IFTA winners are announced in Dublin

Conor McPherson’s The Eclipse was named best film at the 7th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards, which took place in Dublin on Saturday (February 20).

The film also picked up the best supporting actor award for Aidan Quinn, and best script for McPherson and Billy Roche.

Colin Farrell picked up the best actor award for his performance in Neil Jordan’s Ondine, whilst his co-star Dervla Kirwan was named best supporting actress.  Saoirse Ronan won the best actress award for her role in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones.

Jim Sheridan was named best director for Brothers. Meanwhile Tomm Moore, director of the Oscar-nominated animated feature The Secret of Kells was named the 2010 Irish Film Board rising star, with his film also picking up the best animation honours.

In the international categories, the Irish Academy voted The Hurt Locker as best film, while Robert Downey Jr and Meryl Streep picked up the best actor and actress awards for their roles in Sherlock Holmes and It’s Complicated, respectively.

The lifetime achievement award was presented to producer/director/writer John Boorman, by Brendan Gleeson, Jon Voight and Juliette Binoche.