The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced that Irish-language feature thriller Aontas has been selected to represent Ireland in the Oscars® International Feature Film category at the upcoming 99th annual Academy Awards.

 

The film follows in the footsteps of Oscar-nominated An Cailín Ciúin (2023) and Oscar-shortlisted Kneecap (2024) and will compete with other films from around the world in non-english languages for next year’s Academy Awards. Each country can enter just one film to represent their country in this category.

Directed by Damian McCann, Aontas is an Irish-language heist thriller starring Carrie Crowley (The Quiet Girl /An Cailín Ciúin), Bríd Brennan, Eva-Jane Gaffney, Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Marcus Lamb and Art Parkinson. Told in reverse chronology, the film follows three unlikely thieves, led by a woman on the verge of a breakdown, who rob a rural Irish Credit Union (Bank). Opening in the tragic aftermath of the heist-gone-wrong. What starts as a poorly executed robbery becomes a portrait of a wilful woman trapped in her own past.

Written by Sarah Gordon & Damian McCann and produced by Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh and Christopher Myers for Púca Pictures, with funding from TG4, BBC Gaeilge and Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, and support from Yellowmoon.

Aontas was selected by IFTA’s 2026 Selection Committee of screen professionals; Lisa McGee, IFTA & BAFTA-winning writer (Derry Girls, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast), Aisha Tyler (Chair), Emmy-winning actor & filmmaker (Friends, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends); Brian Kirk, IFTA & BAFTA-nominated filmmaker (Game of Thrones, 21 Bridges) and Kathryn Ferguson, IFTA winner & BAFTA-nominated (Nothing Compares, Nostalgie); Lee Cronin, IFTA-nominated filmmaker (Evil Dead Rise, The Mummy), Fionnuala Flaherty, IFTA-nominated actor (Kneecap, Foscadh); and Áine Moriarty, IFTA Chief Executive.

With six (6) IFTA Nominations in Ireland, Aontas premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and has screened at 40 Film Festivals worldwide, picking up ten (10) international Awards along the way.

Áine Moriarty, IFTA Chief Executive said:

“IFTA is delighted to announce that Aontas will represent Ireland in the upcoming International Feature Film category at the Oscars. What an intriguing and clever twist on the classic bank heist narrative, with powerful female performances at its core by Carrie Crowley, Bríd Brennan and Eva-Jane Gaffney. This wonderful Irish language film is resonating with audiences worldwide - congratulations to the filmmakers, cast and crew”.

Director Damian McCann added:

“It is such an honour that Aontas has been selected to represent Ireland at the 99th Academy Awards. Thank you so much to IFTA and to the committee for their support. I was bringing some soggy washing in out of the rain when the news arrived - what a turnaround of a day!

We’ve been overwhelmed by the film’s journey so far - what feels like a very specifically Irish story seems to have really resonated with International audiences. My co-writer Sarah Gordon and I wrote the script in the attic of our house and we shot over 18 rainy days in the Glens of Antrim. We could never have imagined that this is where the journey might take us, but it’s a testament to the staggering graft and boundless optimism of our cast and crew.

I’m particularly proud to follow the Irish language films that have already blazed this trail - the result of a deliberate and ambitious decades-long investment in filmmaking as Gaeilge. In that spirit I’d like to thank the film’s funders, (the same people who have been backing my work for twenty years) the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, TG4, BBC Gaeilge and Yellowmoon.”

Go n-éirí an bóthar linn!"

Máire Ní Chonláin, Commissioning Editor, TG4 said:

“We are absolutely thrilled that Aontas has been chosen by IFTA as Ireland’s entry for Best International Feature Film. It is a wonderful recognition of the talent and creativity behind this remarkable film. Damian McCann, Sarah Gordon, Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh, Christopher Myers and the entire cast and crew have created a distinctive and compelling piece of cinema, rooted in place in Northern Ireland, that has connected with audiences around the world. TG4 is immensely proud to have supported Aontas, and we wish the whole team every success on this exciting next stage of its international journey.”

Deirdre Ní Choistín, Director General, TG4 added:

“The selection of Aontas by IFTA to represent Ireland on the international stage is another hugely significant moment for TG4, and a powerful endorsement of original Irish-language creativity and storytelling. Five TG4 films have been selected by IFTA as Ireland's entry for the Best International Feature Film in recent years. An Cailín Ciúin went on to make history at the Academy Awards in 2023 showing again that original stories told through the Irish language can resonate profoundly with audiences across the world.  Aontas continues that momentum and demonstrates the extraordinary creative talent working in our independent production sector.

"We are enormously proud of our relationship with Northern Ireland Screen's Irish Language Broadcast Fund and with BBC Gaeilge through the Gealán scheme. Congratulations to Damian, Sarah and Órfhlaith and everyone else involved in Aontas ”

Áine Walsh, Northern Ireland Screen Chief Language & Cultural Officer & Head of Irish Language Broadcast Fund, said;   

“We are absolutely delighted to see Aontas selected as Ireland’s entry for Best International Feature at the 2027 Academy Awards. This is a remarkable achievement for everyone involved and a powerful endorsement of Gealán, our low-budget feature film partnership with BBC Northern Ireland and TG4, which was established to create opportunities for Irish language storytellers to develop bold and distinctive cinematic work.

 

We are particularly proud that director and writer Damian McCann first came through the industry as an Irish Language Broadcast Fund New Entrant trainee almost 20 years ago. His journey from emerging talent to filmmaker on the international stage demonstrates the value of nurturing creative voices and supporting careers over the long term.

 

This achievement reflects not only the vision of the filmmakers but also the growing confidence, quality and international appeal of Irish-language screen content. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the entire team behind Aontas and look forward to seeing the film represent Ireland on the world stage.”

Karen Kirby, Commissioning Executive, BBC Gaeilge added:

 

“Lúcháir, bród, ar bís – so many words of pride and delight at hearing the news that Aontas has been chosen by IFTA as Ireland’s entry in the International Film category at the Academy Awards. Comhghairdeas le Damian, Sarah, Órfhlaith, Chris and the entire cast and crew who created a magnificent film which has emerged from its beginnings in a small, rural village in County Antrim to reach the biggest stage in the film world. It has been my pleasure to work alongside colleagues in TG4 and Northern Ireland Screen’s ILBF from the initial draft script in Gaeilge bhinn chúige Uladh and to watch the impact the film has made wherever it has travelled. Mo cheol sibh. Go n-éirí linn!”

Oscars® Dates & Announcements

The Oscars® International Feature shortlist will be announced on Tuesday, 15th December 2026, and the final five Nominees will be announced on Thursday, 21st January 2027. The 99th Academy Awards Ceremony (the Oscars®) takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday, 14th March, 2027.