What Richard Did wins big at the IFTAs

Lenny Abrahamson's What Richard Did rakes in the awards at the IFTAs.

By Genna Patterson

The 10th annual IFTAs took place this Saturday in Dublin. The big winner at the celebration of Irish film and TV was Dublin director Lenny Abrahamson’s What Richard Did, which picked up five awards. The movie collected Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Script.

This is the fifth Best Film award to go to Element Pictures while lead actor Jack Reynor was honoured with the Best Actor award. Reynor is to star in the new Michael Bay directed Transformers 4 this year.

Reynor spoke of his win; “Thanks to IFTA for the acknowledgement, to the amazing cast, our brilliant director Lenny Abrahamson, our producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, and our writer Malcolm Campbell. It's a huge honour to be nominated in a category with such gifted and revered actors. I'm thrilled to have even been considered.”

The movie is the third film by Lenny Abrahmson who also made Garage and Adam & Paul. He is currently directing Frank starring Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Richard Did actors Roisin Murphy and Jack Reynor

Abrahamson was delighted to collect Best Director saying, “I am absolutely delighted for everyone involved in what has been an incredible year for the film. What Richard Did was an exceptional collaborative process and it’s great to see so many diverse talents recognised tonight.”

What Richard Did is based on the novel by Kevin Power called ‘Bad Day in Blackrock’ and was adapted by Malcom Campbell (Skins, Shameless). The screenplay won Best Screenplay at the Evening Standard British Film Awards last week.

What Richard Did features an ensemble of young Irish actors including Jack Reynor, Sam Keeley and Róisín Murphy as well as established talent including Lorraine Pilkington and Lars Mikkelsen (star of the Danish hit series, The Killing).

Actor Domhnall Gleeson

Domhnall Gleeson was presented with the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Anna Karenina while Ruth Bradley won for her Lead performance in monster movie Grabbers. Brid Brennan won the Best Supporting Actress role in the thriller Shadow Dancer.

Best International Film went to Argo while Daniel Day-Lewis took the IFTA for Best International Actor for Lincoln. Marion Cotillard picked up Best International Actress for her role in Rust and Bone.

The George Morrison Feature Documentary Award was awarded to Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, directed by Alex Gibney.