Culture
16 Feb 18

And The IFTA Winners Are...

As expected, Saoirse Ronan, who was also recently nominated for an Oscar, won Best Actress for her mesmerising performance in the critically acclaimed movie 'Lady Bird' at last night's IFTA awards.

While John Connors won the Best Actor award for his very good performance in the gritty 'Cardboard Gangsters', which has been one of the most successful Irish-produced films in recent years.
Rising star Barry Keoghan won the Best Supporting Actor gong for his chilling performance in 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer'.

Up the flats!!
From the bottom of the bottom to the top#ifta #BestSupportingActor #dior pic.twitter.com/Kh8P7GFSNM

— Barry Keoghan (@BarryKeoghan) February 15, 2018

The film 'Michael Inside' scooped the best movie award and Ethan Hawke was awarded the best international actor gong for 'Maudie'.
The Best International Actress award went to Frances McDormand for 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'

Saoirse Ronan, Cillian Murphy and Caitriona Balfe among this year's @IFTA Awards winners: https://t.co/O6HoZpSokJ #IFTA18 pic.twitter.com/SF19mGFtgO

— Newstalk (@NewstalkFM) February 15, 2018

While on the night, President Michael D Higgins, a former Hot Press contributor, presented Gabriel Byrne with a lifetime achievement award.
"It's emotional in the sense that I'm looking at more than just work. I'm looking at quite a few things: family, friends, my own particular journey emotionally through that time, and thinking of people who aren't here, who have passed on," Gabriel Byrne told RTE last night.

President Higgins tonight presented actor Gabriel Byrne with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Film & Television Academy @IFTA.https://t.co/opnZOyy22l pic.twitter.com/uPgoyieYgP

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) February 15, 2018

Martin McDonagh won the best screenplay award for his critically acclaimed movie 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'. But he didn't win best director, with that award instead going to Aisling Walsh for her film 'Maudie', which stars Ethan Hawke.
The Best Supporting Actress award went to Victoria Smurfit for her role in 'The Lears'.
On the TV front, Cillian Murphy won best actor in a drama for 'Peaky Blinders' and best across went to Caitriona Balfe for her role in 'Outlander'.
Another 'Peaky Blinders' cast member, Charlie Murphy won Best Supporting Actress on the night.
Liam Cunningham scooped the TV Best Supporting Actor gong for 'Game of Thrones', which also won Best Drama on the night.

So fantastic to win the amazing BEST VFX prize at the @IFTA awards, beating the likes of #GameOfThrones! @Bowsie_Workshop #irishfilm #IFTA18 pic.twitter.com/NM69nOD70z

— Tailored Films (@tailored_films) February 15, 2018

Here's the full list of winners:

Best International Film: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Drama: Game of Thrones
Best Actress: Film: Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Best Actor: Film, John Connors, Cardboard Gangsters
Best Director: Film: Aisling Walsh, Maudie
Best Actress: Drama: Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Best Actor: Drama : Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders
Best Supporting Actor: Film: Barry Keoghan, The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Best Supporting Actress: Film : Victoria Smurfit, The Lears
Best Supporting Actor: Drama : Liam Cunningham, Game of Thrones
Best Supporting Actress: Drama : Charlie Murphy, Peaky Blinders
Best International Actress : Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best International Actor : Ethan Hawke, Maudie
Rising Star Award : Jacob McCarthy, The Drummer & the Keeper
Casting Director Award : Ros Hubbard
Best Scriptwriter: Film : Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director: Drama :Dearbhla Walsh, Fargo
George Morrison Feature Documentary Award :The Farthest
Best Costume Design : Consolata Boyle, Victoria & Abdul
Best Make-Up & Hair : Clare Lambe & Sevlene Roddy, Into the Badlands
Best Editing : Úna Ní DhonghaIle, Three Girls
Best Live Action Short Film : Wave
Best Animated Short Film :Late Afternoon
Best Writer: Drama :Conor McPherson, Paula
Best Cinematography :Seamus McGarvey, The Greatest Showman
Best Production Design : John Hand, Maudie
Best Original Music :Stephen McKeon, Pilgrimage
Best Sound : Steve Fanagan & Kieran Horgan, The Farthest
Best VFX :Tailored Films & Bowsie Workshop, The Lodgers