IRISHFILMTV.COM
your premiere source for Irish talent news
The announcement of this year’s Academy Awards shortlist has sparked celebration across Ireland’s film industry, prompting President Catherine Connolly to publicly recognize the remarkable achievement of the nation’s creative talent. Taking to social media platform X, she extended her congratulations to Jessie Buckley, John Kelly, Richard Baneham, Maggie O’Farrell, Element Pictures, and Wild Atlantic Pictures, praising not only their individual nominations but the continued international recognition that Ireland’s film industry has earned on the world stage.
The sweep of Irish talent across multiple categories demonstrates the depth and breadth of the country’s cinematic contributions. Element Pictures emerged as a standout with four nominations for BUGONIA, prompting co-chief executive Ed Guiney to express his pride in everyone involved with the production. His statement reflected both gratitude and vindication, noting the film’s wonderful reception throughout awards season and the delight of seeing their work acknowledged at such a prestigious level. The multiple nominations for a single Irish-backed production underscore the collaborative excellence that has become synonymous with the company’s output.
Dublin native Richard Baneham continues his extraordinary relationship with the Academy, earning recognition in the visual effects category for his contributions to AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH. This nomination is particularly significant given that Baneham already possesses two Oscar statuettes from his work on previous installments of the AVATAR franchise, establishing him as one of the most accomplished Irish technicians in the global film industry. His continued involvement in one of cinema’s most ambitious and technically demanding series speaks to the caliber of expertise Ireland exports to major international productions.
Wild Atlantic Pictures secured its place in the conversation with BLUE MOON, which garnered nominations in two distinct categories that highlight both craft and performance. The film’s recognition for best original screenplay acknowledges the writing talent behind the production, while Ethan Hawke’s nomination for best actor brings star power to Ireland’s Oscar presence. The dual recognition positions BLUE MOON as a significant artistic achievement that resonates across multiple aspects of filmmaking, from the foundational elements of storytelling to the execution of performance.
The animation sector also represents Ireland strongly this year, with RETIREMENT PLAN competing for the best animated short film award. Voiced by Domhnall Gleeson, whose own international profile has risen steadily through diverse roles, the short film benefited from crucial support through Screen Ireland’s Frameworks animated short film scheme. The partnership between Screen Ireland, RTÉ, and the production team illustrates how strategic investment in creative infrastructure can yield internationally competitive work. The film’s availability on the RTÉ Player ensures that domestic audiences can engage with the same content that captured the attention of Academy voters, creating a direct connection between national support systems and global recognition.
Collectively, these nominations paint a portrait of an Irish film industry firing on all cylinders, from intimate animated shorts to sweeping visual effects spectacles, from original screenwriting to acclaimed performances. The recognition spans production companies, individual craftspeople, writers, and performers, suggesting that Ireland’s cinematic success is not confined to any single specialty but rather reflects a comprehensive ecosystem of talent and support. As the filmmakers prepare to attend the ceremony, they carry with them not just their own ambitions but the hopes of an entire industry that has worked tirelessly to establish Ireland as a significant force in international cinema. President Connolly’s congratulations serve as both acknowledgment of what has been achieved and encouragement for what continues to unfold as Ireland’s creative voices reach ever larger audiences on the world’s most prominent stages.
The awards season darling you`ve been hearing about is finally streaming.
Chloé Zhao`s HAMNET—the haunting exploration of grief, love, and the creation of Shakespeare`s HAMLET—brings together Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley in performances that have kept both firmly in the Oscar conversation.
If you missed it theatrically, now`s your chance to see what the buzz is about before Oscar night. This is the kind of film that reminds you why cinema matters.
More HAMNET at irishfilmtv.com.
Taylor Swift just dropped the OPALITE music video and it`s giving major Irish vibes ☘️✨
The nearly 6-minute visual sees Domhnall Gleeson starring as Taylor`s love interest, playing two lonely souls who find each other. But here`s where it gets even better: eagle-eyed Swifties spotted cameos from Cillian Murphy and Graham Norton, making this a full-on Irish affair.
Want the full breakdown of this transatlantic collaboration? Head to our blog for all the details on how this stunning video came together. Link in bio! 🔗
The creator of DERRY GIRLS just dropped a murder mystery set at an Irish wake, and honestly? It`s the genre mashup we didn`t know we needed 🕵️♀️
Lisa McGee is back with HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST on Netflix, and if you loved how she found humor in the Troubles (Protestants! Toasters! Cupboards!), you`re going to eat this up.
Three friends reunite for their childhood bestie`s funeral, only to realize her death isn`t what it seems. Cue an eerie adventure across Ireland that`s equal parts creepy and hilarious.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
British Vogue just put Jessie Buckley on their February cover and it`s not just a magazine shoot—it`s a coronation.
Shot by Jack Davison on the windswept Norfolk coast near her home, these images are pure cinema. Sky, sea, and a woman at the exact moment her entire life is about to change.
She`s the frontrunner for Best Actress. HAMNET is destroying audiences. She`s a new mother standing at the edge of the kind of fame that alters everything.
And Vogue captured it all—the grit, the greatness, the quiet mastery that got her here.
More Jessie at irishfilmtv.com.
Caitriona Balfe has just landed her next major role in THE HOUSEKEEPER.
Set in a grand historic manor against Cornwall`s dramatic landscape, Balfe plays Danni, a housekeeper who falls into a forbidden affair with none other than writer Daphne du Maurier (played by Mackenzi Laird).
While we`re counting down to OUTLANDER`s final season premiere on Mar 6th, Balfe is already proving she`s so much more than Claire Fraser. 🔥
More Caitriona at irishfilmtv.com.
After over 20 years of mesmerizing us on screen, Saoirse Ronan is ready to call the shots—literally.
The four-time Oscar nominee is making her directorial debut with PAPER PLANE, an Irish short film she`s also writing, and honestly, this feels like the natural next chapter for someone who`s been acting since she was nine years old.
Details about PAPER PLANE are still under wraps, but with Ronan`s track record, expectations are sky-high. What are you most excited to see from her behind the camera? 🎬
More Saoirse at irishfilmtv.com.
Louis Paxton`s Sundance 2026 debut THE INCOMER stars Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, and Grant O`Rourke in a trio that`s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
Think fish-out-of-water meets generational grief, wrapped in the warmth of fireside hot chocolate. Sometimes the scariest thing isn`t a legendary Fin Man—it`s letting go of the past.
Have you ever held onto something because changing felt like betrayal?
More Domhnall at irishfilmtv.com.
🎸 THE BEATLES ARE COMING BACK TO CINEMAS.
Four films. Four perspectives. One legendary band.
Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney. Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
The first look just dropped via postcards hidden around Liverpool`s performing arts campus and honestly?
The hype is REAL. 🔥
Sam Mendes is directing all four films, each told from a different Beatle`s POV, and they`re ALL releasing on the same day—April 7, 2028.
Which Beatle`s story are you most excited to see? 👇
Irish talent is absolutely dominating the 2026 BAFTA nominations! 🇮🇪✨
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal both scored major noms for HAMNET, with Buckley up for Leading Actress as Agnes and Mescal recognized for Supporting Actor as William Shakespeare. The film has basically swept the nominations, breaking records left and right.
But that`s just the beginning. Andrew Scott landed on the longlist for BLUE MOON, Robbie Ryan got recognized for his stunning cinematography on BUGONIA, and even Cillian Murphy appears as a producer on the STEVE longlist.
From performers to cinematographers to production companies like Element Pictures and Wild Atlantic Pictures, Irish voices are everywhere in this year`s race.
The ceremony hits London on February 22nd. The world is watching Irish cinema right now, and what a moment to witness. 🎬🔥
#Ireland #Irish #Movies #Film #Television #TV #Cinema #Irishmovies #IrishFilm #IrishCinema #Actor #ActorsLife #IrishActor #BAFTA #BAFTAs #BAFTA2026 #JessieBuckley #PaulMescal #AndrewScott #CillianMurphy #RobbieRyan #Hamnet #AwardsSeason #IrishTalent #FilmTwitter #Filmmaking #IrishProud
