Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) announced the Rising Star Award nominees for 2012, the winner of which will be announced at the Irish Film and Television Awards ceremony on 11 February 2012.
Writer-Director Rebecca Daly, actor Chris O’Dowd, writer and first-time feature director John Michael McDonagh and actor Emmett J. Scanlan have all nominated for this year’s Rising Star Award.
Selected by a special jury and sponsored by the IFB, the Rising Star Award is a unique IFTA Award in that it aims to highlight exceptional new and breakthrough talent working in all areas of the Irish film industry.
About the 2012 Rising Star Award Nominees
Rebecca Daly – Writer/Director (The Other Side of Sleep)
After receiving a BA in Theatre and English and an MA in Film, Rebecca Daly made her first short film Joyriders (Best Irish Short – Galway Film Fleadh 2006, Best Short – Irish Film and Television Awards 2007) and Hum, as part of the Berlin Today Award. In 2008 she was selected for the Cannes CinÉfondation RÉsidence du Festival in Paris where she developed and co-wrote The Other Side of Sleep, her debut feature film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011.
John Michael McDonagh – Writer/Director (The Guard)
John Michael McDonagh wrote the screenplay for Ned Kelly (2003), starring Heath Ledger, for which he was nominated for AFI and Australian Film Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also wrote and directed the short, The Second Death (2000), starring Liam Cunningham. John Michael McDonagh wrote and directed The Guard, starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle, which was released in 2011 and became the highest grossing Irish independent film of all time at the Irish box office. John Michael has been shortlisted for Best Original Screenplay at this year’s BAFTA Film Awards, in addition to The Guard receiving nine Irish Film & Television Awards nominations.
Chris O’Dowd – Actor (Bridesmaids)
Chris made his TV debut in the RTÉ drama series The Clinic followed by a role in the hugely CH4 popular comedy series IT Crowd. He played the lead in Crimson Petal and the White and Chris’ other credits include: The Boat That Rocked, Gulliver’s Travels, Dinner for Schmucks, Festival and Showbands. Chris has received two Irish Film & Television Awards nominations, Supporting Actor Film for his performance in the 2011 box office smash Bridesmaids and Supporting Actor TV for his role in Crimson Petal. This year he will star in This is Forty and The Sapphires and Chris is currently filming comedy series Moone Boy at Ireland’s Ardmore Studios which he developed and co-wrote for Sky television.
Emmett J. Scanlan – Actor (Charlie Casanova)
Emmett J. Scanlan is a multi-award winning actor best known for his role as Brendan Brady in Hollyoaks. In the last year Emmett has picked up National Television Award nominations for Best Newcomer and Best Actor. He picked up ‘The Villian of the Year’ and ‘Best Newcomer’ at the British Soap Awards, as well as picking up the Best Actor award for his leading performance in Charlie Casanova at the 2011 European Independent Film Festival Awards in Paris. Other awards and nominations include Best Newcomer for the Inside soap awards, RTS/TV choice & All about soap awards. Charlie Casanova has won the Best First Feature Film Award at the Galway Film Fleadh in addition to Best Film at the DMV International Film Festival in Washington Awards at festivals in Washington. Charlie Casanova is nominated for four IFTAs including Best Film.
