IFTA Awards 2025: Cillian Murphy, Saoirse Ronan and ‘Small Things Like These’ Reign Supreme

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards 2025 took place in Dublin, celebrating the best of Irish film and television. The 22nd anniversary of the awards was hosted by Kevin McGahern and broadcast on RTÉ One on Saturday, February 15th.^[1] The ceremony, held at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, saw significant wins for Small Things Like These, Cillian Murphy, and Saoirse Ronan, among others.

Key Winners

Best Film: Small Things Like These took home the top prize of the night.^[1] The film stars Cillian Murphy as a coal merchant grappling with dark secrets in his community.

Actor in a Lead Role: Cillian Murphy was recognized for his performance in Small Things Like These.^[1] This win comes after his Oscar victory last year for Best Actor.

Actress in a Lead Role & Actress in a Supporting Role: Saoirse Ronan had a remarkable night, winning two awards. She was named Actress in a Lead Role for The Outrun and Actress in a Supporting Role for Blitz.^[1]

Best Director: Rich Peppiatt received the award for Best Director for his work on Kneecap.^[1]

Best Screenplay: Enda Walsh was honored with the Best Screenplay award for his adaptation of Claire Keegan’s acclaimed book for Small Things Like These.^[1]

Other Notable Awards

Kneecap, a film about a West Belfast hip-hop trio, was a major success, winning awards in Costume Design, Editing, and Casting (presented to Carla Stronge, marking the first year Irish Casting Directors were celebrated).^[1]

Lifetime Achievement Award: Iconic Irish actor Colm Meaney was presented with the Irish Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the Irish and international screen industry.^[1]

Rising Star Award: Anthony Boyle, known for his roles in Say Nothing and Masters of the Air, was announced as the 2025 Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star.^[1]

International Recognition

The awards also recognized international talent, with Demi Moore (The Substance) and Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) receiving awards in the international acting categories.^[3]

About the IFTA Awards

The IFTA Film & Drama Awards, established in 1999, recognize Irish creative talent in film, drama, and television.^[2] Winners receive a cast bronze statuette. Dubbed “The Irish Oscars” by the media, the awards have grown in prominence alongside the Irish film and television industries.^[2] In 2015, the Academy split the awards into two ceremonies: the IFTA Film & Drama Awards and the IFTA Television Awards.^[2]

Sources:

• ^[1] IFTA Awards 2025 winners announced
• ^[2] IFTA Film & Drama Awards – Wikipedia
• ^[3] Cillian Murphy, Demi Moore, Saoirse Ronan Win IFTA Awards in Ireland