Winners announced for IFTA Awards at star-studded ceremony in Dublin

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Tuesday 18 February 2025 10:51

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced the winners of the IFTA Awards 2025.

The 22nd anniversary of the IFTA Awards was a star-studded affair with host Kevin McGahern at the helm.

The ceremony took place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre and was broadcast on RTE One on Saturday.

The evening featured appearances by high-profile talent, including Cillian Murphy, Saoirse Ronan, Andrew Scott, Ruth Negga, Nicola Coughlan, Sharon Horgan, Kneecap, Liam Cunningham, Chris O’Dowd, Caitriona Balfe, Patrick Gibson and Alison Oliver, among many others.

Small Things Like These won the top award for Best Film, while Cillian Murphy, who won the Oscar for Best Actor last year, also took home the award for Actor in a Lead Role for his performance in the film, on which he was also a producer. Enda Walsh won Best Screenplay for adapting Claire Keegan’s acclaimed book.

Saoirse Ronan was a big winner, taking home two awards for Actress in a Lead Role and Actress in a Supporting Role for her roles in The Outrun and Blitz, respectively.

Irish language hit Kneecap was a big winner across categories including Best Director for filmmaker Rich Peppiatt; as well as Costume Design; Editing and the award for Casting, which was presented to Carla Stronge, in the first year of the awards celebrating Irish Casting Directors.

Iconic Irish actor Colm Meaney was presented with the Irish Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award, for his outstanding contribution to the Irish and international screen industry, across both film and television.

Anthony Boyle, breakout star of Say Nothing and Masters of the Air, was announced as the 2025 Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star.

On the Drama side, Bad Sisters was a big winner, taking home Best Drama, Director Drama for Dearbhla Walsh, and Script Drama for creator and star Sharon Horgan.

Say Nothing also won a number of key awards, including Actress in a Lead Role for Lola Petticrew, Actress in a Supporting Role for Hazel Doupe, and Actor in a Supporting Role for Tom Vaughan-Lawlor.

Colin Farrell picked up Actor in a Leading Role (Drama) for his performance in Batman spin-off series The Penguin.

Actor in a Supporting Role (Film) was awarded to Brían F. O’Byrne for his performance in Vatican-set drama Conclave.

Conclave also won two International awards, for International Film and International Actor for Ralph Fiennes. Meanwhile, International Actress went to Demi Moore in The Substance.

The George Morrison Feature Documentary Award went to The Flats, with Best Cinematography awarded to Robbie Ryan for his work on Bird.

Best Live Action Short Film was awarded to Clodagh, while Dembaya won Best Animated Short.

Ed Bruce and Andrew Barry won VFX for Shōgun, with Sandra Kelly and Tom McInerney winning Hair & Makeup for their work on Irish-produced film The Apprentice about the early career of Donald Trump.

It was a big night for horror, with the award for Original Music going to Die Hexen for Fréwaka, while Susie Cullen won in the Production Design category for Abigail; and Aza Hand and Hugo Parvery won Sound for Oddity.

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

Key sponsors and partners include RTE, Don Julio, Canon, IFTN, TikTok and Sculpted by Aimee.

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