Capital Irish Film Festival:
For 20 years, Solas Nua has presented Irish film to audiences in Washington, D.C., celebrating the contemporary culture and rich heritage from across the island of Ireland on screen. Its Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF) is one of the largest programs of Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest narrative and documentary features, shorts, art films, and animation releases by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers. The four-day festival 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.
You can find the full program linked here.
Some titles Solas Nua thinks FSGW folks will be particularly interested in:
In Time: Dónal Lunny Saturday, Feb 28 • 12:05 PM: In Time chronicles the life of Dónal Lunny, one of the most iconic and influential Irish musicians of his generation with a peerless contribution to Irish music and culture. This is both an intimate portrait and a reflection on the creative process of a singular artist – a life lived entirely for art’s sake.
BP Fallon Rock'n'Roll Wizard Vol. 1 Thursday, Feb. 26 • 9:30 PM: A feature documentary charting the extraordinary life of a man who didn't just witness the seismic shifts in modern music — he helped ignite them.
Celtic Utopia (Utóipe Cheilteach) Saturday, Feb. 28 • 9:30 PM: In a new Ireland, folk music echoes colonial pain while fueling dreams of tomorrow. The music scene thrives as society grapples with its heritage.
Travelling Back (Ag Taisteal Siar) Friday, February 27 • 10:30 AM: Ireland’s Traveller community has been a driving force in Irish music since the 1960s ballad boom. This documentary uncovers this community with intimate interviews and spellbinding performances, discovering a legacy long overlooked but deeply embedded in Irish cultural identity.
Copyright 2018 The Folklore Society of Greater Washington
