The winners have been announced for the 2016 Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Film and Drama Awards.
Big winners on the night were Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, which won 7 awards, Best Film, Director Film, Script Film, Editing, Music, International Actress for Brie Larson, and Sound; and TG4’s An Klondike, which won 4 awards, Best Drama, Lead Actor Drama, Hair & Make-Up, and Script Drama.
Oscar nominees Saoirse Ronan and Michael Fassbender picked up Best Actress Film and Best Actor Film respectively, while Ruth Bradley won Best Actress Drama fro Rebellion and Dara Devaney won Best Actor Drama for An Klondike.
Surprise of the night went to Ken Wardrop’s Mom and Me, which beat out the heavily-favoured The Queen of Ireland and Older Than Ireland to pick up the George Morrison Feature Documentary award.
The event was hosted by Chief Executive of the Irish Film and Television Academy, Áine Moriarty, who congratulated all winners and nominees working in the Irish film and drama industry. These include directors, writers, actors and filmmakers whose work was showcased throughout the evening. The IFTA Awards are the highlight of Ireland’s film and drama calendar and they celebrate the very best of Irish screen talent across film and television.
Oscar nominated actor Liam Neeson was in Dublin to receive the IFTA Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award – recognition for his celebrated 30 year career in cinema. Neeson was presented the award by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, with tributes flowing in for Liam from Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg amongst others.
Distinguished actress, producer and humanitarian Roma Downey also received the Irish Diaspora Award presented to her by musician and fellow humanitarian Bob Geldof. The award is presented by the Academy in partnership with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs within the Department of an Taoiseach. Tributes paid to Downey – best known for playing Monica in Touched By An Angel and for producing epic mini-series The Bible (watched by over 100 million people) as well as for her humanitarian work – includes US Television Presenter Regis Philbin and actor Jack Huston.
The annual Awards Ceremony took place at the Round Room of the Mansion House on Saturday 9th April 2016. The Ceremony and Red Carpet will be broadcast primetime on TV3 on Sunday, April 10th.
Full list of winners:
Best Film
Room
Actor in a Lead Role Film
Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
Actress in a Lead Role Film
Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
Actor in a Supporting Role Film
Jack Reynor – Sing Street
Actress in a Supporting Role Film
Jane Brennan – Brooklyn
Director Film
Lenny Abrahamson –Room
Script Film
Emma Donoghue – Room
George Morrison Feature Documentary
Mom and Me – Ken Wardrop
Short Film
Stutterer – Benjamin Cleary
Animation
Geist – Daniel Spencera
Drama
An Klondike
Actor in a Lead Role in Drama
Dara Devaney – An Klondike
Actress in a Lead Role Drama
Ruth Bradley – Rebellion
Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama
Moe Dunford – Vikings
Actress in a Supporting Role in Drama
Sarah Greene – Penny Dreadful
Director Drama
Neasa Hardiman – Happy Valley
Script Drama
Marcus Fleming – An Klondike
Cinematography
Cathal Watters– Viva
Editing
Nathan Nugent – Room
Production Design
Tom Conroy – Legend
Costume Design
Joan Bergin – Vikings
Make-Up & Hair Sponsored By M.A.C
An Klondike
Original Music
Stephen Rennicks – Room
Sound
Room
VFX
The Frankenstein Chronicles
Rising Star
Stephen Fingleton
International Film
Spotlight
International Actor
Leonardo Di Caprio – The Revenant
International Actress
Brie Larson – Room