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20th Oct 2020
“There’s something about Ireland and Irish storytelling that is universal that connects with everyone in the world,” said Martin Scorsese
The first virtual IFTA were held on Sunday night on Virgin Media Television, hosted by Deirdre O’Kane, where a number of international guests awarded Irish filmmakers for their extraordinary work.
Director Martin Scorsese presented the awards to Ordinary Love for Best Film 2020 and Black ‘47 for Best Film 2019.
“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,” said Martin Scorsese. “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 winners include Andrew Scott, who won Best Actor in a Drama for his role in Black Mirror: Smithereens and made a plea for the Irish Arts. “Hello, Ireland. I miss you an incredible amount. I feel bereft for not having been home for such a long time. This really makes me feel connected. Let’s keep the arts going in whatever way we can and try and support it whenever we feel it’s safe enough to do so. Because the arts are the most wonderful thing about our lives. And I’m so proud to be an Irish artist. So thank you and have a great night, people, wherever you are.”
Liam Neeson also sent a message to the Irish filmmaking industry saying, “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 film-makers, 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.”
See the full list of winners below.
BEST FILM 2020 BEST FILM 2019
Ordinary Love Black ‘47
DIRECTOR FILM
Paddy Breathnach – Rosie
SCRIPTWRITER FILM
Mark O’Halloran – Rialto
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – FILM
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor – Rialto
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE – FILM
Jessie Buckley – Wild Rose
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – FILM
David Wilmot – Ordinary Love
ACTRESS SUPPORTING ROLE – FILM
Niamh Algar – Calm with Horses
GEORGE MORRISON FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid
IRISH FILM BOARD RISING STAR
Aisling Franciosi
SHORT FILM – LIVE ACTION
Welcome to a Bright White Limbo
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
The Dream Report
DRAMA
Blood
DIRECTOR – DRAMA
Dearbhla Walsh – The Handmaid’s Tale
SCRIPTWRITER – DRAMA
Mark O’Rowe – Temple
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – DRAMA
Andrew Scott – Black Mirror: Smithereens
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE – DRAMA
Niamh Algar – The Virtues
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – DRAMA
Mark O’Halloran – The Virtues
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – DRAMA
Jessie Buckley – Chernobyl
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Piers McGrail – Never Grow Old
COSTUME DESIGN
Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh – The Rhythm Section
EDITING
Mick Mahon – Gaza
MAKEUP & HAIR
Liz Byrne & Linda Gannon – Black ‘47
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Kíla – Arracht
PRODUCTION DESIGN
John Leslie – Never Grow Old
SOUND
Brendan Rehill, Alan Scully & Peter Blayney – Arracht
VFX
Ed Bruce & Nicholas Murphy – We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Photography by the IFTAs on YouTube.
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