Ireland’s BAFTA Award longlist noms

Ireland's BAFTA nominations

The groundbreaking Irish language film KNEECAP has earned recognition across seven categories in the 2025 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) longlist. The semi-autobiographical film, which chronicles a west Belfast hip-hop trio’s mission to preserve the Irish language, was helmed by writer-director-producer Rich Peppiatt.

The film’s longlist nominations span major categories including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, Film not in English Language, Original Screenplay, Best Casting and Best Editing.

Irish cinema continues to make its mark at the BAFTAs, with THE APPRENTICE securing spots in six longlist categories, including Best Film. Additionally, acclaimed Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has been longlisted for Leading Actress for her performance in THE OUTRUN, while the short film CLODAGH, directed by Portia A. Buckley and featuring Bríd Ní Neachtain and Katelyn Rose Downey, has advanced in the Best British Short Film category.

BAFTA members will now review the longlisted entries to determine the final nominees, which will be revealed on January 15. The winners will be announced at the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, scheduled for February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

January 10, 2025

Irish Film

Bafta, Ireland

Ireland’s SAG Award nominations

Ireland's SAG nominations

Three Irish stars have earned nominations for the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, building on their recent awards season momentum.

Nicola Coughlan received recognition in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series category for her role in BRIDGERTON. The actress shared her reaction on Instagram, expressing shock and gratitude for the nomination.

In the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series category, both Colin Farrell and Andrew Scott secured nominations for their respective performances in THE PENGUIN and RIPLEY. Farrell’s nomination comes fresh off his Golden Globe win for the DC Comics series, while Scott was also a contender in the same Golden Globes category.

The 31st annual SAG Awards ceremony will stream live on Netflix from The Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles on February 23, with Kristen Bell serving as host.

January 9, 2025

Irish Film, Irish Television

Ireland, SAG Awards

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN now streaming

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN, the critically acclaimed 2024 Irish film adaptation, has achieved a remarkable 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and recently claimed the prestigious Best Irish Film award at the IFTA Awards (Ireland’s equivalent of the Oscars).

The film, which has just been added to BBC iPlayer, masterfully adapts John McGahern’s final novel. Set in the 1980s, it follows Joe (Barry Ward) and Kate Ruttledge (Anna Bederke), a couple who leave London behind to embrace life in a tranquil Irish lakeside community near Joe’s childhood home.

What makes the film’s success particularly noteworthy is director Pat Collins’s bold artistic choice to maintain the novel’s unconventional “anti-novel” approach. Rather than introducing artificial drama, Collins preserved McGahern’s original vision of a story stripped of traditional plot devices. This innovative approach, focusing on the quiet rhythm of rural life through “the rituals of work, play and the passing seasons,” has resonated strongly with critics and audiences alike.

The film’s triumph challenges conventional filmmaking wisdom, proving that a “lyrical celebration of the everyday” can captivate viewers without relying on dramatic plot points. Collins’s faithful adaptation honors McGahern’s original intention, expressed to the Observer in 2005, of “taking drama out” to create something dramatically powerful in its very absence.

This artistic gamble has paid off magnificently, with the film now garnering international attention through its BBC iPlayer release, marking a significant achievement for Irish cinema and demonstrating the enduring appeal of thoughtful, contemplative storytelling.

January 3, 2025

Irish Film

Drama, That They May Face The Rising Sun

Irish on-screen talent in 2025

Michael Fassbender in BLACK BAG

2025 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for Irish actors in cinema, with several of the country’s finest talents taking center stage in highly anticipated productions.

Michael Fassbender and Pierce Brosnan, two of Ireland’s most celebrated actors, are joining forces in Steven Soderbergh’s espionage thriller BLACK BAG. The film, arriving in March, promises to be a sophisticated addition to the genre, with these Irish veterans sharing the screen with Cate Blanchett and an ensemble cast.

Colin Farrell makes his eagerly awaited return to the big screen in Kogonada’s A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY. This marks Farrell’s first role since his acclaimed performance in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, and the dreamy romance seems poised to showcase the Dublin native’s remarkable range alongside Margot Robbie.

Perhaps most excitingly, Cork’s own Cillian Murphy, fresh from his Oscar victory, returns to the franchise that helped launch his career with 28 YEARS LATER. The continuation of 28 DAYS LATER saga reunites Murphy with original creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, suggesting this zombie apocalypse will be worth the two-decade wait.

Rounding out this impressive year, Jessie Buckley, one of Ireland’s most versatile performers, takes on the iconic role in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s THE BRIDE! The Mayo actress leads this ambitious sci-fi musical reimagining of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, adding another fascinating project to her already diverse portfolio.

This stellar lineup demonstrates the continuing impact of Irish talent on global cinema, with these performers taking on challenging roles across various genres, from sophisticated thrillers to avant-garde musicals. 2025 looks set to be another banner year for Ireland’s contribution to international film.

January 1, 2025

Irish Film

#Movies, Ireland

Barry Keoghan in HURRY UP TOMORROW

Keoghan in HURRY UP TOMORROW

Barry Keoghan is set to star in a new psychological thriller alongside Jenna Ortega, titled HURRY UP TOMORROW.

The film, which shares its name with The Weeknd’s upcoming album, will hit North American theaters on May 16, 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project brings together several notable collaborators. Trey Edward Shults, known for A24 films like, WAVES and IT COMES AT NIGHT, will direct the musically-driven thriller. Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never), a frequent creative partner of The Weeknd, will contribute to the film’s soundtrack alongside The Weeknd’s own music. The film is being produced by Lionsgate in partnership with The Weeknd’s production company, Manic Phase.

For an actor most people didn’t know existed two years ago — and now that they do, are still trying to figure out how to pronounce his name — Barry Keoghan has become an incredibly seen young performer. After an Oscar nomination for 2022’s THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN; the hurricane of memes, snark, and discourse around last year’s SALTBURN; and a publicity-friendly relationship with pop girlie du jour Sabrina Carpenter, Keoghan went from “Oh, that kid in DUNKIRK?” to one of 2024’s rodent boyfriends.

This come-up is funny if you’re one of the few people who have been following Keoghan’s career since he played the creepy kid who probably poisons Colin Farrell’s family in Yorgos Lanthimos’s 2017 movie THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER. Keoghan won fans among the cinephile set for the aloof intensity he demonstrates there, which could be dialed up for a movie like THE GREEN KNIGHT or down to suit the snappy superhero needs of ETERNALS.

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December 31, 2024

Irish Film

Barry Keoghan, Hurry Up Tomorrow

Ireland’s Oscar contenders

Ireland's Oscar contenders

Irish cinema has achieved remarkable recognition in the 2025 Oscar shortlists, with multiple projects advancing across several categories.

KNEECAP has made history as only the second Irish-language film to be shortlisted for Best International Feature Film, following AN CAILÍN CIÚIN (THE QUIET GIRL) in 2022. Selected from 85 international submissions, KNEECAP is among 15 finalists and has also been shortlisted for Best Original Song. The film depicts the formation of the groundbreaking Irish-language rap group in west Belfast in 2019. Following its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival, where it became the first Irish-language film to win the NEXT strand Audience Award, KNEECAP has garnered critical acclaim internationally.

THE APPRENTICE, produced by Irish company Tailored Films, has advanced in the Best Make Up and Hairstyling category. Directed by Ali Abassi and written by Gabe Sherman, this Canadian/Irish/Danish co-production explores Donald Trump’s early rise to power through his relationship with influential right-wing lawyer Roy Cohn.

In the Best Live Action Short category, two Irish films have been shortlisted: ROOM TAKEN and CLODAGH. ROOM TAKEN, funded through Screen Ireland’s Focus Shorts scheme and directed by TJ O’Grady Peyton, tells the story of a homeless immigrant who forms an unexpected bond with an elderly blind woman after secretly taking shelter in her home.

Nominations voting runs January 8-12, 2025, with nominations announced on January 17, 2025. The 97th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.

December 28, 2024

Irish Film

Academy Awards, Ireland

1 Comment

BIRD now streaming

BIRN Now streaming on Mubi

Barry Keoghan’s newest film, BIRD, was released in cinemas last month. Now, the acclaimed hit is available to stream from home. A blend of coming-of-age drama, crime thriller, and fantasy has an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming on Mubi, a platform that showcases less mainstream cinema, the film centers around a 12-year-old girl living in a squat in a rough council estate with her chaotic, young, drug-dealing father, played by Keoghan.

Keoghan’s breakthrough came with his chilling performance in THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER (2017) alongside Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman, where he played a manipulative teenager named Martin.

He gained wider recognition with several significant roles. In Christopher Nolan’s DUNKIRK (2017), he played George, a young civilian sailor. He earned an Oscar nomination for his role as Dominic Kearney in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (2022), and appeared briefly as the Joker in a deleted scene from THE BATMAN (2022). More recently, he starred as Oliver Quick alongside Jacob Elordi in SALTBURN (2023), and played Lt. Curtis Biddick in the Apple TV+ series MASTERS OF THE AIR (2024).

Keoghan has established himself as one of the most interesting actors of his generation, often taking on complex, darkly compelling roles that showcase his range. His performances frequently combine vulnerability with unsettling undertones, making him particularly effective in psychological dramas and thrillers.

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December 27, 2024

Irish Film

Barry Keoghan, Bird

ALL OF US STRANGERS tops Guardian’s 2024 list

ALL OF US STRANGERS tops Guardian 2024 list

The Guardian has picked its top films of 2024 and, Andrew Scott’s ALL OF US STRANGERS, tops the list! At the heart of Andrew Haigh’s moving drama lies an exploration of profound human experiences. The film artfully navigates the depths of loss and isolation while illuminating how human connection can serve as a beacon through life’s darkest moments.

The story centers on Adam (Andrew Scott), a solitary television writer in London. His life takes an unexpected turn after a chance encounter with Harry, an enigmatic neighbor. While their initial connection falters, fate brings them together again. Meanwhile, Adam experiences something extraordinary – visiting his childhood home, he encounters his parents, who died when he was twelve. Rather than questioning this impossible reunion, he embraces the opportunity to know them as an adult, while simultaneously opening himself to a deepening relationship with Harry.

Haigh crafts a narrative that defies easy categorization. Though it carries elements of both ghost story and time travel tale, it transcends these genres to become something more nuanced. The film maintains a delicate balance between stark realism and ethereal atmosphere, creating a dreamlike meditation on identity, possibility, and the nature of love. Despite its underlying themes of loss and grief, the film remains fundamentally hopeful.

The result is a haunting yet beautiful work that speaks to anyone who has experienced love or longing. It’s a rare piece of cinema that allows viewers to reflect deeply on their own lives while witnessing a story that feels both impossibly magical and profoundly real.

Watch ALL OF STRANGERS on Amazon prime.