At the Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTA) held in Dublin on Friday, the film Christy secured the top prize for Best Film and earned three additional honors. The event celebrated outstanding achievements in Irish and international cinema and television, with Emma Stone winning recognition among other notable actors, highlighting the prominence of the Emma Stone Irish Film Awards this year.
The ceremony also distinguished the film Hamnet as Best International Film, with several accolades in other categories including acting and screenplay. Brendan Canty, the director of Christy, received the award for Best Director. The night further saw acclaimed performers such as Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Leonardo DiCaprio, Éanna Hardwicke, and Kerry Condon honored for their acting achievements.
Leading Nominations and Award-Winning Productions
Christy, a boxing drama directed by David Michôd and starring Sydney Sweeney, led the nominations with 14 nods, followed by the soccer-themed drama Saipan, co-directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, which earned 12 nominations. Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, featuring Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley, received eight nominations, showcasing a competitive field across the categories.
In television, the drama series Blue Lights was named Best Drama Series, further emphasizing the strength of Irish television productions at the awards. The evening was hosted by actor and comedian Kevin McGahern, adding a lively presence to the awards presentation.
Lifetime Recognition for Ciarán Hinds
Veteran Irish actor Ciarán Hinds was honored with the Irish Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement. This accolade recognized his
“outstanding Irish and international acting achievements, and his contribution to the screen industry across 50 years,”
underscoring his enduring impact on film and television both in Ireland and abroad.
Full List of Winners in Film Categories
Best Film
Christy
Aontas
Blue Moon
Four Mothers
Saipan
Steve
Best Director – Film
Brendan Canty – Christy
Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn – Saipan
Myrid Carten – A Want in Her
Lorcan Finnegan – The Surfer
Ruán Magan – Báite
Edwin Mullane, Adam O’Keeffe – Horseshoe
Best Script – Film
Sarah Gordon, Damian McCann – Aontas
Maggie O’Farrell, Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Alan O’Gorman – Christy
Sheena Lambert – Báite
Darren Thornton, Colin Thornton – Four Mothers
Enda Walsh – Die My Love
Best Lead Actor – Film
Steve Coogan – Saipan
Daniel Day-Lewis – Anemone
Colin Farrell – Ballad of a Small Player
Éanna Hardwicke – Saipan
Cillian Murphy – Steve
Daniel Power – Christy
Best Lead Actress – Film
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Carolyn Bracken – Horseshoe
Carrie Crowley – Aontas
Fionnula Flanagan – Four Mothers
Eleanor O’Brien – Báite
Fiona Shaw – Hot Milk
Best Supporting Actor – Film
Liam Cunningham – Palestine 36
Jamie Forde – Christy
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Diarmuid Noyes – Christy
Seán T. Ó Meallaigh – Aontas
Andrew Scott – Blue Moon
Best Supporting Actress – Film
Brid Brennan – Aontas
Kerry Condon – F1
Sarah Greene – Trad
Dearbhla Molloy – Four Mothers
Kerry Condon – Train Dreams
Emma Willis – Christy
Television Category Winners and Key Contributors
Best Drama
Blue Lights
Leonard and Hungry Paul
Trespasses
The Walsh Sisters
Wednesday Season 2
The Young Offenders
Best Director – Drama
Rachel Carey – Obituary
Megan K Fox – Video Nasty
Oonagh Kearney – The Au Pair
Mia Mullarkey – Hidden Assets
Hugh O’Conor – Showkids
Aisling Walsh – Miss Austen
Best Script – Drama
Peter Foott – The Young Offenders
Ailbhe Keogan – Trespasses
Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson – Blue Lights
Cara Loftus – Hidden Assets
Stefanie Preissner – The Walsh Sisters
Hugh Travers – Video Nasty
Lead Actor – Drama
Anthony Boyle – House of Guinness
Pierce Brosnan – MobLand
Domhnall Gleeson – The Paper
Martin McCann – Blue Lights
Aaron Monaghan – Hidden Assets
Alex Murphy – The Young Offenders
Lead Actress – Drama
Niamh Algar – The Iris Affair
Caitriona Balfe – Outlander
Siobhán Cullen – Obituary
Louisa Harland – The Walsh Sisters
Nora-Jane Noone – Hidden Assets
Lola Petticrew – Trespasses
Supporting Actor – Drama
Jack Gleeson – House of Guinness
Cal O’Driscoll – Video Nasty
Dónall Ó Héalai – Hidden Assets
Fionn O’Shea – House of Guinness
Aidan Quinn – The Walsh Sisters
Chris Walley – The Young Offenders
Supporting Actress – Drama
Cathy Belton – Hidden Assets
Ruth Bradley – Slow Horses
Katherine Devlin – Blue Lights
Danielle Galligan – House of Guinness
Alison Oliver – Task
Genevieve O’Reilly – Andor
International Honors and Achievement in Craft
The international film category saw Hamnet drive much of the success, alongside other nominated films such as Bugonia and One Battle After Another. Leonardo DiCaprio earned the award for International Actor for his role in One Battle After Another, while Emma Stone was recognized for her performance in Bugonia, confirming her strong presence at the Emma Stone Irish Film Awards.
Craft awards celebrated achievements across cinematography, casting, costume design, editing, make-up and hair, original music, production design, and sound. Notable recipients included Robbie Ryan for cinematography on Bugonia, Colm Hogan for Christy, and Consolata Boyle for costume design on Blue Moon. Allyn Quigley took home editing honors for Christy, while Jennie Readman and Edwina Kelly were recognized for make-up and hair in the same film.
Significance and Outlook for Irish Film and Television
This year’s Irish Film & Television Awards underscored Ireland’s growing influence in global cinema and television, with a strong balance between local productions and international collaborations. The success of films like Christy and Hamnet alongside performances by stars such as Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone reflect an optimistic future for Irish storytelling on screen. As the industry continues to evolve, these awards highlight both a determination to honor tradition and an eager embrace of new talents and perspectives in filmmaking and television.
