IFTA Red Carpet 2018

14th February 2018

Red Carpet Faceoff Expected As Stars of Cardboard Gangsters, Vikings, and Game Of Thrones Attend IFTA Awards.

This year's awards show marks a big break-through year for upcoming and young talent in Ireland. This year's Best Feature Film nominations have left many critics torn with one of the most impressive & evenly matched categories in recent years. This year's nominees, which include 'Cardboard Gangster', 'Handsome Devil', 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer', 'Maudie', 'Michael Inside', and 'Song of Granite' have seen eight first-time IFTA nominees across the lead and supporting actor categories.

Guest presenters on the night include President Michael D. Higgins, Alexander Ludwig, Alex Hogh, Fionnula Flanagan, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Patrick Bergin, Minister Josepha Madigan, Orla Brady, Sean McGinley, Jim Sheridan, Peter Coonan, Miriam O'Callaghan, Michael Smiley, Elaine Crowley, Lisa Cannon, among others.

The IFTA Film & Drama Awards will honour the finest work produced by Irish screen talent in the past 12 months. The nominees in the IFTA Award categories were announced on 11th January and amongst the 2018 shortlist are: Caitriona Balfe, Saoirse Ronan, Victoria Smurfit, Colin Farrell, Barry Ward, Andrew Scott, Barry Keoghan, Sarah Bolger, Liam Cunningham, Moe Dunford, Jason O'Mara, Dafhyd Flynn, Ann Skelly, Fionn O'Shea, John Connors, Elaine Cassidy, Amy Huberman, Charlie Murphy, Tom Vaughan Lawlor, John Butler, Eva Birthistle, Angelina Ball, Derbhla Walsh, Frank Berry, Aisling Walsh, Jacob McCarthy, Emer Reynolds, among many.

Gabriel Byrne will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, a tribute to his highly decorated and illustrious career that spans 30 years in recognition of his outstanding achievement across both film and television with credits that include: ‘The Riordans’, ‘Bracken’, ‘Excalibur’, ‘Miller's Crossing’, ‘The Usual Suspects’, ‘The Man In The Iron Mask’, ‘Stigmata’, and ‘In Treatment’.

Ros Hubbard, the legendary Casting Director will receive the Spotlight Casting Director Award. Ros has been a guiding light and a great inspiration for thousands of actors over her career.

Also attending will be the five IFTA Rising Star nominees. Selected by a special Jury and sponsored by the Irish Film Board, the Rising Star Award is a unique IFTA Award in that it aims to highlight exceptional new and breakthrough talent working in all areas of Irish Film & Drama; this year’s nominees are actress Jessie Buckley of Taboo, Michael Inside actor Dafhyd Flynn, The Drummer & The Keeper actor Jacob McCarthy and Handsome Devil Actor Fionn O'Shea, and Kissing Candice actress Ann Skelly.

This year RTÉ will deliver coverage of all the excitement around the Nominees, International Guests and Winners from the Ceremony and the Red Carpet on Saturday, February 17th at 10.45pm.

IFTA supporters include Irish Film Board, RTÉ, Spotlight, Grant Thornton, Matheson, Clancy & Co, & NEP.

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