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FESTIVALS / AWARDS Ireland

The Irish Film and Television Academy announces its 2021 award winners

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- The ceremony saw the triumph of Wolfwalkers, crowned best film of the season, and Lenny Abrahamson’s series Normal People, winner of nine prizes out of its 15 nominations

The Irish Film and Television Academy announces its 2021 award winners
Host Gráinne Seoige with actor Colin Farrell during the ceremony

The traditional awards ceremony of the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) was broadcast last night on Virgin Media One, hosted by Gráinne Seoige. Unsurprisingly, Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart’s Wolfwalkers [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
garnered another prestigious accolade, less than two months after its recent triumph at the Irish Animation Awards (see the news). For the second time in the history of the awards, an animated flick was crowned Best Film, following on from Song of the Sea [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tomm Moore
film profile
]
in 2015, also staged by Kilkenny-based studio Cartoon Saloon.

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Meanwhile, the TV series Normal People won the IFTA for Best Drama, as part of an impressive nine wins out of a total of 15 nominations, including Paul Mescal winning Best Leading Actor and Lenny Abrahamson Best Director, both in the drama category.

This year’s star-studded ceremony saw the participation of Mark Hamill, Colin Farrell, Olivia Colman, Travis Fimmel and Josh Brolin presenting the awards to the likes of Gabriel Byrne, Nike McGuigan, Paul Mescal and Nicola Coughlan.

All of the nominees joined the show virtually, and many of them hosted their own viewing parties with friends and family, held in line with the current COVID-19 guidelines.

Speaking about the ceremony, IFTA’s CEO, Áine Moriarty, commented: “We were so delighted to be able to bring together such an illustrious group of Irish and international screen talent to celebrate the ongoing growth and success of our industry in Ireland. It was incredible to see the range of Irish talent and work that has been produced, often in the most difficult of circumstances, recognised tonight by a host of stars from around the world, guided all the way by the brilliant hosting of Gráinne Seoige. Congratulations to all of tonight’s nominees and winners.”

The IFTA Awards are funded by Screen Ireland, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), Tourism Ireland and Virgin Media Television.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

Best Film
Wolfwalkers [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
– Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart (Ireland/Luxembourg/France)

Best Film Director
Cathy Brady – Wildfire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cathy Brady
film profile
]
(UK/Ireland)

Best Film Script
Clare Dunne and Malcolm Campbell – Herself [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Clare Dunne
film profile
]
(UK/Ireland)

Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star
Nicola Coughlan

Best Leading Actor – Film
Gabriel Byrne – Death of a Ladies’ Man (Canada/Ireland)

Best Leading Actress – Film
Nika McGuigan – Wildfire

Best Supporting Actor – Film
Barry Ward – Dating Amber [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fionn O'Shea
film profile
]
(Ireland/UK)

Best Supporting Actress – Film
Sharon Horgan – Dating Amber

Best Short Film
Rough – Adam Patterson (UK)

George Morrison Feature Documentary Award
Breaking Out – Michael McCormack (Ireland)

Best Cinematography
Kate McCullough – Normal People (Ireland/UK/USA)

Best Editing
Úna Ní Dhonghaíle – Misbehaviour [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(UK/France)

Best Make-up and Hair
Linda Gannon Foster and Liz Byrne – Gretel & Hansel (USA/Canada/Ireland/South Africa)

Best Drama
Normal People – Lenny Abrahamson

Best Drama Director
Lenny Abrahamson – Normal People

Best Drama Script
Sally Rooney – Normal People

Best Leading Actor – Drama
Paul Mescal – Normal People

Best Leading Actress – Drama
Dervla Kirwan – Smother (Ireland/UK)

Best Supporting Actor – Drama
Fionn O'Shea – Normal People

Best Supporting Actress – Drama
Sarah Greene – Normal People

Best Animated Short
Her Song – Eabha Bortolozzo and Jack Kirwan (Ireland)

Best Production Design
Lucy van Lonkhuyzen – Normal People

Best Costume Design
Leonie Prendergast – Gretel & Hansel

Best Sound
Steve Fanagan, Niall Brady and Niall O Sullivan – Normal People

Best Original Score
Aza Hand – Son [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(Ireland/UK/USA)

Best VFX
Ed Bruce and Robert Hartigan – Kidding (USA)

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