Bettystown actor Helen Behan nominated for IFTA
The IFTA Awards will return with a virtual ceremony later this month, airing on Virgin Media One at 10pm on Sunday, October 18th.
Taking place in a unique studio setting, the ceremony will bring the glitz and glam of Hollywood into our living rooms with a stellar line-up of A list stars presenting awards and delivering some very special messages to Ireland.
Bettystown’s own Helen Behan is one of this year’s nominees and Navan man Pierce Brosnan is set to present an award.
Renowned Hollywood Director, Martin Scorsese, will present the Best Irish Film award on the night. The revered film director previously delivered an IFTA masterclass in Dublin with over 500 Irish Academy filmmakers in attendance to hear from the master and receive advice from one of the most influential and renowned directors of all time.
He will be joined on the show by a superb line up of guest presenters that include Liam Neeson, Ruth Negga, Pierce Brosnan, Chris O’Dowd, Caitriona Balfe among many more.
Normal People stars, Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones will reunite on screen for the occasion, with a special message and to help showcase this year’s Irish nominees. On hand too will be the wild and fun-loving Derry Girls lending their unique brand of support and presenting an award.
Star Wars leading lady Daisy Ridley will be among the presenters on the Awards show. Ridley fell in love with Ireland while filming the epic Star Wars Irish location scenes in the worldwide Sci-Fi phenomenon in recent years and is excited to have a chance to say hello to her Irish friends again. No doubt she will be saying, “may the force be with you” or who knows, she may even say a ‘Cúpla Focal’!
The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, will also give his time to support the Academy and Ireland’s community of filmmakers and craftspeople. The President will give a special presentation for the Academy and the nominees on the night.
The show promises to be a great night of entertainment, with lots of surprises and funny moments too with Deirdre O’Kane at the helm who will act as the host for the fourth time, bringing her hilarious brand of comedy to proceedings and engaging with the Award Winners as they receive their news LIVE-ON-SCREEN that they’ve won the Irish Academy Award.
Nominees in the running this year include Andrew Scott, Jessie Buckley, Barry Keoghan, Saoirse Ronan, Brendan Gleeson, Niamh Algar, Tom Vaughan Lawlor, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, Sarah Green, Cillian Murphy, Ruth Negga, Moe Dunford, Caitriona Balfe, Adrian Dunbar, Bronagh Gallagher, Chris O’Dowd, Fiona Shaw, Stephen Rea, Seana Kerslake, Mark O’Halloran, Ruth Bradley, Dara Devaney, Charlie Murphy, Dónall Ó Héalaí, Catherine Walker, Liam Neeson, Emily Taaffe, Lorcan Cranitch, Ann Skelly, Owen McDonnell, Ingrid Craigie, Cillian O’ Gairbhí, Helen Behan among many others.
IFTA Chief Executive, Áine Moriarty said:
“We are thrilled to bring this amazing group of talented people onto the show virtually from around the world, to celebrate with our 2020 IFTA nominees. It’s been a difficult year, but it’s so important to acknowledge these achievements and to showcase Ireland’s vibrant filmmaking community and the brilliant work they are delivering to audiences around the world.”