THE NOMINEES FOR the Irish Film and Television Awards have been announced and actor Jessie Buckley is in the running for yet another honour for her role in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet.

Buckley recently picked up a Golden Globe for her role in the highly acclaimed film, in which she plays William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes, alongside Paul Mescal (also nominated today) as The Bard himself.

Coming out on top in terms of nominations is Christy, which is in the running for 14 awards. 

Next in line is Saipan with 12 nods, then Blue Moon (8), Four Mothers (7) and Aontas (6).

The poster for Saipan Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The big ones 

The line-up of nominees showcases what was a very productive 2025 for Irish film and television talent both at home and abroad. 

In the Best Film category, Aontas, Blue Moon, Christy, Four Mothers, Saipan and Steve have all received nominations.

The TV productions in the running for Best Drama are Blue Lights, Leonard and Hungry Paul, Trespasses, The Walsh Sisters, Wednesday (season 2) and The Young Offenders.

In the Lead Actor category, Steve Coogan has received a nod for his portrayal of Irish football manager Mick McCarthy in Saipan. 

A still from Báite TG4 TG4

Coogan is up against Daniel Day-Lewis (Anemone), Colin Farrell (Ballad of a Small Player), Éanna Hardwicke (also Saipan), Cillian Murphy (Stev) and Daniel Power (Christy).

Nominated alongside Jessie Buckley in the Lead Actress category are Carolyn Bracken (Horseshoe), Carrie Crowley (Aontas), Fionnula Flanagan (Four Mothers), Eleanor O’Brien (Báite) and Fiona Shaw (Hot Milk).

Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare in Hamnet Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

In the Best Director category, there are nominations for Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Saipan), Brendan Canty (Christy), Myrid Carten (A Want in Her), Lorcan Finnegan (The Surfer), Ruán Magan (Báite) as well as Edwin Mullane and Adam O’Keeffe (Horseshoe).

“What a superb line-up of Nominees this year shortlisted for Irish Academy Awards,” said the Irish Academy’s CEO Áine Moriarty. 

“This incredible showcase of work reinforces the fact that Irish talent is truly amongst the best in the world, working both in front and behind the camera across the globe.”

The ceremony itself will be held on 20 February and actor Ciarán Hinds will receive a lifetime achievement award. 

Full list of nominations below.

Lifetime achievement 

The Belfast man has a long and impressive list of credits to his name in both films and television series, including an Oscar-nominated role as supporting actor in Belfast in 2022. 

He has also starred in films like Munich, Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, There Will Be Blood, Road to Perdition and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. 

Ciarán Hinds in a scene from Midwinter Break (2026) Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

On the small screen, Hinds played Julius Caesar in HBO’s series Rome as well as Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones.

On the stage, Hinds has spent periods of his career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre in London and the Glasgow Citizen’s Theatre. 

Full list of nominees 

Best Film

Aontas

Blue Moon

Christy

Four Mothers

Saipan

Steve

Director – Film

Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn – Saipan

Brendan Canty – Christy

Myrid Carten – A Want in Her

Lorcan Finnegan – The Surfer

Ruán Magan – Báite

Edwin Mullane, Adam O’Keeffe – Horseshoe

Script – Film

Sarah Gordon, Damian McCann – Aontas

Maggie O’Farrell, Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

Alan O’Gorman – Christy

Sheena Lambert – Báite

Darren Thornton, Colin Thornton – Four Mothers

Enda Walsh – Die My Love

Lead Actor – Film

Steve Coogan – Saipan

Daniel Day-Lewis – Anemone

Colin Farrell – Ballad of a Small Player

Éanna Hardwicke – Saipan

Cillian Murphy – Steve

Daniel Power – Christy 

Lead Actress – Film 

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet

Carolyn Bracken – Horseshoe

Carrie Crowley – Aontas

Fionnula Flanagan – Four Mothers

Eleanor O’Brien – Báite

Fiona Shaw – Hot Milk

Supporting Actor – Film 

Liam Cunningham – Palestine 36

Jamie Forde – Christy

Paul Mescal – Hamnet

Diarmuid Noyes – Christy

Seán T. Ó Meallaigh – Aontas

Andrew Scott – Blue Moon

Supporting Actress – Film 

Brid Brennan – Aontas

Kerry Condon – F1

Sarah Greene – Trad

Dearbhla Molloy – Four Mothers

Kerry Condon – Train Dreams

Emma Willis – Christy

Best Drama 

Blue Lights

Leonard and Hungry Paul

Trespasses

The Walsh Sisters

Wednesday S2

The Young Offenders

Director – Drama

Rachel Carey – Obituary

Megan K Fox – Video Nasty

Oonagh Kearney – The Au Pair

Mia Mullarkey – Hidden Assets

Hugh O’Conor – Showkids

Aisling Walsh – Miss Austen

Script – Drama

Peter Foott – The Young Offenders

Ailbhe Keogan – Trespasses

Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson – Blue Lights

Cara Loftus – Hidden Assets

Stefanie Preissner – The Walsh Sisters

Hugh Travers – Video Nasty

Lead actor – Drama

Anthony Boyle – House of Guinness

Pierce Brosnan – MobLand

Domhnall Gleeson – The Paper

Martin McCann – Blue Lights

Aaron Monaghan – Hidden Assets

Alex Murphy – The Young Offenders

Lead Actress – Drama 

Niamh Algar – The Iris Affair

Caitriona Balfe – Outlander

Siobhán Cullen – Obituary

Louisa Harland – The Walsh Sisters

Nora-Jane Noone – Hidden Assets

Lola Petticrew – Trespasses

Supporting Actor – Drama

Jack Gleeson – House of Guinness

Cal O’Driscoll – Video Nasty

Dónall Ó Héalai – Hidden Assets

Fionn O’Shea – House of Guinness

Aidan Quinn – The Walsh Sisters

Chris Walley – The Young Offenders

Supporting Actress – Drama

Cathy Belton – Hidden Assets

Ruth Bradley – Slow Horses

Katherine Devlin – Blue Lights

Danielle Galligan – House of Guinness

Alison Oliver – Task

Genevieve O’Reilly – Andor 

International categories 

International Film

Bugonia

Hamnet

One Battle After Another

Palestine ’36

Sentimental Value

Sinners

International Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another

Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon

Michael B Jordan – Sinners

James McArdle – Four Mothers

Sean Penn – One Battle After Another

Jesse Plemons – Bugonia

International Actress 

Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another

Jennifer Lawrence – Die My Love

Margaret Qualley – Blue Moon

Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value

Emma Stone – Bugonia

Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Documentaries and short films 

Feature Documentary 

A Want in Her

The Essence of Eva

Listen To The Land Speak

Sanatorium

Testimony

Útoipe Cheilteach

Short Film

The Ban

No Mean City

No Time Wasters

Nostalgie

Punt

Three Keenings

Animated Short 

Éiru

Inside, The Valley Sings

Rerooted

Retirement Plan

Production

Cinematography 

Bugonia – Robbie Ryan

Christy – Colm Hogan

Die My Love – Seamus McGarvey

Saipan – Piers McGrail

Severance – Suzie Lavelle

Casting 

Christy – Amy Rowan

Four Mothers – Louise Kiely

The Rainmaker – Emma Gunnery

Ready Or Not – Maureen Hughes

Saipan – Aine O’Sullivan

Costume Design 

Blue Moon – Consolata Boyle

Christy – Hannah Bury

Four Mothers – Joan O’Cleary

Saipan – Lara Campbell

Video Nasty – Joanne O’Brien

Editing

Blue Lights – Helen Sheridan

Christy – Allyn Quigley

House of Guinness – Ben Yeates

Saipan – John Murphy, Gavin Buckley

The Surfer – Tony Cranstoun

Make-up and Hair 

Blue Moon – Linda Gannon, Liz Byrne

Christy – Jennie Readman, Edwina Kelly

Saipan – Polly McKay

Trespasses – Natalie Reid

Wednesday – Lynn Johnston

Original Music  

Aontas – Daithí Ó Drónaí

Báite – Eimear Noone, Craig Stuart Garfinkle

Christy – Daithí Ó Drónaí

Saipan – David Holmes, Brian Irvine

Video Nasty – Die Hexen

Production Design 

Blue Moon – Susie Cullen, Kevin Downey

Christy – Martin Goulding

Saipan – John Leslie

Wednesday – Philip Murphy, Neville Gaynor

Video Nasty – Tara O’Reilly

Sound

Anemone – Steve Fanagan

Blue Moon – Hugh Fox

Saipan – Tim Harrison, Andrew Graham, Paul Maynes

The Surfer – Aza Hand

Video Nasty – Patrick Downey

VFX

Anemone – Tom Fagan

Foundation – Ed Bruce, Andrew Barry

House of Guinness – Eoin O’Sullivan, David Sewell

One Battle After Another – Ed Bruce, Amrei Bronnenmayer