Gaelic Short Films Sizzle on the Screen

Documentaries and Dramas - we've got it for you at our Fèis 2026 Gaelic Film Screening!

Here is a sneak peak on what to expect:

The Wake of Calum MacLeod / Faire Chaluim Mhic Leòid

Production Company: Film 5

Language: Scottish Gaelic

Writer/Director: Marc Almon

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 8min

A lonely storyteller will do anything to have his grown children return home – even if it requires staging his own funeral.

Synopsis:

When his children left home years ago, renowned storyteller Calum MacLeòid lost not only his family but his most treasured audience. One stormy night, Calum confronts the Baron of the Wind, a mystical being from his stories, and demands his children be returned. The old man promptly falls dead. From distant points the MacLeòids assemble to attend their father's wake. But the deceased Calum has a surprise ending in store for them yet...

Nominated for a Genie Award for Best Live Action Short Film, THE WAKE OF CALUM MACLEOD is a historic venture into one of the world's most renowned oral storytelling cultures. Shot in the spectacular highlands of Cape Breton and featuring Gaelic storyteller Aonghas MacLeòid and music by internationally-acclaimed signer Mary Jane Lamond, THE WAKE OF CALUM MACLEOD is a true original, “a short film but a big deal… a beautifully made, intense version of a short but tall tale.” (The Globe and Mail)

The Fiddler's Reel / Ruidhle an Fhidhleir

Production Company: A71 Productions

Language: Scottish Gaelic

Writer/Director: Marc Almon

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 17mins

Synopsis:

A farm girl and the wandering musician she loves must overcome her father's fierce opposition to their match. A tale of love and intrigue set in Depression-era Cape Breton, The Fiddler's Reel pays tribute to the island's Gaelic heritage and storytelling traditions.

About Marc Almon

Marc Almon is a film & television producer and arts advocate based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His work as a producer has screened at some of the most prestigious festivals in the world, including TIFF, Berlinale, Cannes, and Sundance. His latest feature, THE EXECUTOR (director: Joe Cobden) will debut later in 2026. Marc is also co-founder of the Light House Arts Centre, a 100,000 sq. ft., $14 million creative hub in downtown Halifax. Opened in 2023, Light House features a TV studio, performance hall, dance studio, and workspaces for cultural non-profits, making it one of Atlantic Canada’s most significant investments in arts infrastructure.

Fèis an Eilein: Fichead Bliadhna / Feis an Eilein: Twenty Years

Production Company: Comunn Fèis an Eilein

Writer/Director: Colette Thomas

Language: Scottish Gaelic

Genre: Documentary

Runtime: 45 mins

Synopsis:

Chan eil sian coltach ris a' Ghàidhlig Mhòir/ Nothing compares to the great Gaelic

This phrase is heard echoes throughout the culturally rich Gaelic Communities in Nova Scotia. Christmas Island is one community on Cape Breton Island where great pride is taken in their Gaelic heritage. The music, language and culture of the Gaels are celebrated at their annual Gaelic Fesitval: Fèis an Eilein. It was the firs tof its kind held outside of An Seann Dùthaich, The Old Country (Scotland). Now over 20 years since its inception, Fèis an Eilein is still going string. This is their story.

About Féis an Eilein

The community of Christmas Island, located on Cape Breton, is home to the first Féis to be held outside of Scotland . Our inaugural festival was held in 1991. The Féis Movement on Cape Breton has grown to number four others. In 1993 the steering committee for Féis An Eilein formed a Society to allow for increased community participation in the preservation and promotion of our indigenous Gaelic Culture. The annual Féis An Eilein encompasses workshops in Gaelic language and song, stepdancing, fiddle and chanter. A two day Gaelic Activities Camp for youth is held each year. Another key feature of the annual féis is the provision of opportunities for visitors and residents to participate in the Gaelic culture through concerts, milling frolics céilidhs and square dances. Many of the entertainers at these social events took their first step dancing or fiddle lesson during one of our workshops.

Proceeds of the annual Féis are used to offer classes in Gaelic language and song, step-dancing and chanter. The classes are subsidized by the Society and lessons are offered to children and youths at no charge.

You can learn more about Féis an Eilein on their website.

Na Gàidheal Dubha / The Black Gaels

Producer/Writer: Colette Thomas

Language: Scottish Gaelic

Genre: Documentary

Runtime 5mins (4:57)

Synopsis:

A short documentary film about the origins of a black Gaelic speaking cook featured in Rudyard Kipling's "Captains Courageous" published in 1896 and 1897 in McClure's Magazine in New York. The character is based on black Gaelic speaking twins from Marble Mountain, Cape Breton: John and George Maxwell. The character sparked disbelief among readers about their perceived ridiculousness that a black man could speak Gaelic.

About Colette Thomas

Colette Thomas is a filmmaker based in Nova Scotia. She produced the first Gaelic language series in North America: TGA. She won a collaborative EMMY AWARD for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media for her work on the TV series, HIT RECORD and she was nominated for a FilmG award for her short Gaelic documentary NA GAÍDHEAL DUBHA/THE BLACK GAELS. Colette completed the documentary FEIS AN EILEIN: FICHEAD BLIADHNA (Festival of the Island: Twenty Years) about the Gaelic cultural festival held annually in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia that aims to preserve and promote the Gaelic language and culture. She has worked for the BBC as a technical operator for both television and radio. In 2020 she published her first novel: THE FORGOTTEN SON and is currently working on her next.

Thank you to Marc Almon, Fèis an Eilein for the permission to share their beautiful work and especially to Collette Thomas for her permsion to share her films and her support, we could not have made this event possible without her. Móran taing!

We hope to see you there, tickets are available on our events page for the Gealic Short Films Screening and the Milling Frolic combined!