In this Film Ireland podcast, recorded live on location in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Irish Film Festival, Gemma Creagh chats with producer, writer and director Ruán Magan his films Báite and Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator, which were both screening in the programme.
Presented annually by Solas Nua, the 20th edition of the Capital Irish Film Festival ran from 26th February to 1st March 2026, presenting one of the largest programmes of Irish cinema in North America. We learn more about the great work they do by catching up with the festival's director Maedhbh Mc Cullagh.
Finally we hear from some of the attendees at the event...
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Watch the original recordings here:
Báite
A woman's body is found under the waters of a lake in the countryside, and the arrival of a Detective from Dublin is the last thing Peggy, the owner of Casey's Pub, needs as she tries to save her business and her family.
Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator
Narrated by Domhnall Gleeson, this hour-long documentary explores the life and legacy of Daniel O’Connell to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth in 2025. The documentary, produced in association with University College Cork and Notre Dame University, examines how O’Connell’s achievements continue to shape and impact our world today.
Ruán Magan
Ruán is a producer, writer and director whose work in drama, documentary and stadium events has reached audiences of millions throughout the world. Having begun his career in the movie business, Ruán has worked as an assistant director and location manger in major Hollywood films including Far & Away, The Devil’s Own and Michael Collins. Ruán established Create One in 1996 spurred by the ideal of creating high end content that explored and celebrated the human condition. The company’s first production was a documentary presented by the writer and playright, Manchán Magan filmed in India. This led to a long collaboration which saw the two brothers producing 30 documentaries filmed in India, South America, the Middle East, the USA, Europe and China.
In 1998, Create One produced By Design. This 6 part documentary series produced by Ruán Magan in collaboration with Fox Laurber and Little Bird, design expert, Garrett O’Hagan and directer, Geoff Dunlop, looked at the crucial role that design plays in the human world. It aired across Europe and the US. Since then Ruán has continued to produce project through Create One while also embarking on an international career that has seen him direct and produce projects in the US, Europe and China for Discovery, History Channel, Smithsonian, BBC, ARTE and Tencent. Drama projects directed by Ruán Magan include Báite (Danu Media), Wrecking The Rising/Éirí Amach Amú (Tile Films), Éoinín na nÉan (TG4) and Angel (Create One). His screenplays No Fury and The Noticer.
Major stadium events include The World Meeting of Families 2019 and Laochra 2016. He directed films for Ireland Expo 2022, St. Patrick’s Day 2021, UN SECO 2020 and Creative Ireland - This is Ireland 2018. Recent documentaries include Steps of Freedom (RTÉ, BBC, PBS, ARTE, YLE), The Irish Civil War (RTÉ, UCC, BBC), "The Hunger" (ARTE, RTÉ, APT, UCC), Dunhuang – Edge of the World (Tencent), The Pope’s Concert in Croke Park, Pearl Harbor (Discovery Channel), Sacred Sites (Smithsonian) and The Men Who Built America (History Channel).
Maedhbh Mc Cullagh
Maedhbh is a multidisciplinary cultural producer, arts programmer and creative consultant. For more than two decades she has been producing and managing artistic programs, presentations, productions, and special events for international festivals, cultural institutes and organizations, in Europe and the US, including appointments as the Associate Director of Irish Screen America, Managing Director of the world-renowned Abrons Arts Center, independent freelance producer at Performance Space NY, The Civilians Theater Company, The Foundry Theatre, the Alliance of Resident Theatres, and program director of the international Dublin Fringe Festival.
About Capital Irish Film Festival
Solas Nua’s annual Capital Irish Film Festival in Washington, D.C., presents one of the largest programmes 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 26 February – 1 March 2026 in partnership with the prestigious American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre & Cultural Center.
The festival provides a US platform that amplifies the work of independent filmmakers working in Ireland and beyond, and celebrates the strength of Ireland’s contemporary cinematic culture. The programme highlights the country’s rich cultural heritage while fostering an inclusive and diverse community of Irish filmmakers. Capital Irish Film Festival champions emerging voices on Irish screens, showcases the exceptional talent and craft within Irish filmmaking, and reflects the robust and vibrant screen industry that has grown in Ireland in recent years.
The festival also presents the annual Norman Houston Short Film Award, dedicated to the memory of Norman Houston, the former Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau (NIB) in the United States. The award honours the best new short film created by a filmmaker based in or from Northern Ireland, made within the previous two years. The 2026 Norman Houston Short Film Award goes to writer-director Oliver McGoldrick for his film Three Keenings.
Read more on SolasNua.org, follow Capital Irish Film Festival on FilmFreeway here.
Film Ireland Editor
