2025 IFTA Nominations Announced

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) proudly unveils the nominations for the 2025 IFTA Awards, honouring exceptional achievements in Film and Drama across 29 categories. Culminating months of dedicated viewing and deliberation by Academy Members and expert juries, this year's nominees reflect Ireland's unparalleled storytelling on the global stage. Deloitte serves as the official vote scrutineer.

Award winners will be announced at the 22nd anniversary IFTA Awards Ceremony taking place on Friday, February 14th, 2025 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. This prestigious event will welcome Irish and international industry luminaries, celebrating artistic and technical brilliance while spotlighting the profound impact of Irish filmmaking craft and storytelling both domestically and globally. This year, iconic actor Colm Meaney will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to cinema and television. 

 

 Academy CEO, Áine Moriarty said: 

“The 2025 Nominees shortlisted for Irish Academy Awards this year, is an incredible showcase of work that reinforces the fact that Irish talent is now amongst the best in the world, delivering such high standards of filmmaking, storytelling and performances that resonate with audiences worldwide.  The Irish Academy is proud to showcase their great work and reward their achievements. Congratulations to all the Nominees - so well deserved!”

 

IRISH ACADEMY AWARDS - NOMINATIONS 2025

 

BEST FILM NOMINEES 2025

The six films nominated for Best Film reflect the breadth of Irish storytelling. Kathleen Is Here delivers a poignant exploration of identity and resilience as a foster care survivor seeks belonging. King Frankie reflects on the highs and lows of the Celtic Tiger era, through the bittersweet lens of a reflective taxi driver. Kneecap captures the rebellious rise of a Belfast rap trio, blending cultural defiance with vibrant storytelling while championing the Irish language as a powerful symbol of identity. The haunting Small Things Like These, adapted from Claire Keegan’s novella, unravels a small-town’s secrets with atmospheric intensity. Spilt Milk follows a young boy’s detective journey through Dublin’s urban labyrinth, weaving innocence and grit. Finally, The Apprentice offers a sharp portrait of ambition, chronicling a young Donald Trump’s rise in the high-stakes world of 1980s New York.

 

BEST DRAMA NOMINEES 2025

This year’s Best Drama nominees exemplify Ireland’s strength in creating television that captivates audiences worldwide. Bad Sisters returns with sharp wit and emotional depth, as the Garvey sisters face new familial challenges. Blue Lights paints a vivid and intense portrait of Northern Ireland policing, capturing both duty and humanity. Bodkin innovates the true-crime genre, blending investigative drama with haunting Irish folklore. Crá mesmerizes with its atmospheric murder mystery, where a bog body unveils rural secrets. Say Nothing provides a gripping portrayal of The Troubles, weaving personal tragedy with historical insight. Finally, The Dry balances heartbreak and humor as one Dublin woman navigates sobriety amid family chaos.

 

ACTING CATEGORIES

The Lead Actor in Film category showcases superb Irish talent, with Peter Coonan (King Frankie), Paul Mescal (Gladiator II), and Cillian Murphy (Small Things Like These) joined by the three leading men of Kneecap: J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and Naoise Ó Caireallain. (see all Actor categories below)

The Lead Actress in Film nominees are equally impressive, featuring Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters), Hazel Doupe (Kathleen Is Here), Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun), Eileen Walsh (Small Things Like These), and Alisha Weir (Abigail) (see all Actress categories below)

In Drama, standout Lead Actor nominees include Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing), Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Michael Fassbender (The Agency), Ciarán Hinds (The Dry), Andrew Scott (Ripley), and Aidan Turner (Rivals) (see all Actor categories below) 

 

For Lead Actress in a Drama, standout nominee performances include Elaine Cassidy (Sanctuary), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Siobhán Cullen (Bodkin), Roisin Gallagher (The Dry), Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), and Lola Petticrew (Say Nothing). (see all Actress categories below)

 

FIRST-TIME ACTING NOMINEES

This year sees eight first-time IFTA nominees, including Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing, Masters of the Air); Fionnuala Flaherty, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Caireallain, J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, and Jessica Reynolds (Kneecap); Brían F. O'Byrne (Conclave); and Steve Wall (Oddity).

 

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

Outstanding directors in Film include debut director Eva Birthistle (Kathleen Is Her), John Crowley (We Live in Time), Brian Durnin (Spilt Milk), Damian McCarthy (Oddity), Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor (Baltimore), and Rich Peppiatt (Kneecap). In Drama, Paddy Breathnach (The Dry), Brian Kirk (The Day of the Jackal), Michael Lennox (Say Nothing), Lisa Mulcahy (Sanctuary), Hannah Quinn (The Boy That Never Was), and Dearbhla Walsh (Bad Sisters).

 

CASTING

2025 marks the inaugural year of IFTA’s Casting Award, recognising the pivotal role of casting directors. Nominees include Lucy Amos and Nina Gold (Say Nothing), Emma Gunnery (Baltimore), Maureen Hughes (Small Things Like These), Louise Kiely (Bodkin), and Carla Stronge (Kneecap). The craft categories also recognize achievements in Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, Sound, and Original Music, showcasing the collaborative artistry behind every frame.

The 22nd anniversary IFTA Awards Ceremony takes place on Friday, February 14th at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Full details of the upcoming IFTA Awards Ceremony on February 14th, will soon be announced including Ceremony Host, Guest Presenters, Rising Star nominees, and international guests.

 

The Irish Academy Awards are funded by Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán.

 

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

FILM CATEGORIES

BEST FILM

Kathleen Is Here

King Frankie

Kneecap

Small Things Like These

Spilt Milk

The Apprentice

 

DIRECTOR - FILM

Eva Birthistle - Kathleen Is Here

John Crowley - We Live in Time

Brian Durnin - Spilt Milk

Damian McCarthy - Oddity

Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor - Baltimore

Rich Peppiatt-  Kneecap

 

SCRIPT - FILM

Eva Birthistle - Kathleen Is Here

Cara Loftus - Spilt Milk

Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor - Baltimore

Rich Peppiatt - Kneecap

Stephen Shields - Abigail

Enda Walsh - Small Things Like These

 

LEAD ACTOR - FILM

Peter Coonan - King Frankie

Paul Mescal - Gladiator II

Cillian Murphy - Small Things Like These

Naoise Ó Caireallain - Kneecap

J.J. Ó Dochartaigh - Kneecap

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh - Kneecap

 

LEAD ACTRESS - FILM

Carolyn Bracken - Oddity

Jessie Buckley - Wicked Little Letters

Hazel Doupe - Kathleen Is Here

Saoirse Ronan - The Outrun

Eileen Walsh - Small Things Like These

Alisha Weir - Abigail

 

SUPPORTING ACTOR -  FILM

Peter Coonan - Kathleen Is Here

Michael Fassbender - Kneecap

Barry Keoghan - Bird

Brían F. O'Byrne - Conclave

Tom Vaughan-Lawlor - Baltimore

Steve Wall - Oddity

 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS - FILM

Zara Devlin - Small Things Like These

Clare Dunne - Kathleen Is Here

Fionnuala Flaherty - Kneecap

Simone Kirby - Kneecap

Saoirse Ronan - Blitz

Jessica Reynolds - Kneecap

 

DRAMA CATEGORIES

BEST DRAMA

Bad Sisters

Say Nothing

The Dry

Bodkin

Blue Lights

Crá

 

DIRECTOR - DRAMA

Paddy Breathnach - The Dry

Brian Kirk - The Day of the Jackal

Michael Lennox - Say Nothing

Lisa Mulcahy - Sanctuary

Hannah Quinn - The Boy That Never Was

Dearbhla Walsh - Bad Sisters

 

SCRIPT - DRAMA

Baz Ashmawy - Faithless

Ronan Bennett - The Day of the Jackal

Nancy Harris - The Dry

Sharon Horgan - Bad Sisters

Adam Patterson, Declan Lawn - Blue Lights

Kirsten Sheridan, Joshua Zetumer - Say Nothing

 

LEAD ACTOR - DRAMA

Anthony Boyle - Say Nothing

Colin Farrell - The Penguin

Michael Fassbender - The Agency

Ciarán Hinds - The Dry

Andrew Scott - Ripley

Aidan Turner - Rivals

 

LEAD ACTRESS - DRAMA

Elaine Cassidy - Sanctuary

Nicola Coughlan - Bridgerton

Siobhán Cullen - Bodkin

Roisin Gallagher-  The Dry

Sharon Horgan - Bad Sisters

Lola Petticrew - Say Nothing

 

SUPPORTING ACTOR - DRAMA

Anthony Boyle - Masters of the Air

Liam Cunningham - 3 Body Problem

Michael Smiley - Bad Sisters

Tom Vaughan-Lawlor - Say Nothing

Chris Walley - Bodkin

David Wilmot - Bodkin

 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS - DRAMA

Siobhán Cullen - The Dry

Hazel Doupe - Say Nothing

Eve Hewson - Bad Sisters

Ruth Negga - Presumed Innocent

Fiona Shaw - Bad Sisters

Victoria Smurfit  - Rivals

 

INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARD CATEGORIES 

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

Anora

Conclave

Dune Part Two

The Brutalist

The Outrun

The Substance

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR

Adrien Brody - The Brutalist

Timothee Chalamet - A Complete Unknown

Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain

Ralph Fiennes - Conclave

Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice

Denzel Washington - Gladiator II

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS

Cynthia Erivo - Wicked

Angelina Jolie - Maria

Mikey Madison - Anora

Demi Moore - The Substance

Florence Pugh - We Live in Time

Emily Watson - Small Things Like These

 

OTHER AWARD CATEGORIES

GEORGE MORRISON FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

Face Down: The Disappearance of Thomas Niedermayer

Don't Forget to Remember

Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story

The Flats

Mrs Robinson

Brendan Gleeson's Farewell to Hughes's

 

LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM

Clodagh

Farmers!?

Room Taken

Turnaround

Two Mothers

We Beg to Differ

Wife of the Future

Wrecker

 

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

Dembaya

Every Other Weekend

Homebird

Nightpay

CRAFT CATEGORIES

CASTING

Baltimore - Emma Gunnery

Bodkin - Louise Kiely 

Kneecap - Carla Stronge 

Say Nothing - Lucy Amos, Nina Gold 

Small Things Like These - Maureen Hughes 

 

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Bird - Robbie Ryan 

Fréwaka - Narayan Van Maele 

Kneecap - Ryan Kernaghan 

Say Nothing - Stephen Murphy 

The Penguin - Darran Tiernan

 

COSTUME DESIGN

Abigail - Gwen Jeffares Hourie 

House of the Dragon - Caroline McCall 

Kneecap - Zjena Glamocanin 

Spilt Milk - Gwen Jeffares Hourie 

Vikings Valhalla - Susan O'Connor-Cave 

 

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Abigail - Susie Cullen 

Bodkin - Paki Smith 

Kneecap - Nicola Moroney 

The Tourist - Philip Murphy 

Vikings Valhalla - Tom Conroy 

 

HAIR & MAKE-UP

Abigail - Linda Gannon, Liz Byrne 

Kneecap - Liz Boston 

Small Things Like These - Lorraine Glynn, Lynn Johnston 

The Apprentice - Sandra Kelly, Tom McInerney

Vikings Valhalla - Joe Whelan, Tom McInerney 

 

SOUND

Abigail - Hugh Fox 

Blackshore - John 'Bob' Brennan, Mark Henry, Fionan Higgins 

Kneecap - Aza Hand, Brendan Rehill, Chris Woodcock 

Oddity - Aza Hand, Hugo Parvery 

Small Things Like These - Hugh Fox, Senjan Jansen 

 

ORIGINAL MUSIC

Fréwaka - Die Hexen 

The Apprentice - David Holmes 

The Dry - Sarah Lynch 

The Magic Reindeer: Saving Santa's Sleigh - Eimear Noone, Craig Stuart Garfinkle 

The Song Cycle - Ray Harman 

 

EDITING

Bad Sisters - Derek Holland 

Kathleen Is Here - Colin Campbell

Kneecap - Julian Ulrichs & Chris Gill 

Paddington in Peru - Úna Ní Dhonghaíle

Say Nothing - Edel McDonnell 

 

VFX

3 Body Problem - Ed Bruce, Liam Neville

Bodkin - John Kennedy, Lisa Maher

Sanctuary - Dan Cullen

Shögun - Ed Bruce, Andrew Barry