Statement from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) on Gender Imbalance Across 2018 IFTA Nominations
Posted: 12th January 2018
Speaking about yesterday’s (11 January) IFTA nominations, Annie Doona, Chair of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) said:
“On behalf of the IFB, I would like to congratulate all the nominees for this year’s IFTAs. This awards ceremony has a long tradition of celebration and recognition of Irish film and television and the talent that has helped bring more and more productions to growing local and global audiences.
“The IFTAs were established to reflect the breadth and depth of the Irish film and television industry. With this in mind I would like to express my disappointment at the gender imbalance that has emerged in the shortlists for almost every category of award.
“We are all aware that there is a gender imbalance within the industry and we at the IFB remain steadfastly committed to addressing this issue. Achieving 50/50 gender equality within the sector remains an utmost priority for the IFB and we have undertaken a number of measures to ensure that Irish female talent is encouraged and visible within the industry. It is vitally important that the stories Irish films portray, represent a contemporary image of Ireland in all its diversity, inclusivity and originality of voice.
“In December 2015, we launched our Six Point Plan on Gender Equality, detailing a number of measures to monitor and enhance gender representation across the sector. At last year’s Galway Film Fleadh, we furthered our commitment to achieving 50/50 gender equality by announcing a number of groundbreaking initiatives [1] to support and encourage female talent.
“We acknowledge that this shift cannot happen overnight and it is important to remember that we can only fund what we receive. We must continue to implore and encourage Irish creative female talent to apply so that these goals can be achieved.
“In the last year alone, we have seen female Irish filmmakers break through on the international stage including the likes of Nora Twomey with her Golden Globe-nominated animated feature, The Breadwinner, and Emer Reynolds with her critically acclaimed feature documentary, The Farthest.
“In 2018, a host of female-led Irish films will come to the fore, including Twomey’s aforementioned The Breadwinner, Carmel Winters’ Float Like A Butterfly, Aoife McArdle’s Kissing Candice, Mary McGuckian’s A Girl From Mogadishu, and Alexandra McGuinness’ Highway alongside the Katie Holly-produced Irish co-production Vita & Virginia and Sinéad O’Shea’s documentary, A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot.
"These upcoming titles prove that this imbalance is shifting and it is a shift we will unyieldingly support. We hope that at next year’s awards, female talent will be equally represented and offered the recognition it truly deserves.”
— Dr Annie Doona, Chair, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB)
[1]
Low Budget Film Production and Training Scheme for Female Talent
- Aimed exclusively at emerging and established female writers and directors.
- Following tailored workshops, mentoring and training, talent will have the opportunity to apply for support to produce a feature film, with a budget of up to €400,000.
Enhanced Production Funding for Female-initiated and -driven Feature Films
- Increased support of up to €100,000 for projects applying for Irish Production funding if the feature film is led by an Irish female writer or director or a writer/director combo.
- Gender parity will continue to be monitored across all schemes.
Development Focus for Female-initiated Feature Films
- We have just re-launched our Screenplay Development Schemes, split into two categories: Established and Emerging Talent.
- We are wholly committed to achieving gender parity across this scheme, but it is totally dependent on applications — that is simply the only way we can ever reach this goal.
Gender Equality and Diversity Subcommittee
- Came into effect in September 2017.
- The committee will consult with external bodies and establish ongoing policies and guidelines in relation to the application process and funding arrangements.
Promotion and Dialogue
- Continue to conduct dialogue with relevant stakeholders including RTÉ, the BAI, SPI, Directors Guild, Writers Guild and Animation Ireland.
- Engaging in dialogue with production companies to discuss actions they could take to increase gender equality.
- Introduce a targeted strategy to promote female talent and increase visibility and celebrate their achievements.
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Nominations for the 2018 IFTA Film and Drama Awards
FILM CATEGORIES
FEATURE FILM
Cardboard Gangsters
Handsome Devil
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Maudie
Michael Inside
Song of Granite
DIRECTOR FILM
Frank Berry, Michael Inside
John Butler, Handsome Devil
Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Mark O Connor, Cardboard Gangsters
Aisling Walsh, Maudie
SCRIPTWRITER FILM
Frank Berry, Michael Inside
Stephen Burke, Maze
John Butler, Handsome Devil
Nick Kelly, The Drummer and The Keeper
Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE - FILM
John Connors, Cardboard Gangsters
Colin Farrell, The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Dafhyd Flynn, Michael Inside
Fionn O Shea, Handsome Devil
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Maze
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE - FILM
Sarah Bolger, Halal Daddy
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Ann Skelly, Kissing Candice
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - FILM
Barry Keoghan, The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Jacob McCarthy, The Drummer and The Keeper
Andrew Scott, Handsome Devil
Fionn Walton, Cardboard Gangsters
Barry Ward, Maze
ACTRESS SUPPORTING ROLE - FILM
Niamh Algar, The Drummer and The Keeper
Sarah Carroll, The Limit Of
Deirdre O Kane, Halal Daddy
Victoria Smurfit, The Lears
Fionna Hewitt Twamley, Cardboard Gangsters
GEORGE MORRISON FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The 34th
A Cambodian Spring
The Farthest
No Stone Unturned
The Silver Branch
SHORT FILM – LIVE ACTION
Cry Rosa
For You
The Secret Market
The Tattoo
Time Traveller
Wave
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
An Beal Bocht
Angela's Christmas
Departure
Late Afternoon
INTERNATIONAL FILM
Dunkirk
Lady Bird
Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
INTERNATIONAL ACTOR
Timothee Chamelet, Call Me By Your Name
Ethan Hawke, Maudie
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins, Maudie
Sally Hawkins, Shape of Water
Nicole Kidman, The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
DRAMA CATEGORIES
DRAMA
Acceptable Risk
Game of Thrones
Line of Duty
Paula
Striking Out
Vikings
DIRECTOR – DRAMA
David Caffrey, Peaky Blinders
Rob Quinn, Ackley Bridge
Steve Saint Leger, Vikings
Dearbhla Walsh, Fargo
SCRIPTWRITER – DRAMA
Ronan Bennett, Gunpowder
Malcolm Campbell, Ackley Bridge
Conor McPherson, Paula
Antoine O Flatharta, Grace Harte
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE - DRAMA
Richard Dormer, Rellik
Adrian Dunbar, Line Of Duty
Brendan Gleeson, Mr Mercedes
Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders
Chris O Dowd, Get Shorty
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE - DRAMA
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Elaine Cassidy, Acceptable Risk
Denise Gough, Paula
Amy Huberman, Striking Out
Ruth Negga, Preacher
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - DRAMA
Liam Cunningham, Game of Thrones
Moe Dunford, Vikings
Aidan Gillen, Game of Thrones
Owen McDonnell, Paula
Jason O Mara, Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - DRAMA
Angeline Ball, Acceptable Risk
Eva Birthistle, The Last Kingdom
Jessie Buckley, Taboo
Charlie Murphy, Peaky Blinders
Genevieve O’Reilly, Tin Star
CRAFT/TECHNICAL CATEGORIES (across Film & Drama)
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Tom Comerford, Pilgrimage
Richard Kendrick, Song of Granite
Seamus McGarvey, The Greatest Showman
Cathal Watters, Peaky Blinders
COSTUME DESIGN
Consolata Boyle, Victoria and Abdul
Sarajane Ffrench O Carroll, The Lodgers
Susan O Connor Cave, Vikings
Leonie Prendergast, Pilgrimage
EDITING
Tony Cranstoun, The Farthest
Dermot Diskin, Peaky Blinders
Una Ni DhonghaIle, Three Girls
Tadhg O Sullivan, Song of Granite
MAKEUP & HAIR
Julie-Ann Ryan & Niamh Glynn, The Cured
Clare Lambe & Sevlene Roddy, Into the Badlands
Lorraine Glynn & Sonya Dolan, The Man Who Invented Christmas
Dee Corcoran & Tom McInerney, Vikings
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Ray Harman, The Farthest
Stephen McKeon, Pilgrimage
Stephen Rennicks, Maze
John Gerard Walsh, The Drummer and The Keeper
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Stephen Daly, Into the Badlands
Joe Fallover, The Lodgers
Mark Geraghty, Vikings
John Hand, Maudie
SOUND
Steve Fanagan, Kieran Horgan, The Farthest
Ronan Hill, Onnalee Blank, Mathew Waters, Game of Thrones
Karl Merren Brendan Deasy, Into the Badlands
Marco Dolle, Steve Munro, Garret Farrell, Maudie
VFX
Tim Chauncey The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King
Ian Benjamin Kenny Enda O Connor The Farthest
Ed Bruce & Nicholas Murphy, Screenscene, Game of Thrones
Tailored Films & Bowsie Workshop, The Lodgers