February 26–March 1, 2026
Presented in partnership with Solas Nua
Capital Irish Film Festival
The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and Solas Nua are proud to present the annual Capital Irish Film Festival. Now in its 20th year, the four-day festival brings the best of contemporary Irish cinema by filmmakers from the island of Ireland to audiences in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
The festival provides a U.S. platform that magnifies the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond, celebrating the great contemporary cinematic culture of Ireland. The program highlights the rich cultural heritage of Ireland while also fostering an inclusive and diverse community of Irish filmmakers. CIFF amplifies emerging Irish voices on screen, showcases the exceptional talent and skills on display in Irish filmmaking and reflects the robust and vibrant screen industry that has grown in Ireland in recent years. The festival presents the latest Irish narrative and documentary features, shorts, art films and animation titles — many of which have never been screened before in Washington, DC. It will feature VIP guests, special talent appearances, Q&As, talkbacks and gala events.
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.
All-Access Festival Passes are SOLD OUT
Tickets
Tickets on sale now!
Opening Night
SAIPAN
Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.
💬 Q&A with directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn
🍷 Post-screening reception sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland, Washington, DC
This nail-biting, darkly comic drama recounts one of the most fractious fallings-outs in the history of sport: the explosive clash between soccer star Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) and manager Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan) on the island of Saipan just days before the Irish national football team competed in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. On the surface it was all about standards, but deep down it was a hugely emotive story of two men whose rivalry and contempt came to surpass the sport they loved. With riveting performances from Coogan and Hardwicke, this gripping true story goes beyond sport to tell a tale of leadership, loyalty and rivalry that captured global attention — and as Ireland are on the cusp of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is the perfect time to learn about a historic moment for the Boys in Green.
Norman Houston Short Film Award
In 2026, the festival will present the fifth annual Norman Houston Short Film Award to a filmmaker from or living in Northern Ireland. The award, initiated by Solas Nua, is dedicated to the memory of Norman Houston, the former director of the Northern Ireland Bureau (NIB) in the United States. All 2026 short film submissions from Northern Ireland or from Northern Irish filmmakers are automatically entered into the running for this award, and the winning film is chosen by a panel of judges. The award and prize money of $2,500 will be presented at the 2026 Capital Irish Film Festival, and the honored filmmaker will be invited to Washington, DC, to attend the screening of their film and receive the award in person.
This year’s recipient is THREE KEENINGS, screening with THE NEGOTIATOR on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The Capital Irish Film Festival and Solas Nua wish to thank our sponsors.
For a complete list of sponsors, visit solasnua.org/ciff.
