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The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, has today congratulated the many Irish Oscar nominees following the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominees.

The Breadwinner, funded by the Irish Film Board and produced by Cartoon Saloon, Kilkenny, is one of the five nominations for Best Animated Feature.

Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri received seven nominations including Best Picture.

Saoirse Ronan is nominated for Best Actress in the title role of Lady Bird.

Consolata Boyle is nominated in the Best Costume Design category for Victoria and Abdul.

Daniel Day Lewis received a nomination for Best Actor for his role in Phantom Thread.

With the nomination of The Breadwinner this year, Irish Film Board funded films have received one or more nominations in the main categories in each of the last four years.  This is an amazing global achievement for such a small organisation.  Although Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri was not an Irish Film Board funded film, the Film Board did fund an early film by Martin McDonagh.  Six Shooter won an Oscar for Best Live Action short Film in 2004.   

Speaking today, Minister Madigan said:

“I am delighted to see so much Irish interest with actors and filmmakers nominated for this year’s Academy Awards.  In terms of its size, Ireland punches way above its weight in the quality of its audiovisual output.  The Irish Film Industry has gone from success to success over the past number of years with every year bringing international recognition and awards.   Oscar nominations are an endorsement of excellence but they also serve to highlight not only our film industry but also Ireland as a destination for inward investment across all industries as well as a tourism destination.  I wish all of our nominees further success when the Oscars are announced on 4 March 2018.”