IFTA has had a busy 2016, reflecting an extraordinary year of international success for Irish productions

Irish Academy Members have been actively participating in the Academy’s Viewing Seasons (in Cinemas and on the private Academy Online Viewing Platform) across both the Film & Drama season in early Spring and the Television viewing season in the Autumn.

A record number of feature films were submitted for consideration for the IFTA Film & Drama Awards, including titles such as ‘Brooklyn’, ‘Room’, and ‘Viva’ that were shortlisted for the American Academy Awards. Honorary Awards were presented to Liam Neeson, Pat Kenny and Mícheál Ó Meallaigh.

Áine Moriarty, Chief Executive of the Academy said, “The standard of Irish production is going from strength to strength and in the past year the industry has delivered a high-quality line-up of diverse titles onto Irish and international screens across Film, Drama, Documentary, Soap, Animation, Entertainment, Comedy, Reality, Factual, Current Affairs, News, Childrens and more. Thanks to all the Members who actively Voted, and who participated on special Juries also throughout the year.”

In 2016, the Academy also delivered fifty separate Academy Events exclusively for Irish Academy Members, tailored to each Chapter including Masterclasses, Lectures, In Conversations, Panel Discussions, Forums, Screenings, Q&As, Industry Breakfasts, Lunches, Tribute Evenings and Networking events.

Some highlights included IFTA’s Documentary Masterclass with Michael Moore and the Actors’ Discussion with Liam Neeson, the ‘Women in Focus Conference’ at Google HQ presented in association with Matheson, TV Lectures with Virgin Media’s Tony Hanway; Channel 5’s Ben Frow, Vikings Actors Panel discussion, Discussions with many Writers & Directors; Peter Foott; Kevin Brodbin/Richie Smith; John Butler; Sharon Horgan; Mark O’Halloran, Alan Gilsenan; Stephen Fingleton; Seán Ó Cualáin; Brian Reddin; Deirdre O’Kane; Michelle Burke Masterclass and the special ACADEMY 20th Anniversary Screening of ‘Michael Collins’ with Liam Neeson and Neil Jordan in attendance.

The Irish Academy continues to consolidate its work year on year, increasing international awareness of Irish production and creative talent, working with colleagues in worldwide Academies including the American Film Academy, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and the Film Academies Network of Europe (across 18 countries).