Author: SolasNua

Irish film has been having a moment. Just look at Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy, and Domhnall Gleeson. At shows like Say Nothing and Derry Girls, and films like An Irish Goodbye and The Banshees of Inisherin. The energy is undeniable. And now the “green wave” lands in DC. 

This weekend, Solas Nua’s annual Capital Irish Film Festival (Feb 26 – Mar 1, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center) brings the very best of contemporary Irish cinema stateside.

CIFF is your chance to see Irish films that wouldn’t normally screen in the United States, to learn about contemporary Ireland, and to discover the next generation of great Irish actors before they become household names. 

“I urge everyone to go and see it. It’s a stunning piece of work by director Nuala O’Connor. When you see Lunny’s influence on traditional music, it’s just phenomenal.” —Cillian Murphy

Music-lovers will find Ireland’s soundtrack evolving in real time: a master redefining tradition (IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY, with praise from Cillian Murphy), a folk renaissance shaped by post-colonial reflection (CELTIC UTOPIA (UTÓIPE CHEILTEACH)), someone who was making music history happen behind the scenes with The Beatles, Sinéad O’Connor, and U2 (BP FALLON ROCK’N’ROLL WIZARD VOL. 1), and the long-overlooked voices of Ireland’s Traveller community (TRAVELLING BACK (AG TAISTEAL SIAR)). Together, they reveal an Ireland singing to remember, to resist, and to imagine what comes next. (more…)

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).  (more…)