IFTAS 2026 Nominations: Christy Leads with 14, Coogan Faces Day-Lewis

Brendan Canty’s Christy, the hard-edged social realist tale from Cork, has scored a chart-topping 14 nominations for the upcoming Irish Film & Television Academy Awards (Iftas). The well-reviewed title, which a year ago won top prize in the Generation 14plus category at Berlin International Film Festival, is up for best film, best director and, for its breakout star Daniel Power, best actor. “Once in a lifetime you come across the right group of people,” Canty says of his young, often non-professional cast. “It’s something you can’t force.” [ Christy: Clattering, noisy, joyful portrait of life in a troubled north Cork suburbOpens in new window ] Just behind, in second place with 12 Ifta nominations, is Saipan, Lisa Barros D’sa and Glenn Leyburn’s study of the tensions between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy before the 2002 Fifa World Cup in Japan. Éanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan, who play, respectively, footballer and coach, compete against Canty in an unusually starry best-actor line-up: Daniel Day-Lewis for Anemone, Colin Farrell for Ballad of a Small Player, and Cillian Murphy for Steve complete the six nominations. Jessie Buckley, unbackable favourite at the Oscars, will surely enter the Ifta best-actress race at even slimmer odds. The Kerry woman, star of the searing Hamnet, faces up against such veteran talents as Fiona Shaw, for Hot Milk, and Carrie Crowley, strong in the Irish-language Aontas, at the home derby. Hamnet competes in best international film against fellow Oscar hopefuls such as One Battle After Another, Sinners and Sentimental Value. “What a superb line-up of nominees this year,” Áine Moriarty, Ifta’s chief executive, says of the line-up, which honours Irish talent and Irish productions. “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. We look forward to rewarding their work and achievements at the ceremony in February.” There is also a strong showing for Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon. Largely shot in Dublin, and co-produced by Wild Atlantic Pictures, the film details the decline of Lorenz Hart, the legendary lyricist, as his former colleague Richard Rodgers, the composer, soaks up applause for the first night of Oklahoma! Andrew Scott, who plays Rodgers, competes against Paul Mescal, Buckley’s costar in Hamnet, in a tasty best-supporting-actor category. [ Jessie Buckley profile: From TV talent show runner-up to Golden Globes winnerOpens in new window ] In a slightly eccentric arrangement, the Iftas, now in their 23rd year, announce TV drama nominations on the same day as their film shortlists. Among the shows competing for best drama are the cop series Blue Lights, the Marian Keyes adaptation The Walsh Sisters and the Netflix comedy-horror romp Wednesday, which was shot in Ireland. Ciarán Hinds, among the nation’s most admired actors, will receive this year’s lifetime-achievement award. “I am deeply grateful to Ifta for this recognition,” the Belfast man says. “Their support for the cinematic and televisual arts over the past 20 years and more has been immense, and I am truly honoured to receive it. Thank you.” This year’s Ifta awards take place at Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Friday, February 20th. The comedian, actor and broadcaster Kevin McGahern returns as host. Iftas 2026: Film 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 Iftas 20206: Drama nominees Best drama Blue Lights Leonard and Hungry Paul Trespasses The Walsh Sisters Wednesday 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 Caitríona 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 Iftas 2026: International nominees 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 Iftas 2026: Documentary and short-film nominees George Morrison feature documentary A Want in Her The Essence of Eva Listen To The Land Speak Sanatorium Testimony Útoipe Cheilteach Redbreast short film award The Ban No Mean City No Time Wasters Nostalgie Punt Three Keenings Animated short Éiru Inside, The Valley Sings Rerooted Retirement Plan Iftas 2026: Craft nominees 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 Sculpted by Aimee 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