Brendan Gleeson and Saoirse Ronan Head IFTA Winners

Brendan Gleeson and Calvary were the big winners at Saturday night's Irish Film & Television Awards, snaffling three of the major gongs – including Best Film and Best Actor, on what was a star-studded occasion. Meanwhile, Neil Jordan's Byzantium picked up two, with Jordan coming through as Best Director and female lead, Saoirse Ronan, winning Best Actress.

Though technical difficulties and sound problems may have affected the televised broadcast of the IFTAs, the sheer level of star-power present at the event demonstrated that this celebration of Irish screen talent is a big draw for both home-grown and international talent. Guests who walked the red carpet in the Hilton Doubletree Hotel included Michael Fassbender, Colin Farrell, Jamie Dornan, Steve Coogan, Will Forte, Jeremy Irons, Fionnula Flanagan, Brendan Gleeson, Neil Jordan, Amy Huberman, Colm Meaney, Jack Reynor, Killian Scott, Eva Birthistle, Victoria Smurfit and this year's Outstanding Contribution Award Winner, President Michael D Higgins.
Co-hosted by Simon Delaney and Laura Whitmore, with Sinead Kennedy and Eoghan McDermott presenting the twenty-one craft awards, the IFTAs still seemed more like a Gleeson family affair, with Domhnall and Brendan competing for Best Actor for their roles in About Time and Calvary – patriarch Brendan emerged victorious in that round. Meanwhile, Brian Gleeson was also in attendance, having starred in the Best Film nominee The Stag; co-stars Amy Huberman and Sherlock star Andrew Scott rounded out the star power at that table, though leading man Hugh O’Conor was off in Iceland celebrating his recent win at the Irish Theatre Awards.
Brendan Gleeson’s win wasn’t the only gong scooped up by Calvary, as John Michael McDonagh’s powerful examination of faith also won Best Film and Best Script. The emotive true story Philomena won the award for Best International Film, with Judi Dench winning Best International Actress. Though Dench was abroad filming, Philomena Lee, whose true life story inspired the film, was in attendance, along with the film’s star Steve Coogan. Vampire horror Byzantium’s awards included the prestigious Best Director for Neil Jordan, Best Actress for Saoirse Ronan and Makeup & Hair.
Michael Fassbender was also a winner, taking the award for Best Film Supporting Actor for his recently Oscar-nominated role in 12 Years A Slave. Legendary actress Sinead Cusack took home the Best Supporting Actress accolade for her performance in the adaptation of John Banville’s The Sea.
Northern Irish crime series The Fall was the big Television Drama winner on the night, collecting the award for Best Drama, Best Original Score for David Holmes and Best Actor for Jamie Dornan’s role as serial killer Paul Spector. It was a double celebration for actor Dornan, as he also collected the Irish Film Board Rising Star Award.
Crime Drama Love/Hate took home two IFTAs on the night including Best Supporting Actor for Peter Coonan, while Stuart Carolan won Best TV Script. Sky series Moone Boy was also a big winner, taking Best Entertainment Programme and Best Director Drama/Comedy for Ian Fitzgibbon. Eva Birthistle won the IFTA for Best Actress TV for her role as the grieving mother in missing child-drama Amber, while Best Supporting Television Actress went to Michelle Fairley for her tragic finale season on HBO’s Game of Thrones.
President Michael D. Higgins received his Honorary IFTA Award for his Outstanding Contribution to the film & television industry. As the IFTN has stated, “The President has shown unwavering support in the film and television sector, helping to transform the industry over the last thirty years through a range of initiatives from tax incentives to training and the re-establishment of the Irish Film Board, ultimately encouraging investment and creating thousands of jobs.”
While stars like Colin Farrell and Michael Fassbender made an early exit following the awards, star of Nebraska, Run & Jump and former SNL regular Will Forte stayed well into the wee small hours, as did the brothers Gleeson and the cast of Love/Hate. Controversy has surrounded this year’s IFTAs due to the expensive tickets and venue change, which meant some prominent filmmakers and producers were unable to attend. Organisational and technical issues dogged the ceremony itself, putting the hosts in an unenviable position. It isn't easy running an event on this scale. However, given the level of talent and support shown at this year’s awards, along with the increasingly exciting work being produced by Irish filmmakers and television producers, one would hope that next year’s awards will get the production they deserve.

11th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards Winners : the full list of winners

FILM
Film
Calvary (James Flynn, Chris Clark, Flora Fernandez Marengo, Octagon Films, Reprisal Films)
Director Film
Neil Jordan, Byzantium (Parallel Films and Number 9 Films)
Script Film
John Michael McDonagh, Calvary (Octagon Films and Reprisal Films)
Irish Film Board Rising Star
Jamie Dornan
Actor in a Lead Role Film
Brendan Gleeson, Calvary (Octagon Films and Reprisal Films)
Actress in a Leading Role Film
Saoirse Ronan, Byzantium (Parallel Films & Number 9 Films)
Actor in a Supporting Role Film
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave (Entertainment One)
Actress in a Supporting Role Film
Sinead Cusack, The Sea (Samson Films)
George Morrison Feature Documentary
The Summit
International Film (sponsored by American Airlines)
Philomena
International Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
International Actress
Judi Dench, Philomena
TELEVISION
Drama in association with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
The Fall (Stephen Wright, Allan Cubitt, BBC Northern Ireland, Artists Studio)
Director TV Drama
Ian Fitzgibbon, Moone Boy (Grand Pictures, Baby Cow Productions, Hot Cod Productions & Sprout Pictures for Sky 1)
Script Drama
Stuart Carolan, Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Actor in a Leading Role Television
Jamie Dornan, The Fall (BBC Northern Ireland and Artists Studio)
Actress in a Leading Role Television
Eva Birthistle, Amber (Screenworks)
Actor in a Supporting Role Television
Peter Coonan, Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Actress in a Supporting Role Television
Michelle Fairley, Game of Thrones (HBO)
CRAFT / TECHNICAL CATEGORIES (FILM/DRAMA)
Costume
Consolata Boyle, Philomena
Director of Photography Film/Drama
PJ Dillon, Ripper Street
Editing Film/Drama
Emer Reynolds, Here Was Cuba
Makeup & Hair (Sponsored by M.A.C.)
Byzantium
Production Design
Tom Conroy, Vikings
Original Score
David Holmes,The Fall
Sound Film/Drama
Game of Thrones
TELEVISION PROGRAMMES
Childrens/Youth
Octonauts
Current Affairs
Breach of Trust (RTÉ)
Documentary
The Disappeared
Documentary Series
John Lonergan’s Circus
Entertainment
Moone Boy
Factual
Seamus Heaney – Postscript (Imeall)
Reality
Operation Transformation
Sports
Páidí Ó Sé - Rí an Pharóiste
Irish Language
1916 Seachtar Dearmadta
CRAFT / TECHNICAL CATEGORIES (TELEVISION)
Director TV
Anna Rodgers, Somebody to Love
Director of Photography TV
Ronan Fox, John Sheahan: A Dubliner
Editing TV
Ray Roantree, Looking After No. 1
Sound TV
John Sheahan, A Dubliner
Short Film
The Last Days of Peter Bergmann
Animation
Tilly and Friends