Award season may be finished up in Tinseltown but it's time we bring back our homegrown heroes for a night of celebration in what arguably is the Golden Age of Irish Cinema.
The press release for the 2016 IFTA nominations was released this morning and it's of no surprise who this years front-runners are. With a year of unprecedented success in Irish cinema figures such as Lenny Abrahamson (Room), Saoirse Ronan (BrooklynEx-Machina) are now global household names. They are going to be recognised and adorned once again as they have been named among the list of nominees alongside newcomers such as Jack Reynor (Sing Street), Sarah Greene (Penny Dreadful) and Olwen Fouéré (The Survivalist).
This years 'Outstanding Contribution to Cinema' will be awarded to Liam Neeson. The IFTA Awards will take place in Dublin's Mansion House on Saturday April 9. TV3 will broadcast the red carpet event and the night's ceremony. CEO of the Academy Aine Moriarty gushed about 2016's Irish cinematic achievements; "What a superb year for Irish production and this year’s Nominations showcase to the world what Ireland’s small but excellent film industry has to offer. Irish creative talent is delivering world-class standards of work and we look forward to showcasing and celebrating their achievements at the Ceremony".

THE 2016 NOMINATIONS

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
Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
Domhnall Gleeson – Ex Machina
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
Sean T O Meallaigh – The Callback Queen
Owen Roe - Pursuit
Jack Reynor – Sing Street
Michael Smiley – My Name is Emily

Actress in a Supporting Role in Film
Jane Brennan – Brooklyn
Gemma-Leah Devereux – Get Up and Go
Olwen Fouéré – The Survivalist
Siobhan O’Kelly – An Klondike
Ger Ryan – The Callback Queen

George Morrison Feature Documentary
A Doctor’s Sword
The Land of the Enlightened
Mom & Me
Older than Ireland
The Queen of Ireland

Animation Short
A Coat Made Dark
Geist
Tea with the Dead
Unhinged

Short Film
Change in the Weather
Ernestine and Kit
The Great Wide Open
How Was Your Day?
Love is a Sting
Stutterer

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
Dara Devaney – An Klondike
Colin Farrell – True Detective
Aidan Turner – Poldark
Stephen Rea – Dickensian
Barry Ward – Rebellion

Actress in a Lead Role Drama
Caitriona Balfe - Outlander
Ruth Bradley – Rebellion
Elaine Cassidy – No Offence
Sarah Greene – Rebellion
Catherine Walker - Critical

Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama
Liam Cunningham – Game of Thrones
Ned Dennehy – Dickensian
Moe Dunford – Vikings
Robert O’Mahoney – An Klondike
Stephen Rea – War and Peace

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
Joan Bergin – Vikings
Alison Byrne – Rebellion
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 Sponsored By M.A.C
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)

International Film
The Revenant
Spotlight
Mad Max Fury Road
Ex Machina

International Actor
Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Matt Damon – The Martian
Jacob Tremberly – Room

International Actress
Cate Blanchett - Carol
Rachel Griffith - Mammal
Brie Larson - Room
Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years