Don’t miss the film critics are hailing as “the Irish feel good film of the year” and “effortlessly cool”. Sing Street, an electrifying coming-of-age film that will resonate with music and movie fans across the board, open this Thursday 17th.
The past year has been a glowing one for Irish film, with the industry undergoing a major surge, winning a number of Oscar nominations for Brooklyn, Room, and Stutterer. Now each of these films are to be joined by a host of other Irish productions to be honoured at the 2016 Irish Film and Television Awards. In its 13th year, the IFTAs celebrates the many achievements of Irish film throughout the year, recognising the multiple and varied talents of each sector of the industry. Nominees for this years show, which will take place on Saturday 19th April at the Round Room of the Mansion House, were announced earlier today and showcase just what an outstanding year it has been for Irish film.
Among the nominees for Best Film are Brooklyn, Room, and Sing Street. Brooklyn and Room both received widespread acclaim, and were each nominated for Best Film at the Oscars. Sing Street, the latest offering from the esteemed John Carney, also won rave reviews when it opened at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Opening in cinemas here this Thursday 17th, St.Patrick’s Day, Sing Street has also earned itself an American release, proving that audiences can’t get enough of this heart-warming flick.
Unsurprisingly, Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for Best Actress in a Lead Role in Film for her stirring performance in Brooklyn. Among those joining Ronan in this category is Evanna Lynch for My Name Is Emily. Included in the race for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Film are Colin Farrell for Lobster, Domhnall Gleeson for Ex-Machina, and Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs.There is also stiff competition in the Best Director Film category. Among the nominees are Lenny Abrahamson for Room, John Carney for Sing Street, and John Crowley for Brooklyn.
Also appearing on the night will be Liam Neeson, who will be honoured for his “outstanding contribution to Irish film”. Reminding audiences of just how outstanding and vast a talent Neeson is, one of his earlier films, Michael Collins, is returning to cinemas this Friday 18th to mark the 2Oth anniversary of the epic tale.
For a full list of nominations please see below.
Best Film
Brooklyn
My Name is Emily
Room
Sing Street
The Survivalist
Viva
Director Film
Lenny Abrahamson – Room
Paddy Breathnach – Viva
John Carney – Sing Street
John Crowley – Brooklyn
Stephen Fingleton – The Survivalist
Script Film
John Carney – Sing Street
Emma Donoghue – Room
Simon Fitzmaurice – My Name is Emily
Mark O’Halloran – Viva
Johnny O’Reilly – Moscow Never Sleeps
Actor in a Lead Role in Film
Colin Farrell – The Lobster
Domhnall Gleeson – Ex Machina
Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
Barry Keoghan – Mammal
Martin McCann – The Survivalist
Actress in a Lead Role in Film
Eva Birthistle – Swansong
Ruth Bradley – Pursuit
Orla Brady – The Price of Desire
Evanna Lynch – My Name is Emily
Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
Actor in a Supporting Role in Film
Domhnall Gleeson – Brooklyn
Michael Smiley – My Name is Emily
Owen Roe – Pursuit
Jack Reynor – Sing Street
Sean T O Meallaigh – The Callback Queen
Actress in a Supporting Role in Film
Jane Brennan – Brooklyn
Gemma-Leah Devereux – Get Up and Go
Olwen Fouere – The Survivalist
Siobhan O’Kelly – An Klondike
Ger Ryan – The Callback Queen
George Morrison
George Morrison Feature Documentary
A Doctor’s Sword
The Land of the Enlightened
Mom & Me
Older than Ireland
The Queen of Ireland
Short Film
Change in the Weather
Ernestine and Kit
The Great Wide Open
How Was Your Day?
Love is a Sting
Stutterer
Animation Short
A Coat Made Dark
Geist
Tea with the Dead
Unhinged
International Film
The Revenant
Spotlight
Mad Max Fury Road
Ex Machina
International Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Matt Damon – The Martian
Jacob Tremberly – Room
Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
International Actress
Cate Blanchett – Carol
Rachel Griffith – Mammal
Brie Larson – Room
Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years
Drama
An Klondike
Game Of Thrones
Penny Dreadful
Rebellion
Vikings
Director Drama
Anthony Byrne – Ripper Street
Neasa Hardiman – Happy Valley
Dathai Keane – An Klondike
Brian Kirk – Penny Dreadful
Aisling Walsh – An Inspector Calls
Script Drama
Marcus Fleming – An Klondike
Lisa McGee – Indian Summers
Billy Roche – Clean Break
Colin Teevan – Rebellion
Actor in a Lead Role in Drama
Colin Farrell – True Detective
Aidan Turner – Poldark
Dara Devaney – An Klondike
Stephen Rea – Dickensian
Barry Ward – Rebellion
Actress in a Lead Role Drama
Caitriona Balfe – Outlander
Ruth Bradley – Rebellion
Sarah Greene – Rebellion
Elaine Cassidy – No Offence
Catherine Walker – Critical
Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama
Liam Cunningham – Game of Thrones
Ned Dennehy – Dickensian
Moe Dunford – Vikings
Stephen Rea – War and Peace
Robert O’Mahoney – An Klondike
Actress in a Supporting Role in Drama
Michelle Fairley – Rebellion
Sarah Greene – Penny Dreadful
Paula Malcomson – Ray Donovan
Ruth Negga – Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Victoria Smurfit – Once Upon a Time
Director Of Photography
Seamus Deasy – My Name is Emily
PJ Dillon -Vikings
Robbie Ryan – Slow West
Cathal Watters – Viva
Costume Design
Alison Byrne – Rebellion
Joan Bergin – Vikings
Tiziana Corvisieri – Sing Street
Triona Lillis – An Klondike
Editing
Mick Mahon – The Queen of Ireland
Nathan Nugent – Room
Stephen O’Connell – Viva
Emer Reynolds – My Name is Emily
Make-Up & Hair
An Klondike
Brooklyn
Sing Street
Vikings
Original Music
Gary Clark & John Carney – Sing Street
Stephen McKeon – My Name is Emily
Stephen Rennicks – Room
Stephen Rennicks – Viva
Production Design
Tom Conroy – Legend
Padraig O’Neill – An Klondike
Paki Smith – Viva
Derek Wallace – Rebellion
Sound
The Hallow
My Name is Emily
Room
Sing Street
VFX
Brooklyn (Windmill Lane)
The Frankenstein Chronicles (Screen Scene)
Ghosthunters – On Icy Trails (Egg)
Ripper Street (Screen Scene)
John Carney’s upbeat musical drama is on a roll. Ever since opening to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival in January, Sing Street has soared from strength to strength. It opened the Audi Dublin International Film Festival last month, winning further rapturous reviews. It will open in cinemas nationwide on 17th March, St.Patrick’s Day, and the big fat cherry on top of all this comes with the thrilling announcement that Sing Street will open in America on 15th April. Initially playing in a limited number of theatres, it is expected to play in even more when word of mouth gets around about this heart-warming flick. The announcement is a massive achievement for the low-budget film, catapulting it to dizzying new heights of fame.
The Once director has been applauded for yet again creating a charming, moving story, partly based on his own experience of growing up in Dublin. Set in the 1980’s, the film follows the life of 14 year old Cosmo, played by Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, who strives to escape his strained family life by setting up a band, and of course hoping to impress a girl while doing so, the pretty and vivacious Raphina (Lucy Boynton). The cast, for the most part fresh, unknown faces, with the exceptions of Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy, and Jack Reynor, who play Cosmo’s eccentric family, have been praised for their emotive performances. This, coupled with Carney’s greatly effective use of the Irish sense of humour, fashion a film that looks set to have audiences singing along with it upon release, both here and across the pond.
