10/05/2023 - Meanwhile, the prize for Best International Feature went to All Quiet on the Western Front, whilst Nothing Compares snagged the George Morrison Feature Documentary Award

The winners of this year’s Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTA) were revealed at a gala event in Dublin on Sunday 7 May.

The 2023 edition of the gathering celebrating Irish and Northern Irish creativity in film and drama series has seen the triumph of one of this year’s hits, namely Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Ireland/UK/USA), crowned Best Film and recipient of the awards for Best Actor in a Supporting role (Brendan Gleeson) and Best Actress in a Supporting role (Kerry Condon).

World-premiered in the main competition of the 2022 Venice Film Festival, the film toplined by Colin Farrell follows two lifelong friends. Padraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson) find themselves at an impasse when Colm abruptly decides to end their friendship. With the support of his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon), who along with the local policeman’s son Dominic (Barry Keoghan), has her own qualms within the small island community, a confused and devastated Padraic attempts to reignite their relationship. But when Colm delivers a shocking ultimatum in order to crystallise his intention, events start to escalate to fractious heights. The picture received nine nominations at the 2023 Academy Awards and eight at the Golden Globes.

The second big winner of this year’s edition was certainly Aisha [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. The Irish drama helmed by Frank Berry snagged the prizes for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Production Design. The film charts the experiences of the eponymous young Nigerian woman as she seeks international protection in Ireland, and stars Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor in the leading roles.

Finally, Edward Berger’s epic anti-war drama All Quiet on the Western Front [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Edward Berger
film profile] (USA/Germany) scooped the prize for Best International Feature, whilst Kathryn Ferguson’s Sinéad O'Connor-focused Nothing Compares [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] won the George Morrison Documentary Award.

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

Best Film
The Banshees of Inisherin [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Martin McDonagh (Ireland/UK/USA)

Best Director — Film
Frank Berry – Aisha [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Ireland)

Best Actor in a Lead Role – Film
Paul Mescal – Aftersun [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (UK/USA)

Best Actress in a Lead Role – Film
Bríd Ní Neachtain – Róise & Frank (Ireland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Film
Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Film
Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin

George Morrison Feature Documentary Award
Nothing Compares [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Kathryn Ferguson (UK/Ireland)

Best Screenplay — Film:
Frank Berry – Aisha

Best International Film
All Quiet on the Western Front [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Edward Berger
film profile] – Edward Berger (USA/Germany)

Best International Actor
Austin Butler – Elvis (USA)

Best International Actress
Cate Blanchett – Tár (USA/Germany)

Best TV Drama
Bad Sisters (Ireland)

Director TV Drama
Dearbhla Walsh – Bad Sisters

Best Actor in a Lead Role – TV Drama
Stephen Rea – The English (UK/USA)

Best Actress in a Lead Role – TV Drama
Sharon Horgan – Bad Sisters

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – TV Drama
Ciarán Hinds – The Dry (Ireland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – TV Drama
Ann Marie Duff – Bad Sisters

Best Screenplay – TV Drama
Lisa McGee – Derry Girls (UK/USA)

Best Hair & Make-Up
Joe Whelan, Tom McInerney – Vikings: Valhalla (Canada/Ireland)

Best Cinematography
Piers McGrail – It Is In Us All [+see also:
film review
interview: Antonia Campbell-Hughes
film profile] (UK/Ireland)

Best Editing
Jonathan Redmond, Matt Villa – Elvis

Best Production Design
Tamara Conboy – Aisha

Best Sound
Aza Hand, Alan Scully, Adrian Conway – The Sparrow (Ireland)

Best Original Score
Sarah Lynch – The Dry

Best Costume Design
Consolata Boyle – Enola Holmes 2 (UK/USA)

Best VFX
Donal Nolan – The Woman King (USA)

Best Live Action Short
An Irish Goodbye – Tom Berkeley, Ross White (UK)

Best Animated Short
Soft Tissue – Cliona Noonan (Ireland)

Screen Ireland Rising Star – 2023
Aoife McArdle

The Irish Academy’s Industry Lifetime Achievement Award
Joan Bergin