Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Ireland Selects Aontas as Its Oscar Entry for Best International Feature

The Irish-language heist thriller’s selection highlights rising international attention for films made as Gaeilge as it now awaits the Academy’s shortlist.

Overview

  • IFTA announced on Friday, August 28, 2026, that Aontas has been formally submitted as Ireland’s entry in the Best International Feature Film race for the 99th Academy Awards.
  • Directed by Damian McCann and co-written with Sarah Gordon, Aontas is a reverse-chronology heist thriller starring Carrie Crowley, Bríd Brennan and Eva-Jane Gaffney.
  • The film was produced by Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh and Christopher Myers for Púca Pictures and was funded by TG4, BBC Gaeilge and the Northern Ireland Screen Irish Language Broadcast Fund with post‑production support from Yellowmoon.
  • Aontas is available to stream on the TG4 player, and director Damian McCann publicly thanked IFTA and the selection committee after the announcement.
  • The pick follows recent international attention for Irish-language films such as An Cailín Ciúin (2023) and Kneecap (2024) and now moves to the Academy’s process with a December 15 shortlist and Jan. 21 nominee announcements ahead of the March 14, 2027 ceremony.