'Hunger' nominated for eight Ifta awards

Hunger, the harrowing feature film which focuses on the 1981 hunger strikers, has been shortlisted for eight awards in the Irish Film and Television Awards (Ifta).

The film, which has previously won the prestigious Caméra d'Or award at Cannes and the Sydney Film Prize , was directed by Steve McQueen and stars Michael Fassbender as Bobby Sands.

The shortlist of nominees for the 6th annual Irish Film and Television Awards was announced this afternoon.

Hungeris nominated for the Best Feature Film category alongside Marian Quinn's coming of age feature 32A; the prison breaking The Escapist; Lance Daly's urban drama Kisses; and Ian Fitzgibbon's dark comedy A Film With Me In It.

Fassbender, who was born in Germany but brought up in Co Kerry is included in the Actor in a Leading Role category where he faces stiff competition from Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who are both nominated for their roles in In Brugesand comedian Dylan Moran, for his role in A Film With Me In It.Fassbender is also nominated in the Television Actor in a Supporting Role category for his part in the Channel 4 series The Devil's Whore.

Liam Cunningham and Stuart Graham, who co-star in Hunger, have been included in the shortlist for the Film Actor in a Supporting Role category. Surprisingly, the director of the film, Steve McQueen, failed to make the shortlist of best directors, but Hungerhas been nominated in a number of other categories including best script.

The Tudorsreceived multiple nominations for the second year running with director Ciaran Donnelly and actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers both making the shortlist. The series which is broadcast on TV3 is also shortlisted for the Best Drama/Soap award alongside The Clinic, Fair City, Ros na Rúnand Raw.

Belfast musician/DJ David Holmes has been nominated twice in the Original Score category for his soundtracks to Hungerand Cherrybomb. Veteran actor Peter O'Toole also received two nominations, one for his role in the film Dean Spanleyand the other for The Tudors.

Charlene McKenna receives two nominations in the Lead Actress in Television category for her roles in Rawand Whistleblowerwhile directors/writers Lance Daly and McDonagh have picked up nominations in both crafts for Kissesand In Bruges.

Bertie, the series which covered the political career of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern is included in this year's shortlist as is the controversial documentary Fairytale of Kathmanduby Neasa Ní Chianáin.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a film based on the book by Irish author John Boyne is shortlisted for Best International Film with In Bruges, Man On Wireand Wall-E.

Angelina Jolie, Kristin Scott Thomas, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson will all compete in the Best International Actress award, which is chosen by members of the public, while Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jnr, Ralph Fiennes and Casey Affleck are all nominated in the International Actor Award category.

The 6th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards takes place in Dublin on 14th February.