IFTA BOARD

• Liam Cunningham
  Actor

  Irish actor Liam Cunningham has appeared in both the highest, and second highest, grossing Irish independent film The Guard (2011) and The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006). In 2012, Cunningham joined the main cast for the second season of HBO's Game of Thrones and was nominated for an IFTA for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Drama in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and he won the award in 2018.

• Áine Moriarty
  IFTA CEO

  Áine Moriarty is the Founder and CEO of the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA), which celebrates 23 Years in 2026. The Academy is a not-for-profit, all Ireland organisation, with 1,300 Members of industry professionals. IFTA works with industry stakeholders, Government departments, and international agencies to showcase the Irish screen industry and talent to the world. As well as the annual IFTA Awards, the Academy hosts a year-round Programme of Learning events (Forums, Discussions and Masterclasses in Ireland) welcoming filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Chloé Zhao. Other initiatives include the IFTA Women In Focus series (recently welcomed Judi Dench); IFTA Creative Minds & Wellbeing events (recently welcomed Deepak Chopra); The IFTA Screen Dynamic/Diverse events with Coimisiún na Meán (nurturing talent from diverse backgrounds/communities in Ireland); The John Ford Film Symposium with guests such as Clint Eastwood, Peter Bogdanovich and Bertrand Tavernier. Áine is the Executive Producer of the annual IFTA Awards Ceremony & Broadcast for the past 18 years, which has presented 794 Irish Academy Award statuettes for Excellence over the years. This includes tributes to 27 Irish Industry Veterans such as Maureen O’Hara, Fionnula Flanagan, Gay Byrne, and Liam Neeson for their Lifetime contribution to the industry. Áine is a founding member of the Film Academies Network of Europe; a member of the European Film Academy; the Audio-visual Federation of Ireland; Screen Producers Ireland; and the Kerry Film Steering Group.

• Múirne Laffan
  

  Muirne Laffan has over twenty years of experience in new media technologies, evolving consumer behaviour and smart platform economics. In her previous role, she was the Managing Director of RTÉ Digital, where she worked for sixteen years, and was instrumental in setting up GAAGO, which helped bring our national games to a global audience. Prior to that, she was VP, Media Director at Universal McCann in New York, and was Chairperson of the Digital Steering Committee for the European Broadcasting Union (from 2015 to 2017). She is also a Non Executive Director of the Abbey Theatre.

• John Gleeson
  Partner - Head of Media and Entertainment, Grant Thornton

  John leads Grant Thornton's Irish, Northern Irish and International Media and Entertainment Practice. He has over 23 years commercial experience in providing tax advice and advisory services to individuals and corporates across a range of issues and tax heads - with a particular focus on the media and entertainment sector. John has particular experience in film and television projects having raised finance and advised on a broad range of transactions involving large international television series, animation series for the US market and numerous feature films including: Vikings, Ripper Street, Cardboard Gangsters, The Breadwinner, Nightflyers and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

• Nick Linnane
  Nick Linnane & Co

  Nick Linnane is Managing Director of Nick Linnane & Co which provides financial & business advice and accountancy services to businesses in Ireland and have offices in Dublin city and Westmeath. Nick works with a wide range of businesses in Ireland from media and technology to manufacturing and publishing.

• Joe Ryan
  

  Joe Ryan is Vice President at international specialist Overhaul. His expertise includes designing and implementing process improvement and developing new innovative solutions that bring better customer experiences, vertical horizontal and cultural alignment for organisations to achieve their strategic goals.