SR Socially Relevant Film Festival Now In Its 13th Edition

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 11:31

Written by Brad Balfour

The 13th annual edition of SR Socially Relevant Film Festival opens in NYC on Wednesday, March 11. Running March 11 to the 15th, the festival features films from all over the world to raise social awareness. The festival opens at the iconic LenFest Center for the Arts at Columbia University, with the feature film The Last Wish by Rax Rinnekangas. 

The Armenian spotlight this year includes My Armenian Phantoms by Tamara Stepanyan, Armenia’s Official submission to the Oscars; Silence by Narek Shahverdyan; and Imagined Landscapes by Eleanor Ekserdjian. The festival themes range from BIPOC to Disability, Family and Home, Race, Religion and Exile, and Mental Health issues. Most screenings conclude with a Q&A with the filmmakers.

SRFF was founded by Actress/ Filmmaker Nora Armani in 2013 as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling in media and entertainment. Following a family tragedy that cost the lives of two of her dearest and nearest, namely her cousin Vania and uncle Jack Exerjian, Armani founded the festival to commemorate them in a meaningful way. SRFF believes in the power of the film medium to raise awareness of social issues and promote positive social change. The Mission of the SR Film Festival is to shine a spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant, human-interest stories across a broad range of social issues without resorting to violence or violent forms of storytelling.

To learn more, go to: https://www.ratedsrfilms.org/

SR Socially Relevant Film Festival
March 11 - 15, 2026

Cinema Village
22 East 12th Street
New York, NY 10003 

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Athena Film Festival 2026: Women Leaders Tell Their Story

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 05 March 2026 10:27

Written by Brad Balfour

Telling stories of women in leadership, the Athena Film Festival returns to Barnard College March 6 to 8. The festival is an annual showcase of narrative films, documentaries, and short films, alongside powerful and thought-provoking conversations with women from around the world.

Films include:

Opening Night Film
State of Firsts
Director: Chase Joynt
This film explores Sarah McBride’s historic run to become the first trans Member of Congress, the intense backlash that followed, and how the fight for change can be impacted by growing political extremism.

Centerpiece Film
Cutting Through Rocks
Directors: Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki
As the first elected councilwoman of her remote Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi fearlessly breaks patriarchal traditions by training teenage girls to ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages. When accusations arise questioning Sara’s intentions to empower the girls, her identity is put in turmoil.

Closing Night Film
Ask E. Jean
Director: Ivy Meeropol
A documentary that chronicles the life and career of advice columnist and gonzo journalist E. Jean Carroll, and her two successful legal battles with President Trump.

To learn more, go to: https://athenafilmfestival.com/

Athena Film Festival
March 6 - 8, 2026

Barnard College, Athena Center
3009 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

CraicFest 2026 kick Off St. Pat’s Festivities

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Tuesday, 03 March 2026 08:57

Written by Brad Balfour

“Ballroom Boom” is narrated by Adam Clayton of U2

The legendary CraicFest kickoffs where the festival begins. Over the years, this series of events combines both Irish film and music. Launch by Terence Mulligan years ago, the fest has been a culrual phenomenon since it began.
This opening night has become a cornerstone of CraicFest with packed venues, unforgettable performances, bringing Irish to life in New York City. Past kickoff shows have featured iconic acts including Rubberbandits and Kneecap, setting the bar for what a CraicFest opening night is all about.

On Wednesday, March 4, we gather once again at Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar to launch CraicFest 2026 with a night that blends contemporary Irish music, world-class dance, and pure craic.

Music Guest: Graham Smith
Perfect for opening the festival, Smith brings contemporary Irish folk and acoustic storytelling to the CraicFest stage. Known for heartfelt songwriting and an unmistakable live presence, his music bridges the traditional and modern Irish sound in an authentic and powerful way.

Irish Dance Performance: Kait Rock
Internationally acclaimed Irish dancer Rock pushes the boundaries of the traditional form. Blending precision, athleticism, and modern expression, her performances bring Irish dance into bold, contemporary spaces while honoring its deep cultural roots. Fresh off the stage of Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” Tour, Kait returns to CraicFest.

The Kickoff events have historically filled quickly and there may be a Surprise Music Guest TBA. Arrive early to avoid disappointment. This is a free event but space is limited, please RSVP.

Thursday, March 5th
Opening Night Film & Party
“Saipan: A World Cup Feud” – NYC Premiere
7 pm: Village East by Angelika
CraicFest 2026 officially opens on March 5th with this New York City Premiere of “Saipan: A World Cup Feud.” This opening night screening marks the film’s first presentation to NYC audiences, making it a landmark moment for both the festival and Irish cinema in New York City. The film revisits the infamous events surrounding Ireland’s 2002 World Cup campaign, when tensions between team captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy erupted into one of the most controversial moments in Irish sporting history. Set against the pressure of international competition, the film explores how preparation, professionalism, leadership, and personality collided, creating a moment that split public opinion and became etched into Ireland’s cultural memory. More than a sports story, “Saipan” is a powerful examination of standards, principles, and what it means to represent a nation on the world stage.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Directors Glen Leyburn & Lisa Barros D’Sa.

Ticket includes After Party at Solas [E. 9th St. off 2nd Ave.] with complimentary beer, 9pm – 11pm.

Friday, March 6th
Shorts Night
7 pm: Village East by Angelika
The Irish Shorts evening celebrates bold new visions in Irish cinema with a curated program of award-winning short films that span drama, intimacy, humor, and raw human connection. The evening features “Mouse,” directed by Rosie Barrett and starring Lynn Raffery, alongside “I Do” directed by Joseph Jones, In addition, there’s “HomeTime” directed by Jonathan Lambert, “Mourning Glory” directed by John Carlin and written by Shane McNaughton, The Wheel directed by Jake Quinn and Gale Force directed by Tara Hegarty. Together, these films showcase a dynamic range of storytelling and cinematic craft from some of Ireland’s most exciting filmmakers.

Ticket includes After Party at Factory 380
380 3rd Ave. Complimentary beer & appetizers from 9-11pm. Local filmmakers to attend.

Saturday, March 7th
Kids Fest
11:30 am: Village East by Angelika
Award winning Best of Short films for kids and families. Animation and Live Action. Previous short films are Oscar Nominated shorts such as Give Up Yer Aul Sins and Granny O’Grimm. This fun short program is designed for kids and families.

Feature: “BP Fallon Rock’N’Roll Wizard Vol. 1.”
1 pm: Village East by Angelika
Directed by Alan Leonard, “BP Fallon Rock’N’Roll Wizard Vol. 1.” traces the remarkable arc of Fallon’s life, from the explosive rise of British rock through to unexpected late-career reinvention. Along the way, Fallon intersects with some of the most iconic names in modern music: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, T. Rex, Johnny Thunders, and U2; artists who didn’t just define eras, but rewrote the rules. When many would have slowed down, Fallon took a sharp left turn later in life, forging a creative partnership with Jack White and Third Man Records, proving that reinvention has no age limit and that true rock’n’roll spirit never retires.

Feature: “Where the Road Meets the Sky”
3 pm: Village East by Angelika
“Where the Road Meets the Sky” is a layered and deeply reflective experimental film funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, examining the intersection of time, language, and memory through the lived experience of Irish Travellers. At the center of the film stands Chrissy Donaghue Ward, grandmother of the film’s writer and director John Connors, a towering figure in Irish Traveller history. An unwavering matriarch, civil rights activist, and the last Shanakee of the open road from the Donaghue, Ward, and Connors clans, Chrissy is the keeper of a culture shaped by movement, oral storytelling, and survival.

Feature: “Ballroom Boom” – U.S. Premier
7 pm: Village East by Angelika
“Ballroom Boom” brings CraicFest 2026 to a close with a powerful, music-driven documentary, followed by a closing night party celebrating Irish sound, storytelling, and legacy. U-2’s bassist Adam Clayton explores the extraordinary rise and fall of Ireland’s showband era, when over 700 bands and thousands of musicians performed live in ballrooms across Ireland almost every night of the week during the 1960s. Director Billy McGrath to attend screening.

Ticket includes Screening and After party at Solas
E 9th St. off 2nd Ave.

For more i nfo and tickets go to:https://thecraicfest.com/