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 20th edition of the four-day festival takes place February 26- March 1, 2026, in partnership with the prestigious American Film Institute's Silver Theatre & Cultural Center (Silver Spring MD).
The festival provides a US platform that magnifies the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond and celebrates the great contemporary cinematic culture of Ireland. The program highlights the rich cultural heritage of Ireland but also fosters an inclusive and diverse community of Irish filmmakers. Capital Irish Film Festival amplifies emerging voices on Irish screen, showcases the exceptional talent and skills in Irish filmmaking, and reflects the robust and vibrant screen industry that has grown in Ireland in recent years.
Filmmakers are encouraged to share their unique stories and perspectives with us and all short film submissions from Northern Ireland filmmakers are automatically entered into consideration for annual Norman Houston Short Film Award.
The Capital Irish Film Festival is supported by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, the Embassy of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Bureau, Northern Ireland Screen, and the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme supported by Culture Ireland. Solas Nua is also supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
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. The award includes prize money of $2,500, and the winning filmmaker is invited to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend a special screening of their film at the annual Capital Irish Film Festival and to receive the award in person.
All Capital Irish Film Festival 2026 short film submissions from Northern Irish filmmakers are automatically entered into consideration for The Norman Houston Short Film Award.
***Previous Norman Houston Award winners are eligible for consideration three years after winning.***
