Ireland's Oscar Contender
Irish-Language Heist Thriller 'Aontas' Selected as Ireland's Oscar Contender for International Feature
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Key Points
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The shortlist for Ireland's International Feature Film Oscar entry will be announced on 15 December 2026, with the final five nominees revealed on 21 January 2027, and the Oscars ceremony scheduled for 14 March 2027 in Los Angeles.
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In addition to Carrie Crowley, Bríd Brennan and Eva-Jane Gaffney, the ensemble includes Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Marcus Lamb and Art Parkinson.
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Aontas was filmed in March 2024 in Glenarm, County Antrim, with post-production completed at Yellowmoon Postproduction in Holywood, County Down.
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IFTA-led coverage highlights Áine Moriarty’s comment calling the film 'an intriguing and clever twist on the classic bank heist narrative, with powerful female performances at its core' by Crowley, Brennan and Gaffney.
Ireland has selected Hot Press, an Irish-language heist thriller directed by Damian McCann, as its official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards in March 2027. The film stars Carrie Crowley, Bríd Brennan, and Eva-Jane Gaffney as three thieves who rob a rural Irish bank, with the story unfolding in reverse chronology to reveal the protagonist's troubled past.
This marks Screen Daily notes as Ireland's continued presence in the Oscar race following recent entries like An Cailín Ciúin and Kneecap. Yahooreports that IFTA praised the film for being 'an intriguing and clever twist on the classic bank heist narrative, with powerful female performances at its core.'
A Heist Built in Reverse
Aontas unfolds backwards—a bold storytelling choice that reveals layers as the plot rewinds. The film follows three female thieves executing a bank robbery in rural Ireland, then gradually exposes why they needed the money in the first place. Written by Sarah Gordon and McCann, this structure forces viewers to reconsider every character's motives and morality as new information emerges.
First Feature from Púca Pictures
Aontas represents Screen Daily reports as the debut feature from Dublin-based production company Púca Pictures. The film was produced by Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh and Christopher Myers with support from TG4, BBC Gaeilge, Northern Ireland Screen's Irish Language Broadcast Fund, and post-production company Yellowmoon. Filming took place in March 2024 across Glenarm, County Antrim.
International Oscar Race Timeline Ahead
The competition intensifies over the next 15 months. Yahoo notes that the shortlist for Ireland's entry will be announced on December 15, 2026, followed by the official five nominees on January 21, 2027. The Academy Awards ceremony takes place March 14, 2027 in Los Angeles. Thailand has already submitted '9 Temples To Heaven' as its contender, signaling strong international competition.
Strong Ensemble Cast Backs the Narrative
Beyond the three lead female performers, Aontas features Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Marcus Lamb, and Art Parkinson in supporting roles. The ensemble delivers what Hot Press describes as a film with 'powerful female performances at its core,' anchoring the complex reverse-narrative structure with authentic emotional weight across the cast.
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