The Kneecap movie and IRA dramatisation Say Nothing are leading the nominations for the 2025 Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) awards.
The nomination shortlist has been released ahead of the 22nd annual IFTA awards ceremony, which will take place at Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre on February 14.
The nominees “reflect Ireland’s unparalleled storytelling on the global stage”, and Kneecap has received the most film category nods with 17 nominations, while Say Nothing has received the most TV category nods with 10.
Other productions to feature heavily in the shortlist include Cillian Murphy-starring drama Small Things Like These, with nine nominations, and Apple TV comedy Bad Sisters with eight nominations.
Kneecap, the semi-fictionalised comedy biopic of the Belfast Irish language rappers, is up for Best Film and Director - Film for Rich Peppiatt.
The Kneecap trio, Naoise Ó Caireallain, J.J. Ó Dochartaigh and Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, are also in the running in the Lead Actor - Film catgory, alongside Gladiator II’s Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy for Small Things Like These, and Peter Coonan for his role in Dublin-set drama King Frankie.
Kneecap has also been nominated in categories including Script - Film; Supporting Actor - Film, for Michael Fassbender; Supporting Actress - Film, for Fionnuala Flaherty; Cinematography for Ryan Kernaghan; Costume Design, for Zjena Glamocanin; and Production Design, for Nicola Moroney.
Say Nothing, which is based on the book by Patrick Radden Keefe, is in the running for Best Drama; Director - Drama, for Michael Lennox; Lead Actress, for Lola Petticrew; and Supporting Actress. for Hazel Doupe, among others.
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The Flats, an award-winning story of residents living in tower blocks in north Belfast, from filmmaker Alessandra Celesia, has been nominated in the George Morrison Feature Documentary category.
The awards will also recognise international productions, with Dune Part Two and The Brutalist among the Best International Film contenders, and the Best International Actor and Best International Actress categories featuring stars including Denzel Washington (Gladiator II) and Florence Pugh (We Live in Time).
Meanwhile, the ceremony will also see Dublin-born actor Colm Meaney receiving the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
IFTA CEO Áine Moriarty said this year’s shortlist reflected “an incredible showcase of work that reinforces the fact that Irish talent is now amongst the best in the world, delivering such high standards of filmmaking, storytelling and performances that resonate with audiences worldwide”.
She added: “The Irish Academy is proud to showcase their great work and reward their achievements. Congratulations to all the nominees - so well deserved.”
Meanwhile, the Kneecap movie has landed yet another prestigious award - this time at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Naoise Ó Caireallain, J.J. Ó Dochartaigh and Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh were named the winners of the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in an International Feature Film at the ceremony on Monday in Palm Springs, California.
Festival jurors praised the trio’s “seamless performance”, adding: “Proving equally authentic and explosive in both capacities, they bring a fresh and propulsive energy to the whole notion of cultural identity.”
The Kneecap film has already won a host of plaudits, including seven gongs at the British Independent Film Awards last month.
The movie has also been shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category for the upcoming Oscars, while Kneecap track ‘Sick in the Head’ has been shortlisted for the Oscars’ Best Original Song category.
Nominations for this year’s Oscars ceremony have been delayed for a second time as a result of the wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed an estimated 24 people so far in Los Angeles.
The Academy Award nominees are now expected to be announced on January 23.
