Re: Vision — Festival of Restoration and Rediscovery • September 24 – 27, Roxie Theater San Francisco
Written and directed by Robert Wynne-Simmons (writer of folk-horror masterpiece Blood on Satan’s Claw), and starring legendary Irish actors Cyril Cusack and Mick Lally, The Outcasts was the first major feature film funded in Ireland in forty years. Set in the earlier 1800s, an era of great poverty and no little superstition in pre-Famine Ireland, The Outcasts centers around Maura (Mary Ryan), one of three daughters, a peculiar young woman largely ostracized by her rural Irish community due to her “abnormal” behavior. In great need of an ally, Maura aligns herself with the much feared Scarf Michael, whose power over the locals seems to tap into a world beyond our own.
The greens and grays and weighty clouds of the Irish countryside are evocatively captured by cinematographer Seamus Corcoran, and the destitution of the characters is made palpable by Consolata Boyle’s costume design. Rife with nods to myth and oral storytelling tradition, in The Outcasts stones rain, curses come true, and goats are not to be trusted! While set in a very particular time and place, the film’s depiction of man’s innate savagery is all too universal. When unfathomable misfortune strikes, the urge to blame the weak was then and is now far too quick an instinct. In The Outcasts, Maura is a likely victim for such impulses, but is she as powerless as she seems?
— Kathy Rose O’Regan, Executive Director, San Francisco Film Preserve
The Outcasts was shot on 16mm and blown up to 35mm for its original release. This 2K digital restoration was created from 35mm sound and picture negatives preserved at the IFI Irish Film Archive. Restored by the IFI and Fís Éireann.
Re:Vision — Festival of Restoration and Rediscovery
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2026 SF Irish Film SF Festival • September 17-19, Delancey Street Theater
Thursday, September 17, 6.30pm: Spilt Milk
Directed by Brian Durnin (91 mins) This story explores the tragedy of the heroin epidemic in 1980s Dublin through the eyes of an 11 year-old boy who dreams of becoming a great detective like his TV hero, Kojak. Opening night reception to follow.
Friday, September 18, 6.30pm: Short Stories, Tall TalesA selection of the very best in Irish short films. (approximately 2 x 60 mins)
Saturday, September 19. 3.30pm: Abode. Directed by Liam O Mochain (81 mins). An affectionate film comprised of five shorts that center on the meaning of home. 5.30pm: Báite. Directed by Ruán Magan (94 mins) Báite (Drowned) follows an investigation when a woman’s body is found in a country lake. 7.30pm: The Siege of Paradise. Directed by Gar O’Rourke (102 mins). Examining Cinque Terre’s tourist season as TikTokers and influencers clash with locals.
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Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine” to open Mill Valley Film Festival • October 1
There is something wonderfully strange about sending two CIA agents to Easter Island just ahead of the 1973 Chilean coup. In the hands of Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” MVFF40; “The Banshees of Inisherin,” MVFF45), that premise becomes a darkly funny, visually striking thriller, where political conspiracies, personal ghosts, and absurdity collide against one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. John Malkovich is perfectly cast as Chris, a veteran agent approaching retirement whose old-fashioned sense of duty comes with a surprisingly tender heart and a tendency to talk too much, while Sam Rockwell is mesmerizing as Lee, his younger, more controlled partner. Their chemistry gives the film its pulse, shifting effortlessly between deadpan humor, genuine tension, and something unexpectedly moving. Around them, McDonagh has assembled an irresistible ensemble, including Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, Tom Waits, Mariana di Girolamo, and Ailín Salas. With its wicked sense of humor and striking visual beauty, “Wild Horse Nine” is a thrilling ride from beginning to end. —João Federici
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Altan • October 16, The Freight
Altan is celebrating 40 years on the road! After four decades, Altan remains at the forefront of traditional Irish music. Altan evolved from Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her late husband, Belfast flute player, Frankie Kennedy playing duets, first at folk clubs and smaller festivals in Ireland an on to the world – wide stage. The group has always been regarded as tradition bearers, bringing their native Donegal music and songs to a wider public, keeping true to their roots while exploring modern arrangements and textures to entice new followers. This integrity in their music has placed them in high esteem by their peers and is why they are regarded as one of the most popular Irish traditional bands of all time. They were the first ever Irish traditional band to be signed to a major label by Virgin Records in 1995.
The group has its original core members: founding member, lead singer, and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ciaran Curran on bouzouki, and Mark Kelly on guitar. Accordion player, Martin Tourish has been recording and touring with the band now for over 15 years. The latest addition to Altan’s lineup is the wonderful young fiddler and singer, Clare Friel, who is steeped in the tradition of her Donegal ancestors! TICKETS & INFORMATION
TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com
Celtic Thunder • October 23, HJK Center, Oakland
An Evening with Celtic Thunder is more than just a concert—it’s a journey through the group’s incredible legacy. Featuring a carefully curated setlist of their greatest hits, this show will showcase the powerful harmonies, soaring ballads, and electrifying performances that have made Celtic Thunder a household name. From classic Irish folk songs to contemporary favorites, audiences can expect to hear the anthems that have defined Celtic Thunder’s illustrious career.
The event takes place at the beautifully restored 1,500-seat Calvin Simmons Theatre, the crown jewel of the Henry J. Kaiser Center!
TICKETS & INFORMATION
TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com
Wake the Dead • October 31, The Freight
Wake the Dead, The Bay Area’s own Celtic All-Star Summer of Love party band, is returning to the Freight for their 26th annual Day of the Dead Bash, always the sell-out party of the season! This hot septet combines Irish jigs and reels with the songs of the Grateful Dead and other ’60s iconic bands, delivering them with unique power and joy. Soaring vocal harmonies and daring instrumentals fuel Wake the Dead’s singular groove engine, delighting Celtoids and Deadheads alike. Now in their 26th year, Wake the Dead has grown to embrace the entire Summer of Love — the Airplane, the Youngbloods, Buffalo Springfield, and the British Invasion are now joyful parts of the mix. Local fans are guaranteed many brand-new surprises. Never the same show twice.
Wake the Dead is Danny Carnahan (vocals, octave mandolin), Sylvia Herold (vocals, guitar), Paul Kotapish (vocals, mandolin), Kevin Carr (Irish uilleann pipes, fiddles), Valerie Rose (vocals, fiddle), Cindy Browne (bass) & Brian Rice (exotic percussion). Their sound is unique, their energy extraordinary—a rare collision of worlds that leaves everybody dancing & grinning.
TICKETS & INFORMATION – TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com
Solas • November 5, The Freight
Solas is lighting up stages across the globe as they celebrate three decades of pushing boundaries and honoring traditions in Irish music. Hailed by The Boston Globe as “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced,” and by The Wall Street Journal as “an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness,” Solas continues to captivate audiences with their spellbinding musicianship and genre-defying creativity. Formed in New York City in 1995, Solas quickly rose to prominence as a revolutionary force in Irish-American music. The very first iteration of Solas brought together a lineup of extraordinary talent including multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan, fiddler Winifred Horan, vocalist Karan Casey, guitarist John Doyle, and accordionist John Williams. Together, they redefined the Celtic sound for a new generation, weaving traditional Irish tunes with elements of folk, bluegrass, Americana, and contemporary songwriting.
TICKETS & INFORMATION – TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com
Cherish The Ladies • December 5, The Freight
For four decades, Cherish the Ladies has captivated audiences worldwide as one of the most celebrated Irish music ensembles in history. Renowned for their exhilarating mix of traditional Irish music, stunning vocals, and propulsive step dancing, they have won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. As the Boston Globe aptly puts it: “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do!” This Grammy-nominated group has forged a path for women in the male-dominated Irish music scene, leaving a lasting legacy with 18 critically acclaimed albums and thousands of performances worldwide, from prestigious concert halls to the Olympics and even the White House. Led by the dynamic flute and whistle virtuoso Joanie Madden, a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award, Cherish the Ladies offers an unforgettable experience of music, song, and dance—a true masterclass in entertainment. Alongside Madden are stellar musicians; Mary Coogan on guitar, Mirella Murray on accordion, Kathleen Boyle on piano, Nollaig Casey on fiddle, vocalist Kate Purcell, and a talented ensemble of world-class dancers.
TICKETS & INFORMATION – TICKET GIVEAWAY: Tell us why you think you should win two tickets to this show! Email irishculturebayarea@gmail.com