The 19th edition of the Solas Nua Capital Irish Film Festival, presented in partnership with American Film Institute's AFI Silver, closed on Sunday night 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 winner; three gala screening events with dignitaries; 8 moderated in-person Q&As; artist meet and greets, and 26 visiting artists and filmmakers.
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.
Opening Night Gala
Highlights included the opening night sold-out East Coast Premiere screening of award-winning Irish director Aoife Kelleher’s (ONE MILLION DUBLINERS) MRS ROBINSON. The gala screening was attended by Mrs. Robinson and Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason. The Ambassador welcomed more than 400 guests including dignitaries and special guests from the Irish-American community in Washington, DC, sharing “It is a testament to Irish film both at home and in the diaspora that our stories continue to resonate so deeply with audiences around the world. They remind us of where we come from, who we are, and where we are going… That is why the Embassy is delighted to support this festival year after year.”
Guests were welcomed by Abbie Algar, Director of Programming at AFI and Andrew Dolan, Executive Director of Solas Nua who spoke about the organization’s upcoming twentieth anniversary year of celebration. Festival Director, Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, introduced the festival program and highlights from this year’s lineup sharing how honored and grateful Solas Nua was to present Aoife Kelleher’s important film and to have Mrs. Robinson, Ireland’s first ever woman president, in DC for the event. After the screening, guests enjoyed an in-person conversation with Mary Robinson and author Caitríona Palmer on stage. Mrs. Robinson talked about the ongoing challenges we are facing, not only in the prolonged use of fossil fuels over renewable energy, but the misrepresentation of facts about climate change: “we need to connect more, all of us that are on the right side of knowing that we have to respect the science on climate and nature, and the science is becoming very serious because of global warming, because of fossil fuel and loss of biodiversity, we are not in harmony at the moment and we need to get back into a better situation”. At the end of a robust, informative, and uplifting conversation, Mrs. Robinson received a standing ovation, cheers, and rapturous applause; It was a night to remember!
Northern Ireland Film Focus & Norman Houston Award
As part of the Capital Irish Film Festival's continued focus on the Northern Ireland film industry, 11 films from Northern Ireland or by Northern Ireland Filmmakers screened across the festival. On Friday, February 28, Solas Nua hosted the fourth annual presentation of the Norman Houston Short Film Award to writers and directors Tess Annan and Joe P. Madden for their award-winning short film TRAVEL SOCKS; with both winning artists in attendance at the ceremony. Guest of honor, Richard Cushnie, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, North America, gave a welcome address. Solas Nua board member, Kate Meenan Waugh, a friend of Norman Houston, presented the award. TRAVEL SOCKS was screened in a double bill with Northern Ireland based director Sam O’Mahony’s award-winning feature THE WISE GUY. The evening was dedicated to Norman Houston’s dear friend and former Solas Nua board member, Anne Mitchell, who passed away in 2024. Solas Nua Board Chair Emeritus, Paddy Meskell, presented a moving In Memoriam tribute. All guests were invited to a special reception afterward at AFI sponsored by the Northern Ireland Bureau. Andrew Dolan, Executive Director of Solas Nua, led guests in a whiskey toast in Anne’s memory and friend Cary Kelly made a touching speech in remembrance.
Closing Night Event
On Sunday, March 2nd, the festival closed with a gala screening of the award-winning film KATHLEEN IS HERE, with guest of honor, Deputy Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, Fionnuala Quinlan, who addressed guests and spoke about the powerful closing night film, the unprecedented success of the festival, and the extraordinary range of film coming out of Ireland. The screening was followed by an in-person Q&A with writer and director Eva Birthistle known to many from her acting role on BAD SISTERS and lead actor, Hazel Doupe, known to many from her starring role in SAY NOTHING, moderated by CIFF Festival Director Maedhbh Mc Cullagh. Guests were then invited to a post-screening reception sponsored at McGinty’s Public House in Silver Spring.
Special Guests & Events
As well as the three special gala screenings and events mentioned above, the festival presented a total of nine Q&As with special guest filmmakers and artists as well as special guest film introductions, including: Director Ross Killeen (DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER) moderated by artist Sheldon Scott; Director Kathleen Harris (BIRDSONG) moderated by Dr Peter Marra, Dean, Earth Commons, Georgetown's Institute for Environment & Sustainability; Laudato Si’ Professor, Biology and the Environment, Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy; Emeritus Senior Scientist, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center; Director Alan Gilsenan and writer and journalist John Walsh (THE IRISH QUESTION), moderated by Dr. Darragh Gannon, Assistant Teaching Professor and Associate Director of Global Irish Studies at Georgetown University; Director Paddy Hayes and musician and artist David Keenan (DAVID KEENAN: FOCLA AR CHANBHÁS (WORDS ON CANVAS), moderated by Pete Danelski, Director of Programming, Eaton DC; Writer and director Paul Kennedy and actor Ciaran Mc Menamin (DEAD MAN’S MONEY), moderated by Rex Daugherty, Artistic Director of Theatre, Solas Nua; Writer and director, Aislinn Clarke (FRÉWAKA), moderated by Mary Turkot, Assistant Producer, Solas Nua; all of whom engaged in audience talkbacks after the screenings of their films. Additionally: Director Tanya Doyle introduced her feature film (EAT/SLEEP/CHEER/REPEAT); Festival Director Maedhbh Mc Cullagh engaged visiting artists Pauline Vermare and Marc Lesser of the short film THE MEMORIES OF OTHERS; and FIDIL GHORM (BLUE FIDDLE) actor and All Ireland award-winning champion musician, Edith Lawlor, performed live on stage after her film’s screening and conversation with Festival Director Maedhbh Mc Cullagh. Musician and poet David Keenan also presented an impromptu live music performance on stage after his film’s screening.
Further highlights included the large attendance by visiting directors, actors, writers and filmmakers from the expanded shorts program including: Tess Annan (TRAVEL SOCKS), Declan Curran (DEAR IMELDA), Heather Brumley (AFTER THE BOMB), Grace Callan (OPERATION PABLO), Denise Deegan (THE INNKEEPER), Kalia Firester (TO BREAK A CIRCLE), Elena Horgan (CUMHA), Joseph Madden (TRAVEL SOCKS), Ste Murray (EARMARK), and Terence White (THE FINAL CHAPTER).
CIFF 2025 Audience Awards
The 2025 Capital Irish Film Festival Audience Awards - Best Irish Feature and Best Irish Short - are based on filmgoers’ feedback and reviews from the screenings at the 18th edition of the festival. The festival will announce the 2025 Audience Choice Awards early next week.
Maedhbh McCullagh, Festival Director:
“Sincere thanks to the filmmakers for sharing their extraordinary work with us, including all those who submitted their films for consideration to the festival. We are so grateful to know your work. Our deepest gratitude to all the filmmakers whose work screened at CIFF2025 and to all of the special guests and visiting artists who traveled from Ireland to be with us in DC. Special thanks to our entire Solas Nua and CIFF team, and to the short films judges who screened this year’s entries and helped select the 2025 NHA winners. Heartfelt thanks to the amazing festival volunteers for their time and presence and to our documentation team. Sincere thanks to our funders, corporate sponsors, individual donors, film underwriters, and community partners. Finally, sincere thanks to all those who traveled near and far to be at the festival and share their passion and love for Irish film. Next year is the 20th Solas Nua Capital Irish Film Festival, and thanks to you and your passion for Irish Film, it promises to be a cause for celebration.”
CREDITS
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 19 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.
FESTIVAL TEAM
Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, Festival Curator & Director • Mary Turkot, Festival Assistant Producer & Solas Nua Website & Digital Content Manager • Meredyth Woody, Volunteer Coordinator • Grace Carter, Artist Liaison
SOLAS NUA STAFF
Andrew Dolan, Executive Director • Rex Daughtery, Artistic Director of Theatre • Mekala Sridhar, Creative Producer
FESTIVAL MARKETING
Press & Marketing: Rachel Media
FESTIVAL DOCUMENTATION
Videographers: John Collins • Lori Collins • Joe Pelan
Photographers: Ryan Maxwell • Bruce Guthrie
FESTIVAL RESIDENT PODCAST
The Irish Stew
FESTIVAL CO-PRESENTER
AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center: Todd Hitchcock • Abbie Algar • Tiffany Graham-Golden • Javier Chavez • Josh Gardner • Eli Prysant • Juliet Burch • Natalia Ames Romello • Alex Myers • the entire team at AFI Silver
VISITING FESTIVAL ARTISTS
Edith Eileen Lawlor • Eva Marie Birthistle • Hazel Stephanie Doupe • Paul Kennedy • Ciaran McMenamin • Joseph Paul Madden • Therese Bernadette Annan • Alan John Gilsenan • John Walsh • Kathleen Harris • Ross Killeen • Paddy Hayes • David Keenan • Aislinn Clarke • Tanya Doyle • Denise Deegan • Terence White • Ste Murrary • Kalia Firester • Heather Brumley • Elena Horgan • Grace Callan • Declan Curran • Claire McCaughley • Marc Lesser • Pauline Vermare
FESTIVAL FUNDERS
Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme • Culture Ireland • Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland • Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme supported by Culture Ireland • Northern Ireland Bureau • Embassy of Ireland • Northern Ireland Screen
Solas Nua is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
FESTIVAL SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Caddie Tours • Happy Medium Productions • Irish Network DC • Irish Stew Podcast • Marriott Courtyard Silver Spring • McGinty’s Public House • Northern Irish Connections • Silver Spring Town Center • Eaton DC • Georgetown Global Irish Studies Initiative
FESTIVAL DONORS & FILM UNDERWRITERS
Colette & Barry Breen • Martin & Mary Liz Burns • Andrew Clarke & Chip Sherrill • Geraldine Hirsch Fitzgerald • Dennis Houlihan & Mimi Conway • Geri Fiala • Brian Maney & Barbara Stauffer • Patrick McGlone & Kevin Taylor • Niall Leogue • Kate Meenan-Waugh • Paddy & Darlene Meskell • Cóilín Parsons & Ryan Dolan • Pat Reilly
FESTIVAL SHORTS JUDGES
Lori Collins • John Collins • Colette Breen • Jackie Hoysted • Kate Meenan-Waugh • Maedhbh Mc Cullagh • Paddy Meskell • Darlene Meskell • Pat Reilly • Mary Turkot • Andrew Dolan • Thomas Meenan
Q&A MODERATORS
Pete Danelski, Director of Programming, Eaton DC • Rex Daugherty, Artistic Director of Theatre at Solas Nua • Dr. Darragh Gannon, Associate Director of Global Irish Studies, Georgetown University • Dr Peter Marra, Dean, Earth Commons, Georgetown's Institute for Environment & Sustainability; Laudato Si’ Professor, Biology and the Environment, Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy; Emeritus Senior Scientist, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center • Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, CIFF Festival Director • Caitríona Palmer, author and journalist • Sheldon Scott, artist • Mary Turkot, CIFF Assistant Producer
VOLUNTEER TEAM
Meredyth Woody (Coordinator) • Gregory Bilberry • Greg Hindsley • Jim Kane • Linda Keenan • Camilla Madden • Jerry McCausland • John McShane • Mike Sutterlin • Clodagh Johnston • Michael Brown • Annie Jernigan Goldberg • Jen Miller
NORMAN HOUSTON AWARD
Award Crafters, Inc.
