Irish Gather for Film & Television Awards Celebration | The Irish Film & Television Network

Among the Irish Nominees attending are Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Aidan Gillen, Orla Brady, Eileen Walsh, Amy Huberman, Charlene McKenna, Deirdre O’Kane, Ger Ryan, Gerard McSorley, John Kavanagh, Maria Doyle Kennedy, David Herlihy, Hilda Fay and Lesley Conroy. Four of Ireland’s rising starlets Saorise Ronan, Sarah Bolger, Jenn Murray and Kelly O’Neill will also attend the 2009 Awards, having received prestigious nominations in the acting categories.

Irish director John Moore comes home from LA to join with his Irish colleagues on their night of celebration. The man behind big screen hits such as Max Payne, The Omen and Behind Enemy Lines will join other top Irish directors Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan at Saturday’s event. Irish/American Cinematographer Declan Quinn also arrives with his actor brother Aidan Quinn who is lined up to present an Award. Declan, whose credits include Leaving Las Vegas, In America and this years Oscar nominated Rachel Getting Married, will join Aidan in support his sister Marian whose film 32A is nominated for three IFTAs this year.

With 900 guests attending the Gala IFTA ceremony, the President of Ireland Mary McAleese will lead the tributes to veteran filmmaker George Morrison and, behind the camera, filmmakers nominated for IFTA Awards include directors Martin McDonagh, Lance Daly, Declan Recks, Kieron J Walsh, Dermot Boyd, Ian Fitzgibbon, Dearbhla Walsh and Ciaran Donnelly. Also in the IFTA lineup are costume designers Joan Bergin and Eimear Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, actor/writer Mark Doherty, production designer John Paul Kelly and DOP’s PJ Dillon and Owen McPolin.

Also coming in is actor Eric Mabius, who plays magazine exec Daniel Meade in the hit ABC series Ugly Betty. The star has taken time out of his hectic shooting schedule to support his long-time friend Patrick Clarke, producer of the feature film Anton, at the IFTAs. Anton is nominated for IFTAs in the categories Best Supporting Actor Film (Gerard McSorley), Best Original Score (Anna Rice) and Best Director of Photography (Fergal O’Hanlon) this weekend. Mabius, who shared an apartment with Dubliner Patrick Clarke in New York - later moving to Hollywood together, is lined up to present the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Television Award with talented Irish screen Maria Doyle Kennedy, Orla Brady, Amy Huberman and Hilda Fay nominated in this category.

Academy member and IFTA winning actress Fionnula Flanagan will fly in from her base in LA to present the Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role Film. The Transamerica actress is currently starring in the comedy Yes Man with Jim Carey and will be seen in the upcoming This Side of the Truth with Brit comedian Ricky Gervais. She has also reprised her role in the hit series Lost.

In addition to nominated Irish talent the IFTAs welcome Irish actress Flora Montgomery (Basic Instinct 2, Anner House), who will travel from London to present a top Award on the night. The actress recently completed filming The Daisy Chain in 2008 with Irish director Aisling Walsh and Brit actors Samantha Morton and Steven Mackintosh.

Fresh from his win at the BAFTAs in London last weekend, writer/director Steve McQueen will be hoping to take home more Awards this weekend with his critically acclaimed feature film Hunger nominated for eight IFTAs

As Coronation Street star Kym Marsh is sadly unable to attend, her co-stars Jenny McAlpine and Vicky Binns have stepped in to represent the much loved British soap on the IFTA red carpet. The actresses, who play characters Fiz Brown and Molly Dobbs, will travel across the Irish Sea to cheer their colleagues working within the Irish film and television industry.

Other names arriving to celebrate the ongoing growth and success of the industry include new Irish talent Colin Morgan and Katie McGrath, the young stars of the BBC series Merlin; British television presenter Shane Richie who collected numerous British TV Awards himself for his role in Eastenders and is now fronting his quiz show Don’t Forget the Lyrics; and glamorous Irish presenter and model Amanda Byram.

Other additions to the guest list include stunning Irish presenter Caroline Morahan, pop star turned talent judge Shane Lynch and top comedian and television presenter Patrick Kielty. Kielty and Tommy Tiernan join fellow funnyman Des Bishop who is IFTA Nominated for In The Name of the Fada, and are set to enjoy the Irish night of industry celebrations. Plus a lineup of leading Irish television presenters including Miriam O’Callaghan, Daithí O'Sé, Sile & Grainne Seoige, Síle Ní Bhraonán, Gerry Ryan, Diarmuid Gavin and Gerry Anderson

The 6th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards are shaping up to be a wonderful night where old friends, family and colleagues will reunite to reflect on and celebrate the success of the finest creative talents working within the Irish Film and Television industry.

Hosted by Ryan Tubridy, the 6th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards will broadcast LIVE on RTÉ One at 9.30pm on Saturday 14th of February. Selected highlights from the IFTAs will be broadcast on BBC Two Northern Ireland at 7pm on Monday 16th February.

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