The winners of this year’s Irish Film and Television Awards were revealed on Saturday night, 9th Februaryy at a Gala Awards Ceremony at the Convention Centre Dublin hosted by the Irish Film and Television Academy. Chief Executive of IFTA, Áine Moriarty congratulated all winners and Nominees on what is the tenth anniversary of the Awards.
Commenting on the night, Áine Moriarty said: “This is a wonderful night of celebration for the Irish film and television industry which continues to punch above its weight in terms of production values, creativity and entertainment. Tonight we honour the outstanding achievements of Irish directors, writers, actors, television and film makers which has been showcased here this evening. Many congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees.”
Hosted by Irish actor Simon Delaney and broadcast primetime on Irish television on RTÉ One, theAnnual Irish Film & Television Awards are the highlight of Ireland’s entertainment and cultural calendar celebrating the very best of Irish screen talent across film and television. Guests who walked the red carpet this evening included John C Reilly, Saoirse Ronan, Jim Sheridan, Chris O’Dowd, Victoria Smurfit, James Nesbitt, Fionnula Flanagan, Michelle Keegan, Chris Fountain, Whitney Able, Kian Egan, The Hardy Bucks and Jamie Dornan.
Big winners on the night included Irish crime-drama Love/Hate which took home six awards, including IFTAs for Best Drama, Best Director David Caffrey and Writer TV Stuart Carolan. Love/Hate actors Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Charlie Murphy and Susan Loughnane received IFTAs for Actor Lead TV Drama, Actress Lead TV and Actress Support TV Drama respectively.
Winning big in the film categories, What Richard Did picked up five awards throughout the night including the award for Best Film. Jack Reynor picked up the award for Actor Lead Film whilstLenny Abrahamson and Malcolm Campbell picked up IFTAs for Best Director and Script with their fifth IFTA going to Nathan Nugent for Editing Film.
Actor Support TV went to Andrew Scott for his role in Sherlock.
Anna Karenina and Shadow Dancer star Domhnall Gleeson was presented with the Actor Support Film award for his performance in Anna Karenina. Actresses Ruth Bradley won for her Lead performance in monster movie Grabbers, whilst Brid Brennan won the IFTA for her Supporting Actress role in the thrilling drama Shadow Dancer.
The Irish Film Board Rising Star Award on the night went to Gerard Barrett who was the writer, director, editor and producer for feature film Pilgrim Hill.
Argo won the IFTA for Best International Film while Daniel Day-Lewis was voted Best International Actor for Lincoln and Marion Cotillard for Best International Actress for her role inRust and Bone.
Northern Irish cinematographer Seamus McGarvey won the Director Of Photography of Film award for his second year in a row, this year for his work on Anna Karenina. Maggie Donnelly took home the Costume IFTA for her designs in Good Vibrations while Garret Farrell, Hugh Fox and Steve Fanagan won the IFTA for Sound Film/ Drama in Citadel.
TV series Ripper Street picked up two awards on the night, Sharon Doyle for Make Up and Mark Geraghty for Production Design. Brenda Morrissey won the TV Editing award for Inside the Department, Michael O’Donovan, Gaeil Nua Eabhrac was presented the IFTA for Director of Photography Television and the Sound TV award went to Mark Henry, Conall de Cleir, John Brennan for Am An Ghathair and the award for Original Score going to Niall Byrne, Loving Miss Hatto.
In the factual categories, The George Morrison Feature Documentary Award was presented to Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God; TV Documentary was won by Congo 1961; Best Factual Programme went to The Radharc Squad and Spotlight: Sean Quinn’s Missing Millionsreceived the IFTA for Current Affairs.
The IFTA for Best Sport was awarded to When Ali Came to Ireland and other popular winners on the night included comedy series Moone Boy (Entertainment), Lón sa Spéir (Special Irish Language), Jockey Eile (Reality), Roy (Childrens/Youth), Morning (Short Film), Macropolis (Animation)
The Irish Film & Television Awards are sponsored by Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann; RTÉ, IFTN, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and has Partners The Gathering, MAC, BMW, Moët & Chandon, JCDecaux, Disney, TG4, Sky Ireland, Dublin City Council, Kantar Media, The Gibson Hotel.Spectacular Music played a major part in marking the milestone 10th year of the annual IFTA Awards Ceremony. IFTA Award winning Composer and Golden Globe Nominee Brian Byrne conducted the RTÉ Concert Orchestra throughout the Ceremony with a specially arranged Musical Extravaganza which included a key performance by one of Ireland’s most spectacular voices Jack Lukeman, who delivered a powerful rendition of one of Cinema’s longest standing and most iconic music themes from the franchise James Bond. The Academy paid tribute to colleagues who had passed through a poignant visual Memoriam which was screened alongside a special performance by internationally renowned Violin Soloist Aoife Ní Bhriain who played a specially composed Lament by Brian Byrne complimented by the Orchestra.
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