IFB Funded Projects Set To Clean Up At Irish Film & Television Awards

The Irish Film & Television Award nominations were announced on Monday with 62 nominations given to projects financed by Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB).
Neil Jordan’s 'Breakfast on Pluto' leads the pack with a total of 10 nominations followed closely by Brian Kirk’s 'Middletown' with nine. Ken Loach’s 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley' and John Boorman’s 'The Tiger’s Tail' have also registered seven nominations each. Breakfast on Pluto, The Wind That Shakes the Barley and Middletown are Best Film contenders alongside Niall Heery’s unreleased feature 'Small Engine Repair' and David Gleeson’s 'The Front Line'.
The special Breakthrough Talent Award sponsored by the IFB & the NIFTC sponsored nominees are actor Padraic Delaney (The Wind That Shakes the Barley), actress Orla Fitzgerald (The Wind That Shakes the Barley), actor Domhnall Gleeson (Studs), writer/director Niall Heery (Small Engine Repair), director Brian Kirk (Middletown) and TV Presenter Lucy Kennedy (The Podge and Rodge Show).
In another strong year for Irish acting, the shortlist features some of Ireland’s top talent receiving multiple nominations. Cillian Murphy has garnered dual nominations in the Best Actor category, for his dramatic performances in Breakfast on Pluto and The Wind That Shakes the Barley. He is joined by Colin Farrell (Miami Vice), Pierce Brosnan (The Matador), and Brendan Gleeson (Studs) for the prestigious award. In addition, Liam Cunningham has been nominated for three acting awards crossing the TV/Film divide (The Wind That Shakes the Barley/Showbands/Murphy’s Law), with younger actors, Padraic Delaney, Ruth Negga and Ruth Bradley, breaking through with two nominations apiece.
Irish talent working internationally are well represented: actors Pierce Brosnan (The Matador), Colin Farrell (Miami Vice), Fionnula Flanagan (Transamerica), and in the craft categories - Irish cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, for World Trade Centre, and costume designers Joan Bergin and Consolata Boyle are named for their work on 'The Prestige' and 'The Queen' respectively.
(DS)