Category Archives: Irish Film

Andrew Scott in BACK IN ACTION

Andrew Scott in BACK IN ACTION

Andrew Scott in BACK IN ACTION

Fresh off his acclaimed performance as Tom Ripley in Netflix’s psychological thriller RIPLEY, Andrew Scott continues his streaming success with the upcoming action-comedy BACK IN ACTION, set to premiere on Netflix on January 17, 2025.

Scott’s recent filmography showcases his remarkable range. In 2023, he received widespread praise for his transformative lead role in Andrew Haigh’s ghost story ALL OF US STRANGERS, where he starred opposite Paul Mescal. His emotionally charged performance in RIPLEY (2024) further solidified his status as one of today’s most versatile actors, following his earlier successes in CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY (2022) and the war drama 1917 (2019).

In BACK IN ACTION, Scott joins Hollywood veterans Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx in what marks Diaz’s first film role since 2014’s ANNIE. The plot centers around a seemingly ordinary couple (Diaz and Foxx) whose quiet suburban life masks their former careers as elite secret agents. When their past catches up with them, they’re thrust back into the high-stakes world of international espionage.

This action-packed comeback vehicle for Diaz represents another significant addition to Scott’s increasingly diverse portfolio, bridging his acclaimed dramatic work with more commercial fare. 

Watch BACK IN ACTION on Netflix.

 

More Andrew Scott

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Scott earns Golden Globes nomination
Andrew Scott: Actors on Actors
RIPLEY now on Netflix
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Irish Film

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Ireland shines with BAFTA nominations

Ireland shines with BAFTA nominations

Ireland shines with BAFTA nominations

The Irish-language film KNEECAP has made BAFTA history with six nominations, becoming the most nominated debut film ever at the awards. The film, which tells the semi-autobiographical story of a Belfast hip-hop trio, earned nominations for Film Not in the English Language, Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay, Casting, Editing, and Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer.

This achievement is particularly notable as KNEECAP is only the second Irish-language film ever nominated in the Film Not in the English Language category, following AN CAILÍN CIÚIN (THE QUIET GIRL) in 2023. The film’s writer, producer, and director Rich Peppiatt is recognized in the Outstanding Debut category. The film previously won Best British Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards in December.

Saoirse Ronan received a Leading Actress nomination for THE OUTRUN, where she plays Rona, a recovering alcoholic who returns to her childhood home in the Orkney Islands after rehabilitation. Her competitors in the category include Cynthia Erivo (WICKED), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (HARD TRUTHS), Demi Moore (THE SUBSTANCE), Mikey Madison (ANORA), and Karla Sofia Gascon (EMILIA PÉREZ).

Additionally, THE APPRENTICE, a Canadian/Irish/Danish co-production directed by Ali Abassi and written by Gabe Sherman, secured three nominations: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Casting. The film explores Donald Trump’s early career and his relationship with lawyer Roy Cohn.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip praised the diversity of the 42 nominated films, highlighting their range from intimate character studies to epic social commentaries. The 2025 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony will be held at London’s Royal Festival Hall on February 16, with David Tennant hosting.

Irish Film

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Branagh & Brosnan in THE KING OF KINGS

Branagh & Brosnan in KING OF KINGS

Branagh & Brosnan in KING OF KINGS

Kenneth Branagh (A HAUNTING IN VENICE) and Pierce Brosnan (THE LAST RIFLEMAN) lead an all-star voice cast in Angel Studios’ upcoming animated feature THE KING OF KINGS, set for an Easter release on April 11th. Based on a Charles Dickens short story, the film follows a transformative bedtime tale between a father and son that brings the story of Jesus to life through a child’s imagination.

Branagh takes on the central role of Charles Dickens himself, who recounts the greatest story ever told to his youngest son Walter (voiced by Roman Griffin Davis). As Dickens narrates, the biblical tale unfolds through vivid animation, with Brosnan portraying one of history’s most notorious figures – Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who ultimately ordered Jesus’ crucifixion.

The two acclaimed British actors are joined by an impressive ensemble including Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas, Forest Whitaker, and Oscar Isaac. The film is directed by Seong-ho ‘Jay’ Jang, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Rob Edwards (THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG).

Irish Film

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Meaney earns IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award

Meaney earns IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award

Meaney earns IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) announced on January 9 that veteran actor Colm Meaney will receive its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The Dublin-born performer is being recognized for his exceptional contributions to both Irish and international cinema.

With a career spanning five decades, Meaney has collaborated with an impressive roster of acclaimed directors, including John Huston, Robert Redford, Michael Mann, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan, Alan Parker, Warren Beatty, and Ron Howard.

Meaney achieved particular acclaim for his roles in Roddy Doyle’s beloved Barrytown Trilogy during the 1990s – THE COMMITMENTS, THE SNAPPER and THE VAN His performance in THE SNAPPER earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 1994. Recently, he has maintained a strong screen presence, starring alongside Barry Keoghan in BRING THEM DOWN appearing with Liam Neeson and Kerry Condon in IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS and taking a leading role in THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE

The award presentation will take place at the 22nd Anniversary IFTA Awards Ceremony on Friday, February 14 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, where Meaney will be joined by industry colleagues, friends, and family. The 2025 IFTA nominations are set to be announced on Tuesday, January 14.

Irish Film

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Ireland’s BAFTA Award longlist noms

Ireland's BAFTA nominations

Ireland's BAFTA nominations

The groundbreaking Irish language film KNEECAP has earned recognition across seven categories in the 2025 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) longlist. The semi-autobiographical film, which chronicles a west Belfast hip-hop trio’s mission to preserve the Irish language, was helmed by writer-director-producer Rich Peppiatt.

The film’s longlist nominations span major categories including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, Film not in English Language, Original Screenplay, Best Casting and Best Editing.

Irish cinema continues to make its mark at the BAFTAs, with THE APPRENTICE securing spots in six longlist categories, including Best Film. Additionally, acclaimed Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has been longlisted for Leading Actress for her performance in THE OUTRUN, while the short film CLODAGH, directed by Portia A. Buckley and featuring Bríd Ní Neachtain and Katelyn Rose Downey, has advanced in the Best British Short Film category.

BAFTA members will now review the longlisted entries to determine the final nominees, which will be revealed on January 15. The winners will be announced at the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, scheduled for February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Irish Film

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Ireland’s SAG Award nominations

Ireland's SAG nominations

Ireland's SAG nominations

Three Irish stars have earned nominations for the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, building on their recent awards season momentum.

Nicola Coughlan received recognition in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series category for her role in BRIDGERTON. The actress shared her reaction on Instagram, expressing shock and gratitude for the nomination.

In the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series category, both Colin Farrell and Andrew Scott secured nominations for their respective performances in THE PENGUIN and RIPLEY. Farrell’s nomination comes fresh off his Golden Globe win for the DC Comics series, while Scott was also a contender in the same Golden Globes category.

The 31st annual SAG Awards ceremony will stream live on Netflix from The Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles on February 23, with Kristen Bell serving as host.

Irish Film, Irish Television

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Mescal in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Mescal in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Mescal in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Fresh from two triumphant, sold-out runs in London’s West End, this stunning revival of Tennessee Williams’s A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE comes to the Brooklyn Academy of Music for an exclusive five-week engagement. The production stars Paul Mescal (GLADIATOR II, AFTERSUN, ALL OF US STRANGERS) as Stanley Kowalski, alongside Patsy Ferran (LIVING, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY) as Blanche DuBois and Anjana Vasan (KILLING EVE, BLACK MIRROR) as Stella Kowalski. At the helm is Olivier Award-winning director Rebecca Frecknall (CABARET, SUMMER AND SMOKE).

In the sultry heat of New Orleans, Blanche DuBois arrives at her sister Stella’s apartment, seeking refuge with nowhere else to turn. As the temperature rises, so does the tension within the cramped quarters. Stanley, portrayed by Mescal with what The New York Times calls “swagger and sensitivity,” begins to unravel the carefully woven threads of Blanche’s past. As her meticulously constructed façade begins to crumble, the production reveals the dark undercurrents that pulse beneath the surface of one of America’s greatest plays.

Due to exceptional demand, additional matinee performances have been added on Thursday, March 13 at 1:30pm, Wednesday, March 19 at 1:30pm, Wednesday, March 26 at 1:30pm, and Wednesday, April 2 at 1:30pm.

Get your tickets here.

More Paul Mescal

Mescal on THR's ACTOR'S ROUNDTABLE
Paul Mescal in GLADIATOR 2
ALL OF US STRANGERS now streaming
Mescal to host SNL tonight
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Irish Film

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THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN now streaming

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN now streaming

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN now streaming

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN, the critically acclaimed 2024 Irish film adaptation, has achieved a remarkable 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and recently claimed the prestigious Best Irish Film award at the IFTA Awards (Ireland’s equivalent of the Oscars).

The film, which has just been added to BBC iPlayer, masterfully adapts John McGahern’s final novel. Set in the 1980s, it follows Joe (Barry Ward) and Kate Ruttledge (Anna Bederke), a couple who leave London behind to embrace life in a tranquil Irish lakeside community near Joe’s childhood home.

What makes the film’s success particularly noteworthy is director Pat Collins’s bold artistic choice to maintain the novel’s unconventional “anti-novel” approach. Rather than introducing artificial drama, Collins preserved McGahern’s original vision of a story stripped of traditional plot devices. This innovative approach, focusing on the quiet rhythm of rural life through “the rituals of work, play and the passing seasons,” has resonated strongly with critics and audiences alike.

The film’s triumph challenges conventional filmmaking wisdom, proving that a “lyrical celebration of the everyday” can captivate viewers without relying on dramatic plot points. Collins’s faithful adaptation honors McGahern’s original intention, expressed to the Observer in 2005, of “taking drama out” to create something dramatically powerful in its very absence.

This artistic gamble has paid off magnificently, with the film now garnering international attention through its BBC iPlayer release, marking a significant achievement for Irish cinema and demonstrating the enduring appeal of thoughtful, contemplative storytelling.

Irish Film

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