The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) has announced the nominees for its 2018 awards, and the film that scored the most nods is Aisling Walsh’s “Maudie.” Per Screen Daily, the Maud Lewis biopic starring Sally Hawkins received six nominations, including ones for Walsh and Hawkins.
“Maudie” follows Lewis as she finds work as a housekeeper for the gruff Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) and eventually marries him. All the while she explores her passion for art and painting. The real-life Lewis became one of the most famous folk artists in the world.
In addition to the nominations for Walsh and Hawkins — who will compete in the best director and best international actress categories, respectively — “Maudie” is also up for best feature film, best international actor (Hawke), best production design, and best sound. Hawkins received an acting nod for “The Shape of Water” as well
The only other woman-helmed narrative film to receive an IFTA nomination is Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird.” The coming-of-age tale is nominated for best international film. Lead Saoirse Ronan received a nod for best actress.
Three of the five films in the George Morrison Feature Documentary race are directed by women. Linda Cullen and Vanessa Gildea’s “The 34th” chronicles the fight for marriage equality in Ireland, while Emer Reynolds’ “The Farthest” is about a spaceship’s journey out of the Solar System and into deep space. “The Silver Branch,” from Katrina Costello, explores the beauty of the natural world via the perspective of one man living in Ireland’s County Clare.
Although the Sharon Whooley-co-written “Song of Granite” was nominated for best feature film, the Joe Heaney biopic did not receive a screenwriting nod. In fact, no women were recognized in the best scriptwriter category at all.
On the TV side, “Fargo’s” Dearbhla Walsh was the only woman to nab a directing nomination.
It “comes from a confidence, from young women being told at a very early age they can do it,” Walsh told us about women getting opportunities in the film industry. “I often say that the difference between the English upper and working class is that no one has told the upper class ‘no.’ Women must believe that they can, and it will change.”
The 2018 IFTA Film & Drama Awards are February 15. Head over to Screen Daily to see the full list of nominees.
