Stars to light up this year’s IFTAs

The stars are coming out tomorrow night for this year’s Irish Film and Television Awards – and what a line-up it is.

Sat, 23 May, 2015 - 01:00

Kelly O'Brien

Colin Farrell, Michael Fassbender and Jamie Dornan are all up for awards, along with Cillian Murphy, Deirdre O’Kane and Domhnall Gleeson.

Feature films I Used to Live Here, Noble, Song of the Sea, Frank, Glassland and Patrick’s Day are all up for Best Film – while the latter three are also nominated in the Best Director category.

Colin Farrell is up for best actor thanks to his role in Miss Julie, but he will have to duke it out with fellow Hollywood heavyweight Michael Fassbender who has also been nominated. Jack Reynor and Moe Dunford are also in contention.

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Deirdre O’Kane is up for best actress for her Noble performance, as is Simone Kirby for Jimmy’s Hall. Both are joined by new talents Tara Breathnach and Jordanne Jones.

But once again the best drama category is the one most hotly contested, with hit shows Game of Thrones, Love/Hate, The Fall, Charlie and Vikings all doing battle for top spot.

“This year’s nominations showcase to the world what Ireland’s small but excellent film and television community has to offer,” said academy CEO Áine Moriarty.

“Their hard work over the last 12 months has delivered world-class standards with some of the most diverse and engaging Irish films and dramas along with great feature documentaries and shorts. We look forward to acknowledging and celebrating the great work of the home industry on the ceremony night.”

In terms of international talent, best film will either go to ’71, Boyhood, The Imitation Game or The Theory of Everything, while Steve Carrell, Foxcatcher; Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game; Jake Gyllenhall, Nightcrawler; and Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything, are all up for best international actor.

Six-time academy award nominee, director Jim Sheridan will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award – a tribute to his 30-year-long career which includes My Left Foot, The Boxer, In America, In the Name of the Father, The Field, Brothers and Some Mother’s Son.

Last year, RTÉ’s IFTAs coverage was widely criticised – the production featured significant sound problems prompting a barrage of angry viewers to express their frustration via Twitter.

This time around, TV3 have taken over the mantle and will broadcast the event the following day with host Caroline Morahan and backstage clips from presenters Louise Duffy and Eoghan Doherty.

An hour-long IFTA Film and Drama Awards Special will be broadcast on TV3 on Monday, June 1 at 9pm.

The Irish Examiner will be live blogging from the IFTAs red carpet on www.irishexaminer.ie from 5pm to 9pm on Sunday May 31.

Selection of IFTA nominees

Best Film:

Frank

Glassland

I Used to Live Here

Noble

Patrick’s Day

Song of the Sea

Best Actor (Film):

Colin Farrell — Miss Julie