Irish Film & Television Academy 2025 nominees announced - "Kneecap" and Cillian Murphy taking the lead

Dubbed "The Irish Oscars," the 2025 IFTA nominees have been revealed with the Belfast rap movie "Kneecap" and "Small Things Like These" based on Claire Keegan's novella being the stars of the show. 

Movies "Kneecap" and Cillian Murphy's "Small Things Like These" are the runaway winners when it comes to nominations with 17 and nine nominations, respectively.

In the TV categories, the controversial Troubles drama "Say Nothing" is up for ten nominations while Sharon Horgan's wildly popular "Bad Sisters" received eight nominations. 

Award winners will be announced at the 22nd anniversary IFTA Awards ceremony on Friday, February 14 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. 

This prestigious event will welcome Irish and international industry luminaries, celebrating artistic and technical brilliance while spotlighting the profound impact of Irish filmmaking craft and storytelling both domestically and globally. This year, iconic actor Colm Meaney will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to cinema and television.

Academy CEO, Áine Moriarty said: “The 2025 nominees shortlisted for Irish Academy Awards this year, is an incredible showcase of work that reinforces the fact that Irish talent is now amongst the best in the world, delivering such high standards of filmmaking, storytelling and performances that resonate with audiences worldwide.

"The Irish Academy is proud to showcase their great work and reward their achievements. Congratulations to all the Nominees - so well deserved!”

Here are just some of the 2025 IFTA nominees:

Best Film

• "Kathleen Is Here" 
• "King Frankie" 
• "Kneecap" 
• "Small Things Like These"
• "Spilt Milk" 
• "The Apprentice" 

8

"Kneecap" is up for 17 IFTA awards.

Director - Film

• Eva Birthistle - "Kathleen Is Here"
• John Crowley - "We Live in Time"
• Brian Durnin - "Spilt Milk"
• Damian McCarthy - "Oddity"
• Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor - "Baltimore"
• Rich Peppiatt - "Kneecap" 

Script - film

• Eva Birthistle - "Kathleen Is Here"
• Cara Loftus - "Spilt Milk"
• Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor - "Baltimore"
• Rich Peppiatt - "Kneecap"
• Stephen Shields - "Abigail" 
• Enda Walsh - "Small Things Like These" 

Lead actor - film

• Peter Coonan - "King Frankie"
• Paul Mescal - "Gladiator II"
• Cillian Murphy - "Small Things Like These"
• Naoise Ó Caireallain - "Kneecap"
• J.J. Ó Dochartaigh - "Kneecap"
• Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh - "Kneecap"

8

Peter Coonan in "King Frankie".

Lead actress - film

• Carolyn Bracken - "Oddity"
• Jessie Buckley - "Wicked Little Letters"
• Hazel Doupe - "Kathleen Is Here"
• Saoirse Ronan - "The Outrun"
• Eileen Walsh - "Small Things Like These"
• Alisha Weir - "Abigail"

8

Saoirse Ronan in "The Outrun".

Supporting actor - film

• Peter Coonan - "Kathleen Is Here"
• Michael Fassbender - "Kneecap"
• Barry Keoghan - "Bird" 
• Brían F. O'Byrne - "Conclave" 
• Tom Vaughan-Lawlor - "Baltimore"
• Steve Wall - "Oddity"

Supporting actress - film

• Zara Devlin - "Small Things Like These"
• Clare Dunne - "Kathleen Is Here"
• Fionnuala Flaherty - "Kneeca"
• Simone Kirby - "Kneecap" 
• Saoirse Ronan - "Blitz"
• Jessica Reynolds - "Kneecap" 

Drama categories - Best drama

• "Bad Sisters"
• "Say Nothing" 
• "The Dry" 
• "Bodkin"
• "Blue Lights" 
• "Crá"

8

"Bad Sisters".

Director - Drama

• Paddy Breathnach - "The Dry" 
• Brian Kirk - "The Day of the Jackal" 
• Michael Lennox - "Say Nothing" 
• Lisa Mulcahy - "Sanctuary"
• Hannah Quinn - "The Boy That Never Was"
• Dearbhla Walsh - "Bad Sisters"

Script - Drama

• Baz Ashmawy - "Faithless" 
• Ronan Bennett - "The Day of the Jackal"
• Nancy Harris - "The Dry"
• Sharon Horgan - "Bad Sisters" 
• Adam Patterson, Declan Lawn - "Blue Lights"
• Kirsten Sheridan, Joshua Zetumer - "Say Nothing" 

8

Lola Petticrew as IRA volunteer Dolours Price in "Say Nothing".

Lead actor - Drama

• Anthony Boyle - "Say Nothing" 
• Colin Farrell - "The Penguin"
• Michael Fassbender - "The Agency" 
• Ciarán Hinds - "The Dry"
• Andrew Scott - "Ripley"
• Aidan Turner - "Rivals"

8

Colin Farrell as "The Penguin".

Lead actress - Drama

• Elaine Cassidy - "Sanctuary 
• Nicola Coughlan - "Bridgerton"
• Siobhán Cullen - "Bodkin"
• Roisin Gallagher - "The Dry"
• Sharon Horgan - "Bad Sisters"
• Lola Petticrew - "Say Nothing"

Supporting actor - Drama

• Anthony Boyle - "Masters of the Air"
• Liam Cunningham - "3 Body Problem" 
• Michael Smiley - "Bad Sisters"
• Tom Vaughan-Lawlor - "Say Nothing" 
• Chris Walley - "Bodkin"
• David Wilmot - "Bodkin"

8

Siobhan Cullen in "Bodkin".

Supporting actress - Drama

• Siobhán Cullen - "The Dry"
• Hazel Doupe - "Say Nothing" 
• Eve Hewson - "Bad Sisters"
• Ruth Negga - "Presumed Innocent" 
• Fiona Shaw - "Bad Sisters"
• Victoria Smurfit - "Rivals"

International Film Award Categories

Best international film 

• "Anora"
• "Conclave"
• "Dune Part Two" 
• "The Brutalist" 
• "The Outrun"
• "The Substance" 

Best international actor 

• Adrien Brody - "The Brutalist"
• Timothee Chalamet - "A Complete Unknown"
• Kieran Culkin - "A Real Pain"
• Ralph Fiennes - "Conclave"
• Sebastian Stan -"The Apprentice" 
• Denzel Washington - "Gladiator II"

Best international actress 

• Cynthia Erivo - "Wicked"
• Angelina Jolie - "Maria"
• Mikey Madison - "Anora" 
• Demi Moore - "The Substance" 
• Florence Pugh - "We Live in Time" 
• Emily Watson - "Small Things Like These"