For 2014, the Irish Film and Television Academy will continue its awarding of an Irish Language Award. This year, several Irish language productions also received nominations across other award categories, with Irish language channel TG4 receiving 12 IFTA nominations altogether. Some Irish programmes received nominations in more than one category.
Produced by Abú Media, documentary series ‘1916 Seachtar Dearmadta’ received 3 nominations for Documentary Series, Sound in Television, and the Irish Language Award. The series tells the story of the seven forgotten men who were executed after the 1916 Easter Rising who did not sign the Proclamation.
Also nominated in the Documentary Series category was ‘Bliain in Árainn Mór’, produced by Power Pictures and about the daily lives of a community of Donegal islanders.
‘An Ceoldráma’, which aired on TG4 from January to February of this year, has also received 3 IFTA nominations. The Inscéal production follows four Gaelscoils that produce a school musical to compete in the Féile Scoildrámaíochta. ‘An Ceoldráma’ is up for Children’s/Youth Programme, the Irish Language Award and Best Director (Television) for Colm Bairéad (‘Lorg na Cos’, ‘An tÁdh’).
Magamedia-produced ‘Páidí Ó Sé – Rí an Pharóiste’ received 2 IFTA nominations for Irish Language and Sport. The sports documentary portrays the true story of the footballing hero from Kerry, an eight-time All-Ireland winner, through interviews with his neighbours, friends and family that took place only a year after his tragic death.
‘Scúp’, which started airing its second series this week, is also up for the Irish Language IFTA. The drama series about a struggling Irish language newspaper office is directed by Colin Bateman and produced by Stirling Film and Television.
Other TG4 nominees include ‘Seamus Heaney – Postscript – Iarscríbhinn’, based on the famous poet, for Factual Programme, and ‘Jockey Eile’, a series about 20 hopefuls who participate in a bootcamp to become horse riders, for Reality. The former is a Red shoes Production while the latter is produced by Abú Media Teo.
‘Dúshlán 1881 – Living the Eviction’, financed by the Irish Language Broadcast fund of Northern Ireland Screen, is also up for the Reality award. It follows two families who live as their ancestors would have lived in the 19th century as a challenge (or ‘dúshlán’). It was produced by Big Mountain.
Last but not least, the Irish language film ‘Rubaí’ is nominated for Best Short. The sweet story portrays a young girl who creates a scandal when she refuses to take Holy Communion, claiming she is an atheist.
