Irish drama “Christy” led the 2026 Irish Film and Television Awards on Friday night in Dublin, taking best film and a cluster of craft prizes in a ceremony that the Irish Film & Television Academy said will air Saturday on RTÉ One. The film’s director, Brendan Canty, won the directing prize, while Allyn Quigley (editing) and Amy Rowan (casting) also collected awards for the project.
Acting honors split between Irish-led work with international reach. Jessie Buckley won lead actress for “Hamnet,” and Paul Mescal won supporting actor for the same film. Éanna Hardwicke claimed lead actor for “Saipan,” while Kerry Condon won supporting actress for “F1.” The academy also awarded best international film to “Hamnet,” and credited Maggie O’Farrell and Chloé Zhao with the film script prize.
The international performance categories went to major studio titles: Leonardo DiCaprio won international actor for “One Battle After Another,” and Emma Stone won international actress for “Bugonia,” which the academy noted was produced by Ireland’s Element Pictures. On the documentary side, “A Want in Her” won the George Morrison Feature Documentary award, and Seamus McGarvey earned cinematography honors for “Die My Love.”
Television prizes leaned into returning series and fresh drama. “Blue Lights” won best drama for its third season. Anthony Boyle won lead actor for “House of Guinness,” and Lola Petticrew won lead actress for “Trespasses,” which also picked up the script award for Ailbhe Keogan and hair and makeup for Natalie Reid. Ciarán Hinds received the academy’s lifetime achievement award, and Louisa Harland was named the Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star.
