Brendan Canty’s Cork-set Christy and Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet were the main winners at the 2026 Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards, which took place in Dublin on February 20.
Christy won best film, best director – film for Canty, editing for Allyn Quigley and casting for Amy Rowan.
Daniel Power and Diarmuid Noyes star in the story of a young Cork man who leaves the foster system and seeks independence as he discovers his calling as a hairdresser. The film opened Berlin’s Generation 14plus strand in 2025 and won the best Irish film prize at the Galway Film Fleadh, as well as playing at Transylvania and Edinburgh.
Irish star Jessie Buckly won lead actress for Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, ahead of winning the equivalent prize at Sunday night’s Baftas. Hamnet also picked up international film, supporting actor for Irish star Paul Mescal and script for Northern Irish writer Maggie O’Farrell alongside Zhao.
Cork actor Éanna Harwicke took home the award for actor in a lead role for his performance as Roy Keane in Saipan, while Kerry Condon won actress in a supporting role for her role opposite Brad Pitt in F1.
Louisa Harland, star of The Walsh Sisters and Derry Girls, was announced as the 2025 Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star.
IFTA 2026 winners
Best film – Christy
Director, film – Brendan Canty, Christy
Script, film – Maggie O’Farrell, Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
Lead actor – Éanna Hardwicke, Saipan
Lead actress – Jessie Buckly, Hamnet
Supporting actor – Paul Mescal, Hamnet
Supporting actress – Kerry Condon, F1
Best international film – Hamnet
International actor – Leonardo Di Caprio, One Battle After Another
International actress – Emma Stone, Bugonia
Best drama, TV – Blue Lights
George Morrison feature documentary – A Want In Her, dir. Myrid Carten
Casting – Amy Rowan, Christy
Cinematography – Seamus McGarvey, Die My Love
Costume design – Consolata Boyle, Blue Moon
Production design – Philip Murphy, Neville Gaynor, Wednesday
Make-up and hair – Natalie Reid, Trespasses
Sound – Eimear Noone, Craig Stuart Garfinkle, Báite
Editing – Allyn Quigley, Christy
VFX – Eoin O’Sullivan, David Sewell, House Of Guinness
Lifetime achievement – Ciarán Hinds
Rising star – Louisa Harland
No comments yet