Northern Ireland talent triumphs at the 2025 IFTA awards
Date Posted: February 17, 2025
The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) announced the winners of the 2025 IFTA Awards, honouring exceptional achievements in Film and Drama at a star-studded ceremony on Friday, 14th February at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
Northern Ireland Screen was delighted to see a number of projects made in Northern Ireland and homegrown talent feature heavily among the winners.
The team behind Kneecap, the fictionalised biopic of the incorrigible West Belfast rap outfit, had a triumphant night, securing four wins. Kneecap director Rich Peppiatt took home the award for Best Director (Film). In the first year of the awards celebrating Irish Casting Directors Carla Stronge won Best Casting. Zjena Glamocanin was awarded Best Costume Design and Best Editing was awarded to Julian Ulrichs & Chris Gill.
Northern Ireland Screen-funded The Flats, directed by Alessandra Celesia, won the George Morrison Feature Documentary Award.
Belfast actor Anthony Boyle, breakout star of Say Nothing and Masters of the Air, was announced as the 2025 Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star. Say Nothing was a standout winner with another Belfast actor, Lola Petticrew taking home the award for Best Lead Actress (Drama) for their compelling performance. Their co-stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Hazel Doupe were recognised with Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Drama) and Best Supporting Actress (Drama) respectively.
Die Hexen received the award for Best Original Music for their work on Fréwaka, further demonstrating the depth of creative talent within the region.
The success of these projects at the IFTA Awards 2025 highlights the wealth of talent emerging from Northern Ireland, both in front of and behind the camera.
