEN STORY is director Sinéad O’Shea’s extraordinarily intimate portrayal of the artist, aged 93, as she reflects upon her extraordinary life before her passing in 2024 —her final testimony. With direct access to her personal journals — read aloud in the film by Oscar®-nominated Irish actress Jessie Buckley — the author does not shy away from any subject in her life’s journey. With contributions from Gabriel Byrne, Walter Mosley, and an array of renowned writers, BLUE ROAD is as candid, dark, and enchanting as O’Brien’s wonderful novels. KNEECAP, Rich Peppiatt’s fiercely original sex, drugs, and hip-hop biopic about the Irish language rapping trio who play themselves, has become a global rallying cry for the defense of native language and cultures. The film co-starring Michael Fassbender has been trailblazing festivals since it landed at Sundance Film Festival in 2024–the first ever Irish language feature ever to do so. FRÉWAKA follows the story of Shoo, who only days after losing her mother tragically, takes on an assignment in a remote village looking after a reclusive elder who is haunted by tragedies of her own. Writer and Director Aislinn Clarke’s (THE DEVIL’S DOORWAY) Irish-language sophomore feature firmly establishes her as a master of horror, as she deftly mines Irish history and folklore to craft a deeply unsettling and utterly terrifying story of generational trauma.
SHORTS HIGHLIGHTS:
The ever expanding shorts program offerings this year (23 short films) include two multi-award-winning and Oscar shortlisted films: ROOM TAKEN (incl. Winner, Dublin International Film Festival 2024, Sue Bruce-Smith, Best Irish Short Award; Cleveland International Film Festival 2024, Best Live Action Jury Short Award) by Director, TJ O'Grady-Peyton [A RUNNER]; and CLODAGH (Winner, The Spalding and Jackson Award: In Celebration of Joy Best Short Film, Cleveland International Film Festival) by Portia A. Buckley, and much more.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED:
Previous program announcements include the East Coast Premiere of director Ciaran Cassidy’s award-winning hit HOUSEWIFE OF THE YEAR (Best Irish Feature Documentary Award, Galway Fleadh and Best Irish Feature Award, Newport Beach Film Festival) and East Coast Premiere of the award-winning Irish language film FIDIL GHORM [BLUE FIDDLE] (Audience Award for Best Irish Feature at the Newport International Film Festival and Best First Feature Award, Galway Fleadh); the debut feature by the director Anne McCabe; written by award-winning children’s author and Ireland’s Children’s Literature Laureate, Patricia Forde, and produced by Abú Media Film's producer Pierce Boyce and creative producer Bríd Seoighe. The screening will include a special guest appearance by musician/actor Edith Lawlor and will feature live music.
The 2025 festival will open with the East Coast Premiere gala screening of the previously announced, award-winning Irish director Aoife Kelleher’s MRS ROBINSON. Tracking the tectonic shifts in personal, political, and social values over a period of 50 years, the film tells the cinematic story of former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson’s epic battles for equality: in the courts, at the ballot box, and on the streets — and now her biggest fight to date: global climate change and her work with Project Dandelion, the WOMEN-LED global campaign for CLIMATE JUSTICE. Mrs. Mary Robinson will attend the screening with the Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason. The screening will take place on Thursday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the historic art deco theater, AFI Silver Theatre and will be followed by an in-person conversation with Mrs. Mary Robinson and author Caitríona Palmer. Afterwards, there will be a reception in the AFI lobby for all opening night ticket and festival pass holders, sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland.
2025 NORMAN HOUSTON AWARD
The fourth annual Norman Houston Award will be presented ahead of the winning film’s screening on Friday, February 28, 2025 and will include a welcome by Richard Cushnie, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, North America. This year’s winning film is TRAVEL SOCKS by Tess Annan and Joe Madden. The Norman Houston Award honors the life, spirit, and legacy of the former long-time director of the Northern Ireland Bureau in the United States, Norman Houston, who died in 2021. Presented annually for the best new short film made within the previous two years by a filmmaker from or based in Northern Ireland, it includes a $2500 prize. The award is made possible by support from the Northern Ireland Bureau, the Embassy of Ireland, and individual contributions. The screening will be presented in a double bill with director Sam O’Mahony’s THE WISE GUY and will be followed by a reception sponsored by the Northern Ireland Bureau.
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.
Capital Irish Film Festival individual tickets are now on sale. CIFF all-access passes and opening night tickets to MRS ROBINSON are officially sold out.
The full festival schedule is as follows:
All films in English unless otherwise noted.
DAY 1 | Thursday, February 27, 2025
Opening Night: MRS ROBINSON
Thurs, Feb. 27, 7:00 p.m. Q&A with Mrs. Mary Robinson moderated by author, Caitríona Palmer | Welcome by Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason. Post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland, Washington, D.C.
DIR: Aoife Kelleher; PROD: Trisha Canning & Cormac Hargaden; CAST: Mary Robinson; DOP: Matthew Kirrane; SCORE: Ray Harman & Hugh Rodgers. Ireland, 2024, color, 94 min. NOT RATED.
KNEECAP
Thurs, Feb. 27, 9:45 p.m.
DIR/SCR: Rich Peppiatt; PROD: Jack Tarling, Trevor Birney. Ireland, 2024, color, 105 min. In English and Irish with English subtitles. RATED R
DAY 2 | Friday, February 28, 2025
CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL SHORTS PROGRAM 1
Fri, February 28, 11:00 a.m.
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AFTER THE BOMB - Director Heather Brumley will attend in person.
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EARMARK - Director Ste Murray will attend in person.
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OPERATION PABLO
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TO BREAK A CIRCLE
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NAY DAY
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ECHO
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KIKI
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DADBOY
BURKITT
Fri, February 28, 1:15 p.m.
DIR/SCR: Éanna Mac Cana; PROD: Chris Kelly. Ireland, 2024, color, 72 min. In English and Irish with English subtitles. NOT RATED
DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER
Fri, February 28, 3:00 p.m. Q&A with director Ross Killeen moderated by artist Sheldon Scott.
DIR: Ross Killeen; SCR: Ross Killeen, Asbestos; PROD: Louise Byrne. Ireland, 2024, color, 77 min. NOT RATED
EAT/SLEEP/CHEER/REPEAT
Fri, February 28, 5:10 p.m.
DIR/SCR: Tanya Doyle; PROD: Daniel Hegarty, Sinéad Ní Bhroin. Ireland, 2024, color, 87 min. NOT RATED
The 2025 Norman Houston Short Film Award: TRAVEL SOCKS with THE WISE GUY
Fri, February 28, 7:00 p.m. Welcome by Richard Cushnie, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, North America; plus post-screening reception sponsored by the Northern Ireland Bureau.
TRAVEL SOCKS: DIR/SCR: Tess Annan, Joseph Madden; PROD: Charlotte Grace Brownlee, Joseph Madden. Ireland, 2024, color, 19 min. NOT RATED
THE WISE GUY: DIR/SCR: Sam O’Mahony; PROD: Leon Coole. Ireland, 2024, color, 87 min. NOT RATED
AMONGST THE WOLVES
Fri, February 28, 9:40 p.m.
DIR: Mark O'Connor; SCR: Mark O'Connor, Luke McQuillan; PROD: Jeff O'Toole. Ireland, 2024, color, 100 min. NOT RATED
DAY 3 | Saturday, March 1, 2025
CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL SHORTS PROGRAM 2
Sat, March 1, 10:00 a.m.
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TWO MOTHERS
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THE FINAL CHAPTER - Director Terence White will attend in person.
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FINDLATER
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WEST OF THE HORIZON
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DEAR IMELDA
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TURNAROUND
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THE INNKEEPER - Writer Denise Deegan will attend in person.
BIRDSONG preceded by CUMHA
Sat, March 1, 12:10 p.m. Q&A with director Kathleen Harris, moderated by Dr. Peter P. Marra; Dean of The Earth Commons, Georgetown's Institute for Environment & Sustainability; Laudato Si’ Professor of Biology and the Environment; Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy.
BIRDSONG: DIR: Kathleen Harris; SCR: Kathleen Harris; PROD: Ross Whitaker, Aideen O’Sullivan. Ireland, 2024, color, 52 min. NOT RATED
CUMHA: DIR/SCR/PROD: Elena Horgan; SCR: Siobhán Ní Dhomhnaill; PROD: Ned Horgan. Ireland, 2023, color, 6 min. In English and Irish with English subtitles. NOT RATED. Director/Writer Elena Horgan will attend in person.
THE IRISH QUESTION
Sat, March 1, 2:00 p.m. Q&A with director Alan Gilsenan and writer John Walsh, moderated by Dr. Darragh Gannon, Assistant Teaching Professor and Associate Director.
DIR: Alan Gilsenan; SCR: John Walsh; PROD: Martin Mahon. Ireland, 2024, color, 93 min. NOT RATED
DAVID KEENAN - FOCLA AR CHANBHÁS [WORDS ON CANVAS]
Sat, March 1, 4:30 p.m. Q&A with director Paddy Hayes & musician David Keenan in conversation with Pete Danelski from Eaton, DC.
DIR: Paddy Hayes; PROD: Aisling Ní Fhlaithearta, Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha. Ireland, 2024, color, 67 min. In English and Irish with English subtitles. NOT RATED
DEAD MAN’S MONEY
Sat, March 1, 6:30 p.m. Q&A writer and director Paul Kennedy & actor Ciarán McMenamin in conversation with Solas Nua Artistic Director of Theatre, Rex Daugherty.
DIR/SCR: Paul Kennedy; PROD: Aideen Hand. Ireland, 2024, color, 86 min. NOT RATED
FRÉWAKA
Sat, March 1, 8:45 p.m. Q&A with Writer and Director Aislinn Clarke in conversation with Solas Nua CIFF Associate Producer, Mary Turkot.
DIR/SCR: Aislinn Clarke; PROD: Diarmuid Lavery. Ireland, 2024, color, 103 min. In English and Irish with English subtitles. NOT RATED
DAY 4 | Sunday, March 2, 2025
CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL SHORTS PROGRAM 3
Sun, March 2, 11:00 a.m.
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CLODAGH
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A WIND AND THE SHADOW
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THE MEMORIES OF OTHERS - Co-directors Pauline Vermare & Marc Lesser will attend in person.
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PEAT
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YELLOW BELT
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ROOM TAKEN
FIDIL GHORM (BLUE FIDDLE)
Sun, March 2, 1:10 p.m. Special guest, actor Edith Lawlor.
DIR: Anne McCabe; SCR: Patricia Forde; PROD: Bríd Seoighe, Pierce Boyce. Ireland, 2024, color, 86 min. In Irish with English subtitles. NOT RATED
HOUSEWIFE OF THE YEAR
Sun, March 2, 3:30 p.m.
DIR/SCR: Ciaran Cassidy; PROD: Maria Horgan. Ireland, 2024, color, 81 min. NOT RATED
BLUE ROAD: THE EDNA O'BRIEN STORY
Sun, March 2, 5:15 p.m.
DIR/SCR: Sinéad O’Shea; PROD: Sinéad O'Shea, Claire McCabe, Eleanor Emptage. Ireland, 2024, color, 99 min. NOT RATED
Closing Night: KATHLEEN IS HERE
Sun, March 2, 7:30 p.m. Welcome by Ireland’s Deputy Ambassador to the United States, Fionnuala Quinlan. Q&A with writer and director Eva Birthistle & actor Hazel Doupe in conversation with Festival Director, Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, followed by an exclusive closing festival reception for all ticket and festival pass holders.
DIR/SCR: Eva Birthistle; PROD: Claire McCaughley. Ireland, 2024, color, 95 min. NOT RATED
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.
ABOUT THE AFI SILVER THEATRE AND CULTURAL CENTER
The AFI Silver Theatre 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/
Capital Irish Film Festival
February 27 - March 2, 2025
AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center
8633 Colesville Rd
Silver Spring, MD 20910
