THE IFTA AWARDS 2020

VIRGIN MEDIA ONE

10PM, SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER

The Irish Film and Television Academy is delighted to announce that the 2020 IFTA Awards (Film & Drama), will be broadcast on Virgin Media One, at 10pm on Sunday  October 18^th,  with an line-up of Hollywood Guests to present the coveted Irish Academy award to Ireland’s leading screen talents across Film and Drama. 

Taking place in a unique studio setting, the Ceremony will bring the the world of Film & Drama into our livingrooms with a stellar line-up of A list stars presenting Awards and delivering some very special messages to Ireland.  

Renowned Hollywood Director, Martin Scorsese, will present the Best Irish Film award on the night.  The revered Film Director previously delivered an IFTA Masterclass in Dublin with over 500 Irish Academy filmmakers in attendance to hear from the master and receive advice from one of the most influential and renowned Directors of all time.

He will be joined on the Show by a superb lineup of guest presenters that include Liam Neeson, Ruth Negga, Pierce Brosnan, Chris O’Dowd, Caitriona Balfe among many more. 

The full line up of international stars will be announced next week.

Normal People stars, Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones will reunite on screen for the occasion, with a special message and to help showcase this year’s Irish Nominees. On hand too will be the wild and fun-loving Derry Girls lending their unique brand of support and presenting an award. 

Star Wars leading lady Daisy Ridley will be among the presenters on the Awards Show. Ridley fell in love with Ireland while filming the epic Star Wars Irish location scenes in the worldwide Sci-Fi phenomenon in recent years and is excited to have a chance to say hello to her Irish friends again.

The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, will also give of his time to support the Academy and Ireland’s community of filmmakers and craftspeople.  The President will give a special presentation for the Academy and the Nominees on the night.

This Show promises to be a great night of entertainment, with lots of surprises and funny moments too with Deirdre O’Kane at the helm who will act as the Host for the fourth time, bringing her hilarious brand of comedy to proceedings and engaging with the Award Winners as they receive their news LIVE-ON-SCREEN that they’ve won the Irish Academy Award.    

Nominees in the running this year include Andrew Scott, Jessie Buckley, Barry Keoghan, Saoirse Ronan, Brendan Gleeson, Niamh Algar, Tom Vaughan Lawlor, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, Sarah Green, Cillian Murphy, Ruth Negga, Moe Dunford, Caitriona Balfe, Adrian Dunbar, Bronagh Gallagher, Chris O’Dowd, Fiona Shaw, Stephen Rea, Seana Kerslake, Mark O’Halloran, Ruth Bradley, Dara Devaney, Charlie Murphy, Dónall Ó Héalai;, Catherine Walker, Liam Neeson, Emily Taaffe, Lorcan Cranitch, Ann Skelly, Owen McDonnell, Ingrid Craigie, Cillian O’ Gairbhí, Helen Behan among many others. 

IFTA Chief Executive, Áine Moriarty said:

“ We are thrilled to bring this amazing group of talented people onto the show virtually from around the world, to celebrate with our 2020 IFTA Nominees.  It’s been a difficult year, but it’s so important to acknowledge these achievements and to showcase Ireland’s vibrant filmmaking community and the brilliant work they are delivering to audiences around the world” 

Bill Malone, Virgin Media Television’s Director of Content, said:

“Virgin Media Television are passionate about supporting and championing Irish creative talent and the Virtual IFTA Awards provide a great opportunity to showcase the great work being achieved by Irish talent across the world.”

Ireland’s Film and Drama sector has consistently delivered top-notch work to audiences in Ireland and around the world.  Films up for the coveted IFTA Award this year include the Famine drama Arracht, The Roddy Doyle-scripted Rosie, The hilarious supernatural comedy Extra Ordinary, starring Maeve Higgins and Will Forte,  The thrilling tv drama Blood, Horror smash hit The Hole in the Ground, the Michael Fassbender-produced and Barry Keoghan-starring Calm with Horses, Ordinary Love starring Liam Neeson and Leslie Manville, hit detective series Dublin Murders, and Ireland’s hugely successful first famine film Black '47 alongside many, many more.

View the full list of Nominations here.

Press Queries

For all press enquiries please contact: Julianne Galvin at Kennedy PR + Brand jgalvin@kennedyprandbrand.ie/ 086 065 8086.

Interview requests with nominees (which will be facilitated where possible).

press@ifta.ie