Screen Ireland - IFTA Rising Star Award Nominees Announced for 2025 ahead of February 14th Ceremony

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland are delighted to announce the 2025 Screen Ireland - IFTA Rising Star Nominees with the winner to be announced at the 2025 IFTA Awards Ceremony on Friday, February 14th.

Selected by a special jury and sponsored by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, this Rising Star Award is a unique IFTA Award, in that it puts an international spotlight on Irish professionals who have honed their craft in their formative years and have excelled in their respective fields. The nominees this year are at the vanguard of the next wave of Irish Screen Talent, whose incredible work will keep Ireland at the forefront of the global screen industries.

Ireland has enjoyed another exceptional year in terms of film and television production with screen professionals creating and producing world-class stories that have engaged audiences around the globe. 

Previous winners of the Rising Star Award include Saoirse Ronan, Michael Fassbender, Nicola Coughlan, Domhnall Gleeson, Siobhán Cullen, Jamie Dornan, Sarah Greene, Aoife McArdle, Colm Bairéad, Aisling Franciosi, John Michael McDonagh, Gerard Barrett, Stephen Fingleton, Tomm Moore, Patrick Gibson, Jacob McCarthy; all of whom have gone on to garner recognition and accolades both in Ireland and internationally.

The Nominees for the 2025 Screen Ireland - IFTA Rising Star Award are:

Anthony Boyle (Actor - Say Nothing, Masters of the Air, House of Guinness, Manhunt)

Aislinn Clarke (Writer/Director - Fréwaka, The Devil’s Doorway, Eye Exam)

Clinton Liberty (Actor - House of the Dragon, Holding, Red Election, Normal People)

Alisha Weir (Actor - Abigail, Wicked Little Letters, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical)

Speaking about the 2025 Rising Stars:

Áine Moriarty, Chief Executive of the Irish Film and Television Academy, said:

“These four hugely talented Rising Stars represent the new wave of Irish professionals who are leading our homegrown industry on the world stage. This prestigious Award has recognised many great Irish talents at this early stage, and we hope this recognition will bolster the careers of these four skillful artists, spotlighting the next phase of their creative journeys internationally. Congratulations to each of them.”

Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said: 

“Our sincere congratulations to the 2025 IFTA Rising Star Award nominees announced today.

Screen Ireland is proud to sponsor this award as part of the agency’s work supporting new and established talent across the industry, and we look forward to seeing each of the nominees' work as they move into the next stage of their careers.”

THE SCREEN IRELAND - IFTA RISING STAR NOMINEES 2025

Anthony Boyle (Actor - Say Nothing, Masters of the Air, House of Guinness, Manhunt)

Anthony Boyle was born in Belfast, and graduated from the Royal West College of Music and Drama in Cardiff in 2016. Shortly after graduating, he appeared in films including The Lost City of Z, The Journey and Tolkien. Since then, he has starred in major international TV series including FX’s Say Nothing, Steven Spielberg-produced Masters of the Air for Apple TV+, as well as Apple’s thriller Manhunt. He has also appeared in Derry Girls, The Plot Against America, Shardlake and Patrick Melrose, and will play Arthur Guinness in the upcoming House of Guinness for Netflix. He has won an Olivier Award, and been Tony Award nominated, for his role in stage productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Anthony said:

"I'm very happy to be nominated for the IFTA Rising Star. It means a lot to be included in such a great year for irish film and TV”

Aislinn Clarke (Writer/Director - Fréwaka, The Devil’s Doorway, Eye Exam)

Aislinn Clarke was born in Dundalk and moved to Northern Ireland as a teenager. Her debut horror feature The Devil’s Doorway was released in 2018 and played at numerous international horror festivals, and was released by IFC in the US. She followed it up last year with Irish language horror Fréwaka, starring Clare Monnelly and Bríd Ní Neachtain, which had its World Premiere at Locarno Film Festival and has received two IFTA Nominations. Aislinn is a previous Bingham Ray New Talent nominee at Galway Film Fleadh, and was recognised last year by Variety as one of ‘Ireland’s Rising Stars Behind the Camera’, and she currently has projects in development with Paramount and Studiocanal. Her acclaimed short films include Childer and Eye Exam.

Aislinn said:

“It’s such an honour to be nominated for the IFTA Rising Star Award, which over the years has included so many of Ireland’s greatest talents. Is mór an onóir é a bheith san áireamh sa líon sin. Go raibh míle maith agaibh!”

Clinton Liberty (Actor - House of the Dragon, Holding, Red Election, Normal People)

Clinton Liberty grew up in Laytown, Co. Meath, and graduated in acting from The Lir Academy in 2019. He made his screen debut in 2016’s Handsome Devil, and appeared in 5 episodes of Normal People in 2020. He followed that role with major parts in Irish/Swedish drama Red Election in 2021 and Holding in 2022, based on Graham Norton’s novel and co-starring Conleth Hill and Siobhán McSweeney. In 2024, he began starring as Addam of Hull in the second season of HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon.

Clinton said:

“I’m delighted to be nominated for this Rising Star award, it’s so lovely to be recognised within the industry I love, for work I’m so proud of. I was in my trailer on a new project when I received the news, and the first person I told was my Mum! Excited to celebrate a great year in Irish film and TV on 14th Feb!”

Alisha Weir (Actor - Abigail, Wicked Little Letters, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical)

Alisha Weir, born in Dublin, has already grown a major international fanbase by the age of 15, breaking out in 2022 with the lead role in Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical. She began her career on stage in Once at the Olympia Theatre and performed on The Late Late Toy Show in 2017, which brought her to national prominence. She received her first IFTA nomination in 2023 for her role as Matilda, and has received her second Lead Actress nomination this year, starring as the titular vampire in Abigail, written by Irish screenwriter Stephen Shields and co-produced by Wild Atlantic Pictures. She has also starred in Wicked Little Letters opposite Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman, and will next appear in the animated film The Land of Sometimes with Ewan McGregor and Helena Bonham Carter.

Alisha said:

“WOW, I am absolutely over the moon to be shortlisted for 2025's Rising Star Award. I am currently studying for my upcoming Junior Cert Mock Exams when my mam came flying in to tell me the great news; my dad and my two sisters were so excited for me when I told them. I am absolutely thrilled and so thankful to be shortlisted. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had so far and I can't wait to continue learning, growing and contributing to the amazing film industry and I can't wait to see where this journey takes me.  Thank you so much Screen Ireland and IFTA for this recognition.  I look forward to seeing you all on the 14th February.”

The 2025 IFTA Awards Ceremony takes place on Friday, February 14th at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Further details of the upcoming IFTA Awards Ceremony on February 14th will soon be announced. The Irish Academy Awards are funded by Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán.