Entertainment

Record 14 Irish nominations as Oscar contenders announced

Colin Farrell and Paul Mescal have been nominated in the Best Actor category
Colin Farrell and Paul Mescal have been nominated in the Best Actor category

Irish filmmakers have picked up a record 14 nominations for Academy Awards.

Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon are nominated for their roles in The Banshees of Inisherin, which claimed a record nine nominations for an Irish film. Belfast and In the Name of the Father previously held the record, with seven nominations each.

Paul Mescal has been nominated as best actor for his role in Aftersun while An Cailín Ciúin is the first Irish-language film to be nominated for best international film.

Northern Ireland film An Irish Goodbye has been shortlisted as best live-action short while An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) has been shortlisted in the international film category.

Nominations for the 95th annual Academy Awards were read out by Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams, in-person for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The best actor nomination continues Farrell’s successful awards season run, having been nominated for both a Critics Choice and Screen Actors Guild gong for his performance in the Banshees Of Inisherin.

The star appears opposite long-time friend and colleague Brendan Gleeson in Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy – which is set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland.

The star-studded Oscars ceremony, due to be hosted by US talk show host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel, will take place on March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.