The Irish film industry is basking in the glow of international acclaim after a whirlwind week of awards, with homegrown talent and productions sweeping up trophies at both the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards and the highly anticipated BAFTA Film Awards. The celebrations in Dublin and the mounting excitement in London have highlighted a remarkable year for Irish cinema, as films like Christy and Hamnet take center stage.
On the evening of February 21, Dublin played host to the IFTA ceremony, a glittering affair attended by the likes of Jessie Buckley, Cillian Murphy, Steve Coogan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anthony Boyle, Niamh Algar, Aidan Quinn, and Alison Oliver. The night was a showcase of Ireland’s creative prowess, with Cork-based drama Christy emerging as the big winner. The film, starring Daniel Power and Diarmuid Noyes, tells the story of a young Cork man who, after leaving the foster system, finds his independence and his calling as a hairdresser. The film scooped up Best Film, Director – Film for Brendan Canty, Editing for Allyn Quigley, and Casting for Amy Rowan, marking a major triumph for the team behind this poignant coming-of-age tale.
Jessie Buckley, already riding high this awards season, claimed the Lead Actress prize for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet, a role that has captivated critics and audiences alike. Buckley, who is also nominated at the upcoming Oscars and BAFTAs, reflected on her roots during her acceptance speech, saying, “Growing up in Ireland, the very nature of storytelling, of music, of art, was the source that I grew up from. It was a way of life. It is a way of community. It was such a dream to step into the soul of this incredible woman, Agnes, who I really recognised in the women that I grew up around in Ireland – women who have a language on to their own, bodies that are rooted from the ground and a fierce tenderness to love and be loved.”
Hamnet continued its winning streak at IFTA, with Paul Mescal taking home Best Supporting Actor for his role as William Shakespeare. The film, directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel, also secured the International Film and Script Film awards, shared between O’Farrell and Zhao. The story explores the family life of Shakespeare and the devastating loss of his young son, themes that have resonated deeply with viewers and critics.
Elsewhere at IFTA, Éanna Harwicke won Actor in a Lead Role for his portrayal of Roy Keane in Saipan, while Kerry Condon picked up Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance opposite Brad Pitt in F1. The TV drama categories were equally competitive, with Belfast police drama Blue Lights winning Best Drama for its third season. Rachel Carey was recognized as Best Director – Drama for Obituary, and Ailbhe Keogan earned Best Script – Drama for Trespasses. Anthony Boyle took home Lead Actor in a Drama for House of Guinness, and Lola Petticrew was named Lead Actress in a Drama for Trespasses. Supporting awards went to Alison Oliver for her role in HBO’s Task and Chris Walley for The Young Offenders season four.
The IFTA ceremony also paid tribute to industry veterans and rising stars. Iconic actor Ciarán Hinds received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to both Irish and international film and television. Louisa Harland, known for The Walsh Sisters and Derry Girls, was announced as the 2025 Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star, signaling a bright future for Irish talent on the global stage.
International categories at IFTA saw Emma Stone win International Actress for Bugonia, produced by Ireland’s Element Pictures, while Leonardo DiCaprio was named International Actor for One Battle After Another. The George Morrison Feature Documentary Award went to A Want in Her, and Seamus McGarvey was honored with Best Cinematography for Die My Love. Short films were also celebrated, with Nostalgie winning Best Live Action Short and Retirement Plan taking Best Animated Short. Technical categories saw Eoin O’Sullivan and David Sewell win VFX for House of Guinness, Natalie Reid win Hair & Makeup for Trespasses, and Eimear Noone and Craig Stuart Garfinkle claim the Original Music award for Báite. Consolata Boyle’s work on Blue Moon earned her the Costume Design award, while Philip Murphy and Neville Gaynor were recognized for Production Design on Netflix’s Wednesday season two. Steve Fanagan and Stevie Haywood rounded out the technical honors with Best Sound for Anemone.
The momentum from IFTA has carried into London, where the BAFTA Film Awards are set to take place at the Royal Festival Hall on February 22, hosted by Alan Cumming. Jessie Buckley is once again in the spotlight, widely tipped to win for her performance in Hamnet. The film, already a critical darling, made history as the most-nominated female-directed film in BAFTA history, earning 11 nominations including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, and Best Director for Chloé Zhao. Paul Mescal is nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and Emily Watson is up for Best Supporting Actress, underscoring the film’s strong ensemble.
Competition at the BAFTAs is fierce. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another leads the pack with 14 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio. The film tells the story of a washed-up revolutionary searching for his missing teenage daughter. Chase Infiniti is nominated for Best Actress, while Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro all received supporting nods. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a historical crime drama with a supernatural twist, follows closely with 13 nominations. Michael B. Jordan, who plays twins Smoke and Stack Moore, is recognized in the Best Actor category, and Wunmi Mosaku is nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
Other notable contenders include Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet as an ambitious table tennis player, which ties with Hamnet at 11 nominations. British films are also well represented, with I Swear—the story of a man with Tourette’s growing up in 1980s Scotland—garnering five nominations, including Outstanding British Film and Best Actor for Robert Aramayo. Singer Jessie Ware is set to perform during the In Memoriam section of the ceremony, a poignant moment to honor those lost in the industry over the past year.
As the BAFTA Film Awards approach, all eyes are on Jessie Buckley and the team behind Hamnet. Their success at IFTA and continued recognition abroad underscore a banner year for Irish cinema, and with the Oscars still ahead, the story of Ireland’s creative renaissance is far from over.