The annual IFTAs awards took place on Thursday, the 15th of February at the Mansion House in the capital. The Irish Academy Awards celebrate and honour the very best in Film, Television Drama, Feature Documentary, Live Action Short and Animation. Some of Ireland’s finest actors walked the red carpet for Ireland’s equivalent to the Oscars.
Saoirse Ronan, Cillian Murphy and Caitriona Balfe were among this year’s IFTA winners. Gabriel Byrne was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award that was presented by President Michael D Higgins. The 67-year-old was emotional as he collected his award.
During his acceptance speech he remembered the factors that aided his success in America “The decision to leave Dublin was a huge one for me, I had to prove something in myself.” He followed by saying he learnt “more from failure than you do from any kind of success”. He finished by a touching thank you to his wife Hannah Belle.
Our own Deirdre Ryan, co-founder of the Production People, was there on the night working as the Vision Mixer for the event. Deirdre was able to share these exclusive behind the scenes pictures of the night.
You can see a list of winners below:
FEATURE FILM
Michael Inside
DIRECTOR FILM
Aisling Walsh, Maudie
SCRIPTWRITER FILM
Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – FILM
John Connors, Cardboard Gangsters
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE – FILM
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – FILM
Barry Keoghan, The Killing of a Sacred Deer
ACTRESS SUPPORTING ROLE – FILM
Victoria Smurfit, The Lears
GEORGE MORRISON FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Farthest
IRISH FILM BOARD RISING STAR
Jacob McCarthy, The Drummer and the Keeper
SPOTLIGHT CASTING DIRECTOR AWARD
Ros Hubbard
SHORT FILM – LIVE ACTION
Wave
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Late Afternoon
INTERNATIONAL FILM
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
INTERNATIONAL ACTOR
Ethan Hawke, Maudie
INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
DRAMA
Game of Thrones
DIRECTOR – DRAMA
Dearbhla Walsh, Fargo
SCRIPTWRITER – DRAMA
Conor McPherson, Paula
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – DRAMA
Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE – DRAMA
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – DRAMA
Liam Cunningham, Game of Thrones
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – DRAMA
Charlie Murphy, Peaky Blinders
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Seamus McGarvey, The Greatest Showman
COSTUME DESIGN
Consolata Boyle, Victoria and Abdul
EDITING
Una Ni DhonghaIle, Three Girls
MAKEUP & HAIR
Clare Lambe & Sevlene Roddy, Into the Badlands
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Stephen McKeon, Pilgrimage
PRODUCTION DESIGN
John Hand, Maudie
SOUND
Steve Fanagan, Kieran Horgan, The Farthest
VFX
Tailored Films & Bowsie Workshop, The Lodgers
