Cork-set drama Christy was among the big winners at the IFTA Awards 2026, taking Best Film at a ceremony in Dublin hosted by Kevin McGahern.
Brendan Canty won Director (Film) for Christy, with Allyn Quigley recognised for Editing and Amy Rowan winning for Casting.
Jessie Buckley won Lead Actress for her performance in Hamnet and paid tribute to Stephen Rea who presented the award to her in her acceptance speech.
Watch: The stars arrive at the IFTA Awards 2026
Click here for a full list of winners
"I love this man. I did my first ever filming job with this man. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster. I’ve become a mom.
"It’s really such an honour to come home and share this with you and mostly because growing up in Ireland the very nature of storytelling was a way of life," she said.
She added: "Paul Mescal thank you for getting into the river and letting the tide take us!"
Watch: Ciarán Hinds says, "It's rather embarassing to be lauded in public... but at the same time it is thrilling".
Mescal won Supporting Actor, while Hamnet also won International Film and Script (Film), shared between Maggie O’Farrell and Chloé Zhao.
Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke won Lead Actor for his performance as Roy Keane in Saipan, while Kerry Condon won Supporting Actress for her role in F1.
On the TV drama side, Blue Lights won Best Drama for its third season. Rachel Carey won Director (Drama) for Obituary and Ailbhe Keogan won Script (Drama) for Trespasses.
Watch: Louisa Harland said her IFTA Rising Star award "means the world' to her".
Anthony Boyle won Lead Actor in a Drama for House of Guinness, while Lola Petticrew won Lead Actress in a Drama for Trespasses and dedicated her award to her late uncle and to young people in her community.
She said: "I’d love to dedicate this to my uncle Gerard who passed away last month. He was my biggest fan!" she said. "I also want to dedicate it to the kids of west Belfast. The system is not designed for kids in my community to thrive… and they deserve so much better. This is for them."
Watch: Lead Actor - drama winner Anthony Boyle says he was "buzzing" after he picked up his award.
Chris Walley won Supporting Actor in a Drama for The Young Offenders and said: "This really is a big surprise. The Young Offenders was my first ever job when I was 19 and ten years later here we are. Thank you so much guys!"
Ciarán Hinds received the Irish Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award and told the audience: "It’s been a long old haul in this industry, or art, or whatever you want to call it. I’ve been remarkably lucky to work with so many creative, talented people, gracious and open-minded people, both here and further afield, on camera and off."
Watch: The glitz, glamour and gongs at the IFTA Awards 2026
International acting honours went to Emma Stone for Bugonia and Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another.
The George Morrison Feature Documentary Award went to A Want in Her, while Seamus McGarvey won Best Cinematography for Die My Love.
The ceremony took place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre and will be broadcast on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Saturday, 21 February at 10.50pm.
