For four electric days, Washington, DC becomes the beating heart of Irish cinema. From February 26 – March 1, 2026, Solas Nua’s Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF) returns to the iconic AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring with a must-see lineup of bold stories, premieres and receptions, and in-person appearances from the filmmakers and actors shaping Ireland’s booming film industry.
Celebrating 20 years of presenting Irish film in DC, CIFF 2026 showcases 18 features, 7 North American and 7 East Coast premieres, and 24 shorts across four programs (including a family-friendly program).
CIFF is your chance to see Irish films that would not normally screen in the United States.
Expect gripping dramas, Irish-language thrillers (BÁITE, AONTAS), music documentaries (CELTIC UTOPIA, BP FALLON ROCK’N’ROLL WIZARD VOL. 1, IN TIME: DONAL LUNNY), profiles of political leaders who lead with peace (GERRY ADAMS: A BALLYMUPRHY MAN, DANIEL O’CONNELL: THE EMANCIPATOR), and women fighting for justice (TESTIMONY).
Our program lifts up marginalized voices, with stories featuring trans relationships (GIRLS & BOYS, PUREBRED), the deaf community (A QUIET LOVE), and Ireland’s Traveller community (TRAVELLING BACK).
🏆CIFF presents two 2026 OSCAR entries, SANATORIUM (Ireland’s official entry for Best International Feature Film) and RETIREMENT PLAN (Nominee, Best Animated Short), and BAFTA-nominated A WANT IN HER (Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer)
⚽ The festival “kicks off” with the East Coast premiere of SAIPAN, the darkly comic, nail-biting retelling of one of soccer’s most infamous clashes ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, starring Éanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan, followed by a Q&A with directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn and a gala reception sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland.
The 5th annual Norman Houston Award will be presented as part of a double-billing of THREE KEENINGS and the third-ever screening of NO ORDINARY HEIST, with a reception sponsored by the Northern Ireland Bureau.
The festival closes with the internationally acclaimed CHRISTY, a powerful, big-hearted coming-of-age story that won the Grand Prix at the 2025 Berlinale.
🎟️ Tickets to each screening are $15. Bring your ticket stub to McGinty’s around the corner for 10% off your bill!
Whether you’re a devoted cinephile, have an affinity for Ireland, or just looking for unforgettable moments at the movies, CIFF 2026 is your ticket to stories that thrill, challenge, and connect — Irish films you’ll only find in DC with Solas Nua.
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