Hit comedy Bad Sisters has edged out The Banshees of Inisherin with most nominations at this year’s IFTA Film and Drama Awards.
Sharon Horgan’s comedy drama about siblings who go to drastic ends to protect one another gets 12 nods while Martin McDonagh’s critically-acclaimed film took 11.
Dark period comedy Banshees, beautifully shot on Achill and Inishmore Islands, leads the green charge at this weekend’s Oscars.
Irish talent is shortlisted for 14 accolades – and is leading the movie contender at the IFTAs.
READ MORE: https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish-showbiz/i-extra-banshees-inisherin-heres-29377052
Bad Sisters’ TV sweep includes nominations for Best Drama, Horgan for screenplay and lead actress, as well as stars Eve Hewson, Eva Birthistle, Anne-Marie Duff and Sarah Greene.
The nominees were revealed yesterday as IFTA announced this year’s awards – celebrating their 20th anniversary – will take place on Sunday, May 7 at Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre.
Announcing this year’s IFTAS nominees, academy CEO, Aine Moriarty said: “What an exciting time right now for the Irish screen industry.
“This superb line-up of nominees in the running for Irish Academy Awards showcases to the world the high calibre of acting, filmmaking and storytelling we have in this country.
“The Irish Academy is proud to acknowledge and reward their great work and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at the ceremony.”
Arts and Culture Minister, Catherine Martin said it was “a really exciting time for the industry”.
She added that the IFTAs will be “a celebration of the incredible talent we are so lucky to have in this country”. The Screen Ireland-funded event is also backed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Irish Oscar nominees Colin Farrell, Paul Mescal, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan have all been recognised by their industry peers as has moving short film An Irish Goodbye.
Other IFTA nominees for Best Film include Aisha – Frank Berry’s tale of a Nigerian woman navigating direct provision.
Also on the list is God’s Creatures, a tale of secrets in a small-town starring Mescal.
Charming Irish-language drama Roise & Frank, Netflix’s Irish-set drama The Wonder, starring
Florence Pugh and Lakelands, about a GAA player whose life is upended by injury also make the cut. Joining Bad Sisters in the Best Drama category is the Derry Girls’ special The Agreement, Conversations with Friends, Smother, The Dry and Vikings Valhalla.
In the film categories, Banshees leads with 11 nominations, followed by Aisha with 10.
And Roise & Frank and The Wonder follow with six each.
In the drama categories, Bad Sisters has secured an impressive 12 nominations, followed by The Dry with eight while Conversations With Friends has seven.
The IFTAS nominees were announced in what has been a historic year for the Irish screen industry, with local talent front and centre across numerous categories throughout awards season.
That culminates in this Sunday’s Oscars – taking place in the early hours of Monday morning here – with Irish interest across 14
categories.
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