What am I doing posting about the 2015 film and drama IFTA’s, which happened last MAY? It’s simple: I found this post languishing in my drafts folder and decided it was too good to waste. Better late than never…
A lovely shot of Andrew Scott at the 2015 IFTAs. (He lost to Stephen Rea). Screencap by Linnet.
After last year’s debacle, it seemed that the Irish Film and Television Awards might not be broadcast at all. RTÉ dropped the show, but eventually a deal was made with TV3 for 2015. Oddly though, the awards happened on May 24, and the broadcast did not occur until June 1. Furthermore, it was not a broadcast of the ceremony itself, but a one-hour “Awards Special” with highlights. (For online purposes the show has been further reduced to a series of clips which you can see here.)
Why the delayed broadcast? Extra insurance, I suppose, after the 2014 show went overtime by almost half an hour. They figure that the audience mainly wants to see the red carpet anyway, and the big stars. But they’re taking away the things that make awards shows simultaneously excruciating and interesting: the corny jokes, the suspense, the reaction shots, the thank-you speeches. Yes, I complained about the show last year. But I would like to judge for myself which bits make it worthwhile, rather than be fed a glossy recap by some producer.
Ciarán Hinds and his date (friend Kate Thompson) at the IFTAs. Screen shot by Linnet from RTÉ.
I take an interest in the IFTAs because, as you can see, a certain Actor makes regular appearances there. And beyond that, it’s a good look at a group of very creative people, whose work I always gravitate toward anyway. Last year, Ciarán Hinds was nominated as Best Actor for The Sea, but lost to Brendan Gleeson in Cavalry. (He wuz robbed, but I’ll spare you a dive into that water under the bridge.) Still, the lovely Sinéad Cusack won Best Actress for The Sea. Her award was collected by her husband, Jeremy Irons. Other Persons of Interest at the show included Michael Fassbender, who won for 12 Years A Slave, Jamie Dornan (recognized as a “rising star”), and the real-life Philomena, who was escorted to the stage by another of my favorite fellas, Steve Coogan.
Sinéad Cusack with husband Jeremy Irons. Click for source (Zimbio).
Sinéad Cusack with the man she calls her “other husband”–they have worked together several times. Photo: Abbey Theatre.
This year director Jim Sheridan ( My Left Foot, In The Name of the Father) received a Lifetime Achievement award, presented by Sean Bean.
Jim Sheridan receives his award, and Ned Stark meets Mance Rayder. Image from Instagram.
Aiden Gillen won Best Actor in a Drama for “Charlie” (this screenshot spares you his terrible haircut).
Tom Vaughan Lawlor was also nominated for Best Actor in a Drama.
One of the things I most enjoy about these awards is the overlap between stage and screen. In the room were at least three actors from a play we saw in Dublin last year, Our Few And Evil Days (Charlie Murphy, Tom Vaughan Lawlor and Ciarán Hinds). Stephen Rea, fresh from the critically lauded Ballyturk, was nominated for his supporting role in An Honourable Woman. And “rising star” Sarah Greene received Olivier and Tony nominations for her role in The Cripple of Inishmaan. (Could have seen it, didn’t–aaargh!)
Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea (both were in “Ballyturk”). Click for source.
The Love/Hate crew were big winners this year. IMHO Charlie Murphy’s dress was the loveliest.
A closeup of Charlie’s dress. She looks stunning, like a brunette Grace Kelly.
And who wins the Worst Dressed award? Sorry, Amanda Byram, but this ice-dancer/feather duster combo is heinous. Better luck next time!
LOL – I had no idea there were such interesting stars there at the IFTAs. It’s one of those homegrown events/awards that I always ignore because they strike me as slightly parochial and cringingly home-made, trying hard to reach up to the BAFTAs or Golden Globes, but never quite getting there. I may be wrong in that. But the bad attitude that the Irish have when it comes to their own stars – mostly motivated by “begrudging” – must have rubbed off on me. Most of the people there, we tend to describe as “world-famous in Ireland” 😀 It’s nice though, that you are watching it from far away. I’ll keep an eye out for the event next year. (Or shall I take the 300mm zoom and my press card and camp at the red carpet?)
Well, Fassbinder and Jeremy Irons are certainly world class stars. And then people like Brendan Gleeson and of course Mr. Hinds–not as famous but surely just as talented. Stephen Rea–well, he is a national treasure. Ireland has more than its share of acting talent, and I’d rather watch the IFTA’s than the Golden Globes 🙂
That said, the production of the show is not always top-notch and the writing of the patter for the hosts is poor.
I have to concede, the line-up is pretty impressive at the moment. The production… well… I completely believe you. Charming, maybe?
LOL, that’s about right. The “parochial” aspect is actually something I enjoy. People there are comfortable and having fun, not freaked out and trying to impress the world.
In Ireland we call that the “Feck it, sure it’ll be grand” approach *grins*. There is a lot of comfort (and laziness) in knowing that we’re a small little island on the fringes of Europe (and the world)…
And yet people *are* watching 🙂
Didn’t know the IFTAs but now obviously do! Yes, great names there and fun that Sinead Cusack calls Ciaran Hinds her other husband. 🙂
Yes, they are great together, onstage and onscreen!