Cead Mile Failte! We are excited to welcome you to the vibrant Emerald City Irish Film Festival, an event proudly hosted by the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle. 

This year, we are thrilled to announce a dynamic partnership with the the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International programme, supported by Culture Ireland. Together, we are committed to showcasing a remarkable selection of contemporary Irish films, bringing the rich storytelling and culture of the “Emerald Isle” right to the heart of the “Emerald City.” 

The festival will take place at the Pacific Science Center PACCAR IMAX theater, a beloved venue that has been the home of the Irish Festival for 27 memorable years. Its spacious screens and comfortable seating make it the perfect location for enjoying cinematic excellence with fellow film enthusiasts. If you were fortunate enough to attend the 2024 Emerald City Irish Film Festival, you experienced a carefully curated selection of films sourced from the vaults of esteemed Irish production companies. Each film was chosen to highlight the depth and diversity of Irish cinema, offering Seattle audiences a unique glimpse into the creative talents emerging from Ireland.

We invite you to join us for our upcoming film screenings, where you will have the opportunity to experience an expanded 3-day festival with a mix of exceptional features and short films from Ireland.  This is an event you won’t want to miss! 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Schedule

Saturday, March 8, 2025

11:15 AM  12:10 PM

Birdsong

Ornithologist Seán Ronayne from Cobh, Co. Cork is on a mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland. Along the way we get to know Seán, whose hypersensitivity to sound has proven both a struggle and a strength. At once inspiring and cautionary, Seán’s journey illustrates the beauty and importance of sound, and what listening can tell us about the state of our natural world.

Runtime: 50 min

Director: Kathleen Harris  /  Producers: Aideen O’Sullivan, Ross Whitaker

Production company: True Films / Distributor: RTE Sales

1:00 PM  3:05 PM

Short Films

The ECIFF film selection team found a new friendship with Network Ireland Television to bring six short films to the Emerald City. This new program is an exciting opportunity to view a different genre of creating filmmaking.

AN IRISH GOODBYE follows the reunion of estranged brothers Rulough and Lorcan. Following their mother’s death, Lorcan is determined to fulfill his mother’s list of 100 wishes and thwart Turlough’s plans to sell the farm.

BAFTA award for Best British Short Film. Academy Award for Best Short Film.

Directors: Tom Berkeley, Ross White.

UNHINGED follows the story of Saidbh who is in her late 20s and struggles with body issues. She sees the love of her life and long-term office crush Darragh on a dating app. So, she battles with her own insecurities to tell him her feelings before it’s too late, whilst navigating the daily fatphobia she faces.

Director: Zoe Brennan Whitmore

MATCH follows two strangers who match online and meet for a casual ride. What they both expected is quickly turned on its head, as they both face their separate issues together of the course of a single night.

Written & Directed: Tony Doyle & Laura O’Shea

CANTATA follows Darren as he embarks on a journey to overcome operatic hallucinations amd re-commect with his inner child.

Director: Dave Fox

SOUND & COLOUR follows Hannah as she returns home to face her dysfunctional and emotionally repressed family after her attempted suicide oly to find her family avoiding any mention of the incident. Tensions escalate when Hannah’s ex-boyfriend, Johnny, unexpectedly appears, adding fuel to the emotional fire.

Director: Emma Foley

ROOM TAKEN is a 2023 Irish short film directed by Tj O’Grady Peyton. Newly arrived Isaac is looking for a place to stay in Ireland. He secretly moves into the home of Victoria, an elderly blind woman, leading them to form a unique bond.

Director: Tj O’Grady Peyton

3:55 PM  5:25 PM

Holy Island

Holy Island is a story about two lost souls, Rosa and David, trapped in purgatory  in the form of a run-down port town. They meet awaiting a boat to leave the  island, both longing to return home. Together they are forced to traverse an  abnormal maze, piecing together their past lives through shared conversations  and memories. In the end, only one of them can be saved. The other must fall.

Runtime: 1 hr 24 min

Written and Directed by: Robert Manson

6:15 PM  8:00 PM

The People Before

Jess and her husband need a new start, so when the chance to buy a rambling old house comes up, they leap at it. But not everyone in Suffolk is welcoming. The locals know a secret about the Maple House, and soon, Jess realises they've made a huge mistake. Something bad happened in that house. Something nobody wants to talk about.

Runtime: 1hr 43 min

Director:  Steve Reeves  /  Writer: Mike Oughton

Production company: Sea High Productions /  Distributor:  Brilliant Pictures

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Date: March 7 - 9, 2025