The new format IFTA Television Awards follows in the footsteps of the very successful new format IFTA Film & Drama Awards which took place at the Mansion House earlier this year, as part of the split out of the much larger annual Ceremony into two distinct smaller ceremonies, giving separate focus and recognition to both similar to many other international Academies.
As Ireland’s industry has grown over the last decade, a mammoth task for IFTA in recent years had been the presentation of and increasing amount of Awards in just one evening (over 42 Irish award categories). Having consulted internationally with peer Academies in Europe including BAFTA and in keeping with best international practice IFTA split the Awards earlier this year into two separate events, similar to other countries, awarding Film & Drama productions and separately Television programmes reflecting Ireland’s growing and vibrant industry. Through the two ceremonies the Academy will showcase to the world what Ireland’s small but outstanding film and television community has to offer: In May - excellent and challenging feature films and dramas; and in October - entertaining television programmes and engaging factual content.
The IFTA Television Awards will celebrate and recognise the very best of Irish creative talent and the high quality of output across entertaining Irish television programmes and engaging factual content from Ireland’s very talented and growing television industry.
For the past eleven years since 2003, and throughout the recession, the Academy has showcased the very best of Irish talent to the world at large, building a national pride and international awareness of Ireland’s small but very talented and growing industry, with the home audience building to a record viewership of 1.24 million peak viewers in 2013.
The Television Award categories this year are:
- Comedy (Scripted & Sketch)
- Current Affairs
- Documentary Series
- Documentary Single
- Entertainment
- Factual
- Live Event
- News
- Reality & Constructed Factual
- Soap & Continuing Drama
- Specialist Factual
- Sports
- Animation – Children’s & Young People’s
- Children’s – Live Action
- Young People’s – Live Action
- Irish Language
- Female Performance (in a Soap or Comedy)
- Male Performance (in a Soap or Comedy)
- Director – Soap & Continuing Drama and Comedy
- Writer - Soap & Continuing Drama and Comedy
- Director – Television
- Camera – Television
- Editing – Television
- Sound – Television
There will also be a Television Lifetime Achievement Award presented on the night, as well as a People’s Choice Award, of which further details will be announced next week.
The Academy has 1000 Members of industry professionals across 14 Chapters of Discipline (Directors, Producers, Actors, Writers, Cinematographers, etc). On average 550 Members register to vote each year and participate as Jury alongside international Jury and experts which in recent years has included – Peter Jackson, Sir Alan Parker, Neil Marshall, Christopher Hampton, Sean Bobbitt, Leo Davis, Jina Jay, Trisha Biggar, Conrad Pope and Steve Gaydos.
The independent process of the Awards is best international practice across submissions, viewing process, platforms and the voting process will be independently audited. The Awards production is a culmination of year-round intensive work by a small Academy team across funding, partnerships, planning and co-ordination with production companies, broadcasters, state bodies, distributors, studios, agents, reps and publicists across Submissions, Screenings (Cinema & Online), international Jury Panels (each chaired by an Academy Member), Voting, Nominations, national Announcements, communication, PR, Event planning, logistics, transport, accommodation, film clips, content, visuals, statuette production, and event production – guests, set, clips, graphics, script, etc.
The Academy has been dedicated to nurturing and supporting the film and television industry in Ireland since 2003, through its extensive Learning programme of Academy monthly events each year and through honouring, rewarding and celebrating Irish creative talent at the annual Irish Academy Awards Ceremony.
For more information regarding IFTA and how to submit for the Television Awards, go to www.ifta.ie/awards.
