It’s always an exciting day in showbiz when the Oscar nominations are revealed, and this year’s feature many well-known Irish faces. Although many fans were sad not to see Caitríona Balfe and Ruth Negga included amongst the nominees, it’s still great to see such a wealth of Irish talent to be acknowledged by The Academy.
Killarney native, Jessie Buckley has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in Netflix film, The Lost Daughter which she has received much praise for.
Another Irish star included in the nominees is Van Morrison for Best Song which features in ‘Belfast,’ ‘Down to Joy.’
Of course, Kenneth Branagh’s directing debut, ‘Belfast’ is the biggest in terms of nominations as it has been nominated for seven awards! This is not surprising as for week’s it’s been tipped as an Oscar favourite and won multiple awards at The Golden Globes already.
Here’s what the film is up for;
Actress in a Supporting Role – Judie Dench, Belfast
Actor in a Supporting Role – Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Best Sound – Belfast
Best Original Screenplay – Belfast, written by Kenneth Branagh
Best Director – Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Best Picture – Belfast
Best Song – ‘Down to Joy’ by Van Morrison
Set in the 1960’s, the film follows a young boy and his family in Belfast navigating the turmoil that has taken over the city and deciding whether to wait it out or look for a fresh start.
Kenneth previously told Vanity Fair that he remembers the troubles in Northern Ireland growing up which is what inspired this semi-autobiographical film; “It’s something I’ve been trying to understand, as I grow older, that it was a moment when the world tried to insist that you put away childish things, and demanded that you are dragged into this perilous adulthood.”
Speaking to film students at the QFT last year during the Belfast Media Festival Branagh said, “It’s a very personal film, set partly in Belfast and partly elsewhere, partly set in the past and partly set in the present. I hope that there is humour and I hope that it’s emotional. It’s a look at a people and a place in tumult through the eyes of a nine-year old movie-mad kid.”
