The traditional awards ceremony of the Irish Film and Television Academy was broadcast last night on Virgin Media One, hosted by Deirdre O’Kane.

After a one-year break and the subsequent reorganisation process that brought the body to approve a five-year strategic development plan for the period 2020-2024, the prestigious event was finally back and ready to award, as a one-time exception, the best productions and talents of the entire 2019/2020 season. In detail, this edition saw the triumph of Lisa Barros D’Sa romantic drama Ordinary Love [+leggi anche:
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Both accolades were handed out by legendary director Martin Scorsese. Speaking about the difficult times we live in, Scorsese said: “Little did we know what strange times lay ahead that we are witnessing now, and it appears to me that we are all having to reinvent cinema now, and that’s a good thing, it is. Because now, more than ever, we need the moving image. We need vision, creativity and storytelling that takes us on a journey and opens us, enlightens us, opens our hearts and our minds, and there’s something about Ireland and Irish storytelling that is universal, that connects with everyone in the world. John Ford knew that, and I know that.”

Other big victors were thesps Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (recipient of the prize for the best actor in a film), Andrew Scott (best leading actor in a drama for his role in Black Mirror’s episode Smithereens), Aisling Franciosi (this year’s Rising Star for her performance in The Nightingale), Niamh Algar (best actress in a drama and best supporting actress in a film) and Jessie Buckley (winner of the prizes for the best leading actress in a film for Wild Rose [+leggi anche:
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Moreover, Liam Neeson shared a special message to the Irish screen industries and said: “I’m thinking of you all back home right now, and I know we are going through hard times, cruel times. Many industries have been hurt, especially the film industry, but we will get through it; we must get through it. As a famous politician once said, ‘when you’re going through hell, keep going’. To all our filmmakers, young actors and actresses: try and stay strong, stay creative. The work will come back again, and tonight we are going to celebrate how cool and how great a film industry we have in Ireland.”

The next edition will take place in April 2021.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

Best 2020 Film
Ordinary Love [+leggi anche:
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Best 2019 Film
Black ’47 [+leggi anche:
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Best Film Director
Paddy Breathnach – Rosie [+leggi anche:
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Best Screenwriter (Film)
Mark O’Halloran – Rialto [+leggi anche:
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Best Actor in a Leading Role (Film)
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor – Rialto

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Film)
Jessie Buckley – Wild Rose [+leggi anche:
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Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Film)
David Wilmot – Ordinary Love

Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Film)
Niamh Algar – Calm with Horses [+leggi anche:
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George Morrison Feature Documentary Award
The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid [+leggi anche:
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Screen Ireland Rising Star
Aisling Franciosi – The Nightingale (Australia)

Best Short Film (Live Action)
Welcome to a Bright White Limbo – Cara Holmes (Ireland)

Best Animated Short
The Dream Report – Jack O’Shea (Ireland)

Best Drama
Blood (Ireland)

Best Drama Director
Dearbhla Walsh – The Handmaid’s Tale (USA)

Best Screenwriter (Drama)
Mark O’Rowe – Temple (UK)

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)
Andrew Scott – Black Mirror: Smithereens (USA/UK)

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Drama)
Niamh Algar – The Virtues (UK)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama)
Mark O’Halloran – The Virtues

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Drama
Jessie Buckley – Chernobyl (USA/UK)

Best Cinematography
Piers McGrail – Never Grow Old [+leggi anche:
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Best Costume Design
Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh – The Rhythm Section [+leggi anche:
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Best Editing
Mick Mahon – Gaza [+leggi anche:
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Best Make-up and Hair
Liz Byrne & Linda Gannon – Black ’47

Best Original Score
Kíla – Arracht [+leggi anche:
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Best Production Design
John Leslie – Never Grow Old

Best Sound
Brendan Rehill, Alan Scully and Peter Blayney – Arracht

Best VFX
Ed Bruce and Nicholas Murphy – We Have Always Lived in the Castle (USA)