Irish talent loses out and Nomadland wins big at last night's BAFTAs

It was a disappointing night for Ireland's hopefuls at the 74th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) 2021, which saw Niamh Algar, Barry Keoghan and Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon animation Wolfwalkers miss out on awards.

Dublin actor Barry Keoghan and Mullingar native Niamh Algar were nominated in the best supporting actor and actress categories for their performances in crime thriller Calm With Horses - filmed in Galway and Clare.

Algar missed out on the gong to Yuh-Jung Youn for her role in Minari, while Algar's co-star Barry Keoghan lost out to Daniel Kaluuya in for this role in Judas and the Black Messiah.

Calm with Horses was also beaten in the nominations for Best British Film to Promising Young Woman, and Best Casting by Rocks.

The Best Animated Film BAFTA went to Pixar's Soul rather than Irish animation Wolfwalkers. It also missed out on a Golden Globe last month but has scooped awards at the Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards and the Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

Directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, Wolfwalkers follows Robyn Goodfellowe (English actress Honor Kneasfy), a young apprentice hunter who journeys to Ireland with her father in a time of superstition and magic to wipe out the last wolf pack. Her parent also happens to work for Oliver Cromwell - one of the most vilified characters in Irish history. The feature film is currently available to watch on Apple TV+.

Revenge drama Promising Young Woman, the directorial debut of The Crown actress Emerald Fennell, stars Carey Mulligan as a woman who takes matters into her own hands following sexual assault.

Fennell remarked that everyone made the film for "a packet of crisps" and said the experience was "the greatest thing in my life."

Nomadland, Chloé Zhao’s elegiac drama about the life of ageing van-dwellers in America, has confirmed its place as Oscars frontrunner with four BAFTA wins - including Best Film.

Zhao was named Best Director, making her only the second woman – following Kathryn Bigelow in 2010 – to pick up the award. Nomadland also scored Cinematography and Leading Actress for Frances McDormand.

Winners and nominees accepting their awards virtually at this year's BAFTAs ceremony, hosted by Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary. Saturday night’s ceremony saw behind-the-camera categories winners announced, including prizes for casting and make-up.

Britain's Duke of Cambridge - the current president of BAFTA - was to feature virtually in this year’s awards, but pulled out after the death of his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, on Friday.

Read the July 2019 Hot Press interview with Niamh Algar here and our August 2018 chat with cover star Barry Keoghan here.