Element Pictures' Ed Guiney is "delighted" with five wins at the Baftas for Poor Things and now looks to the Oscars, saying "We’ll go and enjoy it."
He was on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 on Monday, reflecting on a great night for the Irish at the Baftas, with Oppenheimer picking up seven wins, including Cillian Murphy being named Best Actor.
"We were delighted," Guiney told Claire Byrne. "Really thrilled. "there’s definitely a momentum for Oppenheimer and I’m delighted by Cillian’s win, obviously.
"Sometimes these movies can take everything with them – they literally sweep up everything in the trail. So we were delighted to get a look-in.
"To come out with five, to their seven – that was a really good night."
Claire Byrne then asked if Guiney felt that there was a sense of an Irish 'group’ leading a charge during the awards season.
"There is," he replied. "There was also a lot of Irish accents on stage. Alison Oliver, who did Conversations with Friends, presented an award. And Daryl McCormack presented an award.
"And actually two young Irish producers, Medb Riordan and Shirley O’Connor, won the prize for best debut film for Earth Mama. Which is not an Irish film, it was made in the States.
"That was amazing and absolutely to be acknowledged and celebrated. And then all the actors, all the guys running round. Great to see them and great to see them acknowledged."
The Irish presence was very obvious at the Baftas – now everyone’s looking across the Atlantic to the upcoming Oscars, which will take place on March 10 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
When asked about Hollywood noticing a Green invasion at the Academy Awards, Guiney acknowledged that it’s going to be as a result of many decades of hard work and investment.
"Listen, it’s probably been 30 years in the making," he insisted. "Since Michael D [Higgins] set up the film board in the early 90s. There’s been sustained investment over that time. Over the last decade, we’ve seen it. We really are.
"Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan would’ve featured over the years, but until about ten years ago the idea of having an Irish presence or people nominated every year or couple of years, that wouldn’t have been thought of at all.
"That generation of Irish actors is kind of extraordinary. I don’t know, really, what that’s about. You just have these amazing people that are getting the best jobs in the world."
On the back of Sunday night’s success for Poor Things, Guiney’s now looking forward to taking his seat at the Dolby Theatre on March 10, for the movie industry’s night of nights.
"I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true: a nomination’s a win," he Told Claire Byrne. "Actually, when you’re sitting, watching the other nominees coming up and little clips and stuff, [you can see] it’s a stellar year for cinema.
"There are so many good films and it is great to be in the room with all of those people. We’ve been doing this since Venice in September, so we’ve all gotten to know each other.
"It’s not a contact sport so in a sense it’s very friendly and convivial rather than competitive in the moment. Because there’s nothing you can do! The votes are cast, if you like.
"we’ll go and enjoy it. And hope we come away with stuff."
