18th Capital Irish Film Festival

Thursday, February 29, 2024 to Sunday, March 3, 2024

Solas Nua’s annual Capital Irish Film Festival in Washington, D.C., presents one of the largest programs of Irish cinema in North America, showcasing the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, art films, and animation releases by Irish and Ireland-based filmmakers. The 18th edition of the festival takes place February 29 - March 3 2024 in partnership with the American Film Institute's Silver Theatre & Cultural Center (Silver Spring MD).  The four day festival showcases the latest Irish dramatic and documentary features, shorts, and animation releases, and provides a platform that not only highlights the rich cultural heritage of Ireland but also fosters an inclusive and diverse community of filmmakers.  

The 2024 festival program 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. Debut features, North American premieres, women directors, Irish language titles, emerging voices, and family animation are on the line-up this year. Films exploring power, misogyny, survival, belonging, and heroism, will shock, thrill, inspire, entertain and enlighten.  Themes of compassion, resilience and hope and the indomitable Irish spirit echo throughout the program.

The Norman Houston Short Film Award

The Norman Houston Short Film Award is part of the Norman Houston Project - a project initiated by Solas Nua in Washington D.C., dedicated to the memory of Norman Houston, the former Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau (NIB), in the United States.

The Norman Houston Short Film Award is an annual honor for the best new short film created by a filmmaker based in or from Northern Ireland made within the previous two years. This award, including prize money of $2,500, will be presented at Solas Nua’s annual Capital Irish Film Festival, February 29 — March 3, 2024. The winning filmmaker will also be invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the screening of the film and receive the award in person. 

All CIFF 2024 short film submissions from Northern Irish filmmakers are automatically entered into The Norman Houston Short Film Award.

Passes On Sale Now

The Capital Irish Film Festival (CIFF) All-Access passes are now available for sale! The pass grants one admission to every screening in the 2024 Capital Irish Film Festival, including Opening Night.

CIFF All-Access Pass: $150

EARLYBIRD HOLIDAY SPECIAL: $137 (Valid through December 6 2023)

As a passholder, you will have the opportunity to choose your film selections and reserve your tickets in advance, by email or in person, for each film you wish to attend (once the program goes live in February 2024). 

Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Walk-up admissions for pass holders on the day of screening are based on availability and are not guaranteed.