Solas – A Feast of Community Film

Portobello Film Festival is delighted to partner with the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith to shine a light on 30 years of free films with a special screening of short films with links to the Irish community in West London.

The programme is dedicated to the memory of Niall McDevitt ICC Poet in Residence and Portobello Road resident. He collaborated with acclaimed Irish documentary filmmaker Sé Merry Doyle on works including W.B. Yeats: The Battle of Blythe Road in reference to the HQ of The Golden Dawn and James Joyce - Reluctant Groom recounting Joyce's marriage in Kensington. Both will be shown alongside the world premiere of William Blake and the River Tyburn.

The afternoon delves into the archives of the Portobello Film Festival with highlights including last year's winner Jama The Dandy about Portobello legend Jama Elmi whose colourful outfits have earned him the moniker "London's best dressed man"; 2006 festival winner Rootical tells the story of photographer Charlie Phillips who documented the social implications of Caribbean immigration in Notting Hill in the 1950s and 1960s while Irish in Brent places the focus on Irish immigration in the 1980s.

Housing activists including musicians Glan Hansard and Hozier join forces with filmmaker Jim Sheridan in Shelter Me a film about the homeless crisis in Dublin; Ardal O'Hanlon (Father Dougal from 'Father Ted') is confronted with an alien invasion in 50s sci-fi spoof Flying Saucer Rock and Roll; whereas Jake Auerbach's documentary Lucian Freud: Portraits looks back at the painter's life through conversations with his sitters.

Selected for their links to the Irish and West London communities these are just some examples of the breadth of topics characters and styles of films entered and shown for free since 1996. The partnership with the Irish Cultural Centre forms part of the anniversary celebrations in the run up to the 30thPortobello Film Festival from 28 August to 14 September 2025.

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