It has been another successful year for Irish talent as the 89th Academy Award® nominations were released today. Irish actress Ruth Negga is nominated for Best Actress for her turn as Mildred Loving in Jeff Nichols’ Loving while IFB-funded film, The Lobster is nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Irish costume designer Consolata Boyle received a nomination in the Best Costume category for her designs in Florence Foster Jenkins.
Congratulating the nominees James Hickey, Chief Executive Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said, “I’m delighted to see a strong contingent of Irish Academy Award® nominees this year. Huge congratulations to Ruth Negga and to Consolata Boyle on being recognised for their excellent work. Congratulations also to Element Pictures on their IFB-supported film The Lobster being nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category. The Irish film industry is flourishing and a continued presence on the international awards circuit is evidence of this. The solid and continued investment in talent over the last number of years is paying off. Both Ruth and Consolata have built their careers on Irish and international productions and the amount of work it takes over a long period of time to earn this level of international recognition cannot be underestimated. We’re very proud of all they have achieved.”
Speaking today about the nominations, The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD said:
“I am delighted to see, yet again, that Irish talent is being recognised in this year’s Academy Awards. Being nominated for an Oscar is, in itself, an acknowledgment from your peers in the entertainment and film industry of enormous talent and ability. It can also serve as a pivotal turning point in the career of any actor or filmmaker.
“Last year was an excellent year for the Irish film industry; we enjoyed numerous awards and recognition internationally. These Oscar nominations also further enhance Ireland’s reputation in the film industry internationally. I would like to personally congratulate Ruth, Consolata and the team behind The Lobster for their incredible achievements.
“The Government’s Creative Ireland programme, which is an ambitious five year initiative for the arts and creative sectors, places a deliberate focus on growing our film industry. This year we will be developing an industry wide, long term plan to develop Ireland as a global hub for film, TV drama and animation. Ireland has the creative talent, international credibility and incentive structures to compete on a global level, to tell compelling Irish stories and sustain a vibrant creative audio-visual sector.”
Ruth Negga’s Oscar nomination cements what has been an incredible year for the Irish star as she wowed the critics in Nichols’ heart-breaking film which has seen Negga nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe and a BAFTA, following her presentation with the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival earlier this month. Ruth has previously starred in IFB-funded films including, Noble (2015), Breakfast on Pluto (2005), Isolation (2005), Capital Letter (2005), Stars (2005) and 3-Minute-4-Play (2005).
Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster saw Irish actor Colin Farrell receiving immense critical praise for his performance of the lonely David in Lanthimos’ blackly funny love story. Filmed in Co.Kerry, the screenplay was written by Lanthimos and Efthimius Fillippou and the Oscar nomination comes after the writing duo were presented with the Best European Screenwriter prize at the European Film Awards in December 2016.
Today’s announcement marks the second Academy Award® nomination for renowned Irish costume designer, Consolata Boyle following her 2007 nomination in the same category for, The Queen, starring Helen Mirren. On designing the costumes for Florence Foster Jenkins, Boyle previously revealed that she worked closely with the film’s star, Meryl Streep, to achieve the flamboyant eccentricities of Jenkins’ infamous style.
Other Irish interest at the awards include Irish actor Art Parkinson who stars in Kubo and the Two Strings, alongside Charlize Theron and Rooney Mara, in the Best Animated Feature-nominated film. Parkinson will star in forthcoming IFB-funded feature film, The Belly of the Whale featuring Pat Shortt.
The ceremony, which will take place in LA’s Dolby Theatre on February 26, is the most hotly contested event in the awards-season calendar and the Oscar nominations come after a hugely successful year for the Irish film industry. Congratulations to all Irish Oscar hopefuls and a full list of nominees can be found here.
