Ireland selects Damian McCann's Aontas for Oscars race
Ireland selects Damian McCann's Irish-language heist thriller "Aontas" as its official entry for the best international feature film category at the 2027 Academy Awards, the Irish Film & TV Academy announced. The reverse-chronology bank robbery drama joins a recent run of Irish Oscar attention that includes nominee "The Quiet Girl" and shortlisted "Kneecap." For awards watchers tracking how streaming and TV alerts intersect with prestige cinema, the pick signals continued momentum for Irish-language storytelling on the world stage.
Key Takeaways
- IFTA chose "Aontas" as Ireland's Oscar submission for best international feature at the 99th Academy Awards.
- Director Damian McCann's heist thriller is told in reverse chronology and centers on a woman-led rural bank robbery.
- A selection committee including Lee Cronin, Lisa McGee, Brian Kirk, Kathryn Ferguson, and Aisha Tyler backed the film.
- "Aontas" follows Oscar-nominated "The Quiet Girl" (2023) and Oscar-shortlisted "Kneecap" (2024).
- The film was shot over 18 days in the Glens of Antrim with support from TG4, BBC Gaeilge, and Northern Ireland Screen.
Why Did Ireland Select Aontas for the Oscars?
IFTA and its selection committee picked "Aontas" because the film has resonated with international audiences despite its distinctly Irish roots. Chief executive Áine Moriarty praised it as an "intriguing and clever twist on the classic bank heist narrative," highlighting strong performances from Carrie Crowley, Bríd Brennan, and Eva-Jane Gaffney.
McCann said he learned the news while bringing washing in from the rain—a moment he called a "turnaround of a day." He credited co-writer Sarah Gordon and a cast and crew whose "staggering graft and boundless optimism" carried the project from an attic script to a potential Oscar campaign.
What Is Aontas About?
Written by Sarah Gordon and McCann, "Aontas" follows three unlikely thieves led by a woman on the verge of a breakdown who rob a rural Irish bank. The story opens in the tragic aftermath of a heist gone wrong and unfolds backward, transforming a poorly executed robbery into a portrait of a wilful woman trapped in her own past.
The cast includes Carrie Crowley ("The Quiet Girl"), Bríd Brennan, Eva-Jane Gaffney, Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Marcus Lamb, and Art Parkinson. Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh and Christopher Myers produced the film for Púca Pictures, with funding from TG4, BBC Gaeilge, Northern Ireland Screen's Irish Language Broadcast Fund, and support from Yellowmoon.
Who Chose Ireland's Oscar Entry?
IFTA convened a committee of industry figures to make the selection. Members included "Evil Dead Rise" director Lee Cronin, "Derry Girls" creator Lisa McGee, BAFTA-nominated directors Brian Kirk ("Game of Thrones") and Kathryn Ferguson ("Nothing Compares"), Emmy-winning filmmaker Aisha Tyler ("Friends"), actress Fionnuala Flaherty ("Kneecap"), and IFTA chief executive Áine Moriarty.
The group represents a cross-section of Irish and Irish-adjacent talent with deep ties to both mainstream and independent cinema. Their endorsement underscores how seriously Ireland treats the international feature category after recent breakthroughs.
How Does This Continue Ireland's Oscar Momentum?
"Aontas" arrives on the heels of two high-profile Irish submissions. "The Quiet Girl" became Ireland's first-ever Oscar nominee in the international feature category in 2023. "Kneecap," submitted in 2024, earned a spot on the Oscar shortlist.
McCann noted that he and Gordon shot the film over 18 rainy days in the Glens of Antrim and never imagined the journey would reach the Academy Awards. For full details on the announcement, see Variety's report.