Emerald City Irish Film Festival

Kneecap

Time: 6–7:35 p.m.

When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed “low life scum” Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.

Shortlisted for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film and Best Original Song.

Join the ECIFF team, Irish Heritage Club & celebrated dignitaries as we open the 2025 festival season at our Premier Reception immediately following the film.

Birdsong

Time: 11:15 a.m.–12:10 p.m.

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.

Holy Island

Time: 3:55–5:25 p.m.

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.

The People Before

Time: 6:15–8 p.m.

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.

Fidil Ghorm

Time: 11:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Directed by Anne McCabe, 10-year-old Molly embarks on a determined mission to bring her father out of a coma by mastering the fiddle and winning the All Ireland Competition. When her father is transferred to a rehabilitation center, she encounters Malachy, a grumpy yet intriguing elderly man with a fascinating past as a champion fiddler.

Captivated by his music, Molly convinces him to teach her the fiddle, and their partnership flourishes. Together, they undertake a powerful journey filled with music, resilience, and deep connection, unlocking the magic that only music can create.

“Fidil Ghorm” earned the Audience Award for Best Irish Feature at the 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival and clinched Best Irish Feature at the 2024 Galway Film Fleadh.

Mrs. Robinson

Time: 1:25–2:35 p.m.

Premiering at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh, powerfully showcases Mary Robinson’s journey as a relentless advocate for equity, justice, and peace. The film emphasizes her groundbreaking role as a constitutional lawyer and senator in Ireland, where she fiercely fought for equality across multiple fronts for over 50 years. It boldly highlights her enduring legacy in human rights and climate justice through Project Dandelion, a women-led campaign she co-founded, which asserts that “every issue is a climate issue.” We urge you to celebrate Mary Robinson’s impactful work by joining the “Be a Dandelion” movement. Stand with her and millions around the globe in the urgent call for meaningful change and action.

Problem with People

Time: 3:30–5 p.m.

Two distant cousins who’ve never met – one in NYC, the other in the smallest town there is in Ireland – come together to finally put an end to a generations-long family feud. It doesn’t go well. The Problem with People, set in the beautifully lush Irish countryside, is a heartwarming comedy about family, world peace and sheep.