IRISH LANGUAGE FILM is in a brilliant and exciting new phase. But it wasn’t always this way. It took investment, funding and risk-taking to get us to the point where there’s a high chance a film as Gaeilge will be Oscar nominated, as happened with the fantastic An Cailín Ciúin in 2023.

An Cailín Ciúin is of course one of our selections for the five Irish-language films that you can watch for free on TG4.ie. Like all of the movies below, this game-changing film was made under the Cine4 scheme, which you can find out more about in our interview with TG4′s comissioning editor Máire Ní Chonláin.

The genres explored under the Cine4 scheme vary widely, so you can expect everything from thrillers to comedy. Here’s our take on five must-watch films that have been funded by Cine4, which you can watch on TG4.ie.

Arracht (2019)

This thrilling film is set during the Famine in Ireland, and is unflinching in its depiction of loss, violence and poverty. Directed by Tomás Ó Súilleabháin, this stars Dónall Ó Héalai (who you’ll recognise from Crá on TG4) as Connemara fisherman and farmer Colmán, who ends up going on the run after an incident in his village.

Foscadh (2021)

Fans of Dónall Ó Héalai will be glad to see him in yet another lead role, which is based on the novel The Thing about December by Donal Ryan. He plays a neurodivergent man who is a bit of a loner, and has to fend for himself when his mother dies. Seán Breathnach directs.

Róise and Frank (2022)

This delightful film has a seam of sadness running through it. It asks: can our loved ones come back to us? Róise is lost after the death of her husband Frank. But then a cute dog appears at her door… who seems to like a lot of the things Frank did. Could it be…? This is directed and written by Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy, and stars the fab Bríd Ní Neachtain.

Tarrac (2022)

In Tarrac, a young management consultant called Aoife (Kelly Gough) has to come back home to her Kerry village after her dad Bear (Lorcan Cranitch) has a heart attack. When home, she joins a local rowing team who are a bit useless. Can she guide them to victory? Directed by Declan Recks.

An Cailín Ciúin (2022)

An Cailín Ciúin barely needs an introduction, but in case you’re not familiar with it, this film (directed by Colm Bairéad) is based on the beautiful novella Foster by Claire Keegan. It stars Catherine Clinch as a young girl who is fostered out to a family who have suffered their own losses. It’s a stunning and emotional watch. 

Watch all of these films made under the Cine4 scheme for free on TG4.ie.