Brendan Canty’s Christy, the hard-edged social realist tale from Cork, has scored a chart-topping 14 nominations for the upcoming Irish Film & Television Academy Awards (Iftas).
The well-reviewed title, which a year ago won top prize in the Generation 14plus category at Berlin International Film Festival, is up for best film, best director and, for its breakout star Daniel Power, best actor.
“Once in a lifetime you come across the right group of people,” Canty says of his young, often non-professional cast. “It’s something you can’t force.”
Just behind, in second place with 12 Ifta nominations, is Saipan, Lisa Barros D’sa and Glenn Leyburn’s study of the tensions between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy before the 2002 Fifa World Cup in Japan. Éanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan, who play, respectively, footballer and coach, compete against Canty in an unusually starry best-actor line-up: Daniel Day-Lewis for Anemone, Colin Farrell for Ballad of a Small Player, and Cillian Murphy for Steve complete the six nominations.
Jessie Buckley, unbackable favourite at the Oscars, will surely enter the Ifta best-actress race at even slimmer odds. The Kerry woman, star of the searing Hamnet, faces up against such veteran talents as Fiona Shaw, for Hot Milk, and Carrie Crowley, strong in the Irish-language Aontas, at the home derby.
Hamnet competes in best international film against fellow Oscar hopefuls such as One Battle After Another, Sinners and Sentimental Value.
“What a superb line-up of nominees this year,” Áine Moriarty, Ifta’s chief executive, says of the line-up, which honours Irish talent and Irish productions. “This incredible showcase of work reinforces the fact that Irish talent is truly amongst the best in the world, working both in front and behind the camera across the globe. We look forward to rewarding their work and achievements at the ceremony in February.”
There is also a strong showing for Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon. Largely shot in Dublin, and co-produced by Wild Atlantic Pictures, the film details the decline of Lorenz Hart, the legendary lyricist, as his former colleague Richard Rodgers, the composer, soaks up applause for the first night of Oklahoma! Andrew Scott, who plays Rodgers, competes against Paul Mescal, Buckley’s costar in Hamnet, in a tasty best-supporting-actor category.
[ Jessie Buckley profile: From TV talent show runner-up to Golden Globes winnerOpens in new window ]
In a slightly eccentric arrangement, the Iftas, now in their 23rd year, announce TV drama nominations on the same day as their film shortlists. Among the shows competing for best drama are the cop series Blue Lights, the Marian Keyes adaptation The Walsh Sisters and the Netflix comedy-horror romp Wednesday, which was shot in Ireland.
Ciarán Hinds, among the nation’s most admired actors, will receive this year’s lifetime-achievement award. “I am deeply grateful to Ifta for this recognition,” the Belfast man says. “Their support for the cinematic and televisual arts over the past 20 years and more has been immense, and I am truly honoured to receive it. Thank you.”
This year’s Ifta awards take place at Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Friday, February 20th. The comedian, actor and broadcaster Kevin McGahern returns as host.
Iftas 2026: Film nomineesBest filmAontasBlue MoonChristyFour MothersSaipanSteveDirector – filmLisa Barros D’sa, Glenn Leyburn – SaipanBrendan Canty – ChristyMyrid Carten – A Want in HerLorcan Finnegan – The SurferRuán Magan – BáiteEdwin Mullane, Adam O’Keeffe – HorseshoeScript – filmSarah Gordon, Damian McCann – AontasMaggie O’Farrell, Chloé Zhao – HamnetAlan O’Gorman – ChristySheena Lambert – BáiteDarren Thornton, Colin Thornton – Four MothersEnda Walsh – Die My LoveLead actor – filmSteve Coogan – SaipanDaniel Day-Lewis – AnemoneColin Farrell – Ballad of a Small PlayerÉanna Hardwicke – SaipanCillian Murphy – SteveDaniel Power – ChristyLead actress – filmJessie Buckley – HamnetCarolyn Bracken – HorseshoeCarrie Crowley – AontasFionnula Flanagan – Four MothersEleanor O’Brien – BáiteFiona Shaw – Hot MilkSupporting actor – filmLiam Cunningham – Palestine 36Jamie Forde – ChristyPaul Mescal – HamnetDiarmuid Noyes – ChristySeán T Ó Meallaigh – AontasAndrew Scott – Blue MoonSupporting actress – filmBrid Brennan – AontasKerry Condon – F1Sarah Greene – TradDearbhla Molloy – Four MothersKerry Condon – Train DreamsEmma Willis – ChristyIftas 20206: Drama nomineesBest dramaBlue LightsLeonard and Hungry PaulTrespassesThe Walsh SistersWednesday The Young OffendersDirector – dramaRachel Carey – ObituaryMegan K Fox – Video NastyOonagh Kearney – The Au PairMia Mullarkey – Hidden AssetsHugh O’Conor – ShowkidsAisling Walsh – Miss AustenScript – dramaPeter Foott – The Young OffendersAilbhe Keogan – TrespassesDeclan Lawn, Adam Patterson – Blue LightsCara Loftus – Hidden AssetsStefanie Preissner – The Walsh SistersHugh Travers – Video NastyLead actor – dramaAnthony Boyle – House of GuinnessPierce Brosnan – MobLandDomhnall Gleeson – The PaperMartin McCann – Blue LightsAaron Monaghan – Hidden AssetsAlex Murphy – The Young OffendersLead actress – dramaNiamh Algar – The Iris AffairCaitríona Balfe – OutlanderSiobhán Cullen – ObituaryLouisa Harland – The Walsh SistersNora-Jane Noone – Hidden AssetsLola Petticrew – TrespassesSupporting actor – dramaJack Gleeson – House of GuinnessCal O’Driscoll – Video NastyDónall Ó Héalai – Hidden AssetsFionn O’Shea – House of GuinnessAidan Quinn – The Walsh SistersChris Walley – The Young OffendersSupporting actress – dramaCathy Belton – Hidden AssetsRuth Bradley – Slow HorsesKatherine Devlin – Blue LightsDanielle Galligan – House of GuinnessAlison Oliver – TaskGenevieve O’Reilly – AndorIftas 2026: International nominees International filmBugoniaHamnetOne Battle After AnotherPalestine ’36Sentimental ValueSinnersInternational actorLeonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After AnotherEthan Hawke – Blue MoonMichael B Jordan – SinnersJames McArdle – Four MothersSean Penn – One Battle After AnotherJesse Plemons – BugoniaInternational actressChase Infiniti – One Battle After AnotherJennifer Lawrence – Die My LoveMargaret Qualley – Blue MoonRenate Reinsve – Sentimental ValueEmma Stone – BugoniaTeyana Taylor – One Battle After AnotherIftas 2026: Documentary and short-film nomineesGeorge Morrison feature documentaryA Want in HerThe Essence of EvaListen To The Land SpeakSanatoriumTestimonyÚtoipe CheilteachRedbreast short film awardThe BanNo Mean CityNo Time WastersNostalgiePuntThree KeeningsAnimated shortÉiruInside, The Valley SingsRerootedRetirement PlanIftas 2026: Craft nomineesCinematographyBugonia – Robbie RyanChristy – Colm HoganDie My Love – Seamus McGarveySaipan – Piers McGrailSeverance – Suzie LavelleCastingChristy – Amy RowanFour Mothers – Louise KielyThe Rainmaker – Emma GunneryReady Or Not – Maureen HughesSaipan – Aine O’SullivanCostume designBlue Moon – Consolata BoyleChristy – Hannah BuryFour Mothers – Joan O’ClearySaipan – Lara CampbellVideo Nasty – Joanne O’BrienEditingBlue Lights – Helen SheridanChristy – Allyn QuigleyHouse of Guinness – Ben YeatesSaipan – John Murphy, Gavin BuckleyThe Surfer – Tony CranstounSculpted by Aimee make-up and hairBlue Moon – Linda Gannon, Liz ByrneChristy – Jennie Readman, Edwina KellySaipan – Polly McKayTrespasses – Natalie ReidWednesday – Lynn JohnstonOriginal musicAontas – Daithí Ó DrónaíBáite – Eimear Noone, Craig Stuart GarfinkleChristy – Daithí Ó DrónaíSaipan – David Holmes, Brian IrvineVideo Nasty – Die HexenProduction designBlue Moon – Susie Cullen, Kevin DowneyChristy – Martin GouldingSaipan – John LeslieWednesday – Philip Murphy, Neville GaynorVideo Nasty – Tara O’ReillySoundAnemone – Steve FanaganBlue Moon – Hugh FoxSaipan – Tim Harrison, Andrew Graham, Paul MaynesThe Surfer – Aza HandVideo Nasty – Patrick DowneyVFXAnemone – Tom FaganFoundation – Ed Bruce, Andrew BarryHouse of Guinness – Eoin O’Sullivan, David SewellOne Battle After Another – Ed Bruce, Amrei Bronnenmayer