Teen drama What Richard Did scored five awards at the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards, which also handed best international film to Ben Affleck’s Argo.

What Richard Did, about a privileged teen whose life turns sour after a violent incident, saw Lenny Abrahamson win for best director. Abrahamson recently returned from New Mexico where he has filmed Frank with Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Speaking from the ceremony, held at the Convention Centre Dublin on Saturday night (Feb 9), the director said: “I am absolutely delighted for everyone involved in what has been an incredible year for the film. What Richard Did was an exceptional collaborative process and it’s great to see so many diverse talents recognized.”

Jack Raynor, who plays Richard in the film and was recently cast as the lead in the next Transformers blockbuster, won for best actor.

Raynor said: “It’s a huge honour to be nominated in a category with such gifted and revered actors. I’m thrilled to have even been considered.”

But Raynor was beaten in the rising star category by director Gerard Barrett, who made his first feature Pilgrim Hill for $6,000 (€4,500).

What Richard Did writer Malcolm Campbell picked up the award for best screenplay while Nathan Nugent won for editing.

The film was made by Element Pictures, received finance from the Irish Film Board and is sold international by Protagonist Pictures.

Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God won the award for best documentary.

Full list of winners

FILM
What Richard Did (Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Element Pictures)

DIRECTOR FILM
Lenny Abrahamson, What Richard Did (Element Pictures)

SCRIPT FILM
Malcolm Campbell, What Richard Did (Element Pictures)

ACTOR FILM
Jack Reynor, What Richard Did (Element Pictures)

ACTRESS FILM
Ruth Bradley, Grabbers (Forward Films, High Treason Productions, Samson Films)

SUPPORTING ACTOR FILM
Domhnall Gleeson, Anna Karenina (Universal Pictures)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS FILM
Bríd Brennan, Shadow Dancer (Element Pictures)

SPECIAL IRISH LANGUAGE
Lón sa Spéir - Men at Lunch (Sean & Eamonn Ó’Cualáin, Sónta)

GEORGE MORRISON FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (Trevor Birney, Eimhear O’Neill, Ruth O’Reilly, Below The Radar)

SHORT FILM
Morning (Cathy Brady)

ANIMATION
Macropolis (Flickerpix Animations)

INTERNATIONAL FILM
Argo (Warner Bro)

INTERNATIONAL ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln, 20th Century Fox

INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone, Studio Canal

TELEVISION DRAMA

DRAMA sponsored by Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
Love/Hate (Suzanne McAuley, Steve Matthews, Octagon Films)

DIRECTOR TV DRAMA
David Caffrey, Love Hate (Octagon Films)

SCRIPT DRAMA
Stuart Carolan, Love/Hate (Octagon Films)

Actor TV
Tom Vaughan Lawlor, Love/Hate (Octagon Films)

Actress TV
Charlie Murphy, Love/Hate (Octagon Films)

Supporting Actor TV
Andrew Scott, Sherlock (Hartswood Films)

Supporting Actress TV
Susan Loughnane, Love/Hate (Octagon Films)

CRAFT / TECHNICAL CATEGORIES (FILM)

COSTUME
Good Vibrations, Maggie Donnelly (Canderblinks Films)

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Seamus McGarvey, Anna Karenina (Universal Pictures)

Editing Film/Drama
Nathan Nugent, What Richard Did (Element Pictures)

Makeup & Hair sponsored by MAC
Sharon Doyle, Eileen Buggy - Ripper Street (Element Pictures, Tiger Aspect Productions)

Production Design
Mark Geraghty, Ripper Street (Element Pictures, Tiger Aspect Productions)

Original Score
Niall Byrne, Loving Miss Hatto (Left Bank Pictures)

Sound Film/Drama
Citadel - Garret Farrell, Hugh Fox, Steve Fanagan

TELEVISION PROGRAMMES

Childrens/Youth
Roy (JAM Media)

Current Affairs
Spotlight: Sean Quinn’s Missing Millions (BBCNI)

Documentary
Congo 1961 (Akajava Films)

Documentary Series
Bullyproof (Firebrand Productions)

Entertainment
Moone Boy (Grand Pictures, Baby Cow Productions, Hot Cod Productions and Sprout Pictures for Sky 1)

Factual
The Radharc Squad (Tyrone Productions)

Reality
Jockey Eile (Abú Media)

Sports
When Ali Came to Ireland (True Films)

CRAFT / TECHNICAL CATEGORIES (TELEVISION)

DIRECTOR TV
Maurice Sweeney, WB Yeats No Country for Old Men (Hot Shot Films)

DOP TV
Michael O’Donovan, Gaeil Nua Eabhrac (Real Films)

Editing TV
Brenda Morrissey, Inside the Department (Wildfire Films)

Sound TV
Am An Ghátair - Mark Henry, Conall de Cléir, John Brennan (Magamedia)

IRISH FILM BOARD RISING STAR NOMINATIONS
Gerard Barrett (writer-director-editor-producer, Pilgrim Hill)