#IFTA2017: The nominations have been announced for the IFTA Film & Drama Awards 2017

The nominees have been announced for the 2017 Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Film and Drama Awards, which will be held in the Round Room of the Mansion House on Saturday, April 8th.

On the film front, Richie Smyth’s The Siege of Jadotville and Peter Foott’s The Young Offenders share the honour of most nominations, receiving 7 a piece. They are followed by Jim Sheridan’s The Secret Scripture with 6, Darren Thornton’s A Date for Mad Mary with 5, and Whit Stillman’s Love & Friendship and Juanita Wilson’s Tomato Red with 4. All 6 of these will compete for Best Feature Film, while the first 4 will slug it out for Best Director.

On the drama side and continuing a trend from 2016, An Klondike leads the way, with the second season of TG4’s hit drama receiving 10 nominations. Irish co-produced drama series Vikings received 5 nominations, while Northern Irish co-production Game of Thrones received 4, and Gerard Barrett’s miniseries Smalltown picked up 3.

Nominations have been shortlisted by Irish Film and Television Academy members alongside a specialist Jury panel of industry experts from around the world.

Speaking on the nominations, Academy CEO, Aine Moriarty said:

These great Irish Nominees are a testament to the hard work and achievements by Irish creative talent within the film and television industry, delivering world-class standards of work and we look forward to showcasing and celebrating their achievements at the Awards Ceremony.

Element Pictures’ Company Director Andrew Lowe commented on the distributors 11 nominations, saying:

We are delighted at the news of the 5 nominations for A Date for Mad Mary. Following the terrific performance of the film at the Irish Box Office, we are so pleased for Darren and Colin Thornton that their work has been deservedly recognised by their peers. We are also very proud of all the other nominees on Tomato Red, Mattress Men and Without Name, and wish everyone the best of luck for the night of the 8^th of April.

Best Film

• A Date for Mad Mary
• Love & Friendship
• The Secret Scripture
• The Siege of Jadotville
• Tomato Red
• The Young Offenders

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Actor in a Lead Role Film

• Jamie Dornan – The Siege of Jadotville
• Michael Fassbender – The Light Between Oceans
• Colm Meaney – The Journey
• Alex Murphy – The Young Offenders
• Mark O’Halloran – History’s Future

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Actress in a Lead Role Film

• Caoilfhionn Dunne – In View
• Seana Kerslake – A Date for Mad Mary
• Aisling Loftus – Property of The State
• Ruth Negga – Loving
• Catherine Walker – A Dark Song

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Actor in a Supporting Role Film

• Colin Farrell – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Brendan Gleeson – Trespass Against Us
• Ciaran Hinds – Bleed for This
• Jason O’Mara – The Siege of Jadotville
• Chris Walley – The Young Offenders

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Actress in a Supporting Role Film

• Charleigh Bailey – A Date for Mad Mary
• Simone Kirby – Notes on Blindness
• Susan Lynch – Bad Day for the Cut
• Hilary Rose – The Young Offenders
• Fiona Shaw – Out of Innocence

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Director Film

• Peter Foott –The Young Offenders
• Jim Sheridan –The Secret Scripture
• Richie Smyth –The Siege of Jadotville
• Darren Thornton –A Date for Mad Mary

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Script Film

• Kevin Brodbin – The Siege of Jadotville
• Peter Foott – The Young Offenders
• Darren Thornton & Colin Thornton – A Date for Mad Mary
• Juanita Wilson – Tomato Red

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George Morrison Feature Documentary

• Atlantic – Risteard O Domhnaill
• Bobby Sands 66 Days – Trevor Birney
• In Loco Parentis – Neasa Ní Chianáin
• It’s Not Yet Dark – Lesley McKimm & Kathryn Kathleen Kennedy
• Mattress Men – Dave Clarke & Ciarán Deeney

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Short Film

• Animal
• Baring Arms
• Gridlock
• Heartbreak
• Lily
• Terminal

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Animation

• Define Intervention – Sean Cunningham
• Don’t Forget the Bread – Gary Gill
• The Lost Letter – Kealan O’ Rourke
• Second to None – Vincent Gallagher

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International Film

• Hacksaw Ridge
• La La Land
• Manchester By The Sea
• Moonlight

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International Actor

• Casey Affleck –Manchester By The Sea
• Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
• Ryan Gosling, – La La Land
• Denzel Washington – Fences

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International Actress

• Amy Adams–Arrival
• Viola Davis – Fences
• Natalie Portman – Jackie
• Emma Stone, La La Land

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