IFTA Awards 2024: Big Wins for Saoirse Ronan, Cillian Murphy, and Bad Sisters

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards took place in Dublin on Friday, celebrating excellence in Irish film and television drama. The star-studded event, hosted by Kevin McGahern, saw some of Ireland's biggest showbiz names, including Cillian Murphy, Saoirse Ronan, Andrew Scott, Ruth Negga, Nicola Coughlan, and Sharon Horgan, in attendance.

Top Winners:

• Small Things Like These won Best Film and also picked up Best Screenplay for Enda Walsh.
• Cillian Murphy won Best Lead Actor - Film for his role in Small Things Like These.
• Saoirse Ronan earned Best Lead Actress - Film for The Outrun and Best Supporting Actress - Film for Blitz.
• Kneecap secured multiple awards, including Best Director - Film for Rich Peppiatt, as well as honors for Costume Design, Editing, and Casting. Carla Stronge received the first-ever IFTA award for casting directors.

Television & Drama:

• Bad Sisters was a major winner, claiming Best Drama, Best Director - Drama for Dearbhla Walsh, and Best Script - Drama for Sharon Horgan.
• Say Nothing, a drama about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, had a strong showing:
  
  • Best Lead Actress - Drama: Lola Petticrew
  • Best Supporting Actress - Drama: Hazel Doupe
  • Best Supporting Actor - Drama: Tom Vaughan-Lawlor
• Colin Farrell won Best Lead Actor - Drama for The Penguin.

International Winners:

• Conclave won Best International Film, with Ralph Fiennes taking Best International Actor.
• Demi Moore won Best International Actress for The Substance.
• Brían F. O’Byrne won Best Supporting Actor - Film for Conclave.
• Anthony Boyle was named the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star for his work in Say Nothing and Masters of the Air.

Special Recognitions:

• Colm Meaney received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to film and television.

Documentary & Shorts:

• The Flats won Best Feature Documentary.
• Clodagh and Dembaya won Best Live Action Short Film and Best Animated Short Film, respectively.

Craft & Technical Awards:

• Best Cinematography: Robbie Ryan (Bird)
• Best Production Design: Susie Cullen (Abigail)
• Best Sound: Aza Hand & Hugo Parvery (Oddity)
• Best VFX: Ed Bruce & Andrew Barry (Shōgun)
• Best Hair & Makeup: Sandra Kelly & Tom McInerney (The Apprentice)

The IFTA Awards highlighted the incredible talent within the Irish film and television industry, celebrating both emerging and established artists.

Full list of winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Colm Meaney

Screen Ireland - IFTA Rising Star
Anthony Boyle

Film Categories

Best Film
Small Things Like These

Director - Film
Rich Peppiatt-Kneecap

Script - Film
Enda Walsh - Small Things Like These

Lead Actor - Film
Cillian Murphy - Small Things Like These

Lead Actress - Film
Saoirse Ronan - The Outrun

Supporting Actor - Film
Brían F. O'byrne - Conclave

Supporting Actress - Film
Saoirse Ronan - Blitz

Drama Categories
Coimisiún Na Meán Best Drama
Bad Sisters

Director - Drama
Dearbhla Walsh - Bad Sisters

Script - Drama
Sharon Horgan - Bad Sisters

Lead Actor - Drama
Colin Farrell - The Penguin

Lead Actress - Drama
Lola Petticrew - Say Nothing

Supporting Actor - Drama
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor - Say Nothing

Supporting Actress - Drama
Hazel Doupe - Say Nothing

International Film Award Categories

Best International Film
Conclave

Best International Actor
Ralph Fiennes - Conclave

Best International Actress
Demi Moore - The Substance

Other Award Categories

George Morrison Feature Documentary
The Flats

Live-Action Short Film
Clodagh

Animated Short Film
Dembaya

Craft Categories

Casting
Kneecap - Carla Stronge

Cinematography
Bird - Robbie Ryan

Costume Design
Kneecap - Zjena Glamocanin

Production Design
Abigail - Susie Cullen

Hair & Make-Up
The Apprentice - Sandra Kelly, Tom Mcinerney

Sound
Oddity - Aza Hand, Hugo Parvery

Original Music
Fréwaka - Die Hexen

Editing
Kneecap - Julian Ulrichs & Chris Gill

Vfx
Shögun - Ed Bruce, Andrew Barry