TEN REASONS WHY THE IFTAS SUCK!

Today's newspapers are full of negative coverage of last weekend's IFTAs. So not to be left out here are Shoot the cabbage's reasons why the IFTAs suck BIG TIME!

1. TOO MUCH TELEVISION
The film awards have to share the night with the television awards and anyone who has seen Irish TV knows that this is bad!
2. FIX
Maybe not a complete fix but there is the suspician that these awards recognise certain people and not others. For example if Jim Sherian directed an episode of Fair City it would receive a bleedin' nomination! Make your own first film and the Academy will say 'who'?
3. TOO MUCH GLAMOUR
Too many grade B celebs dolled up. Too much vacuous style and not enough talent on show. Also, has anyone else seen photos of Amy Huberman before she turned glamour actress?
4. €300
Even some of the winners last night were complaining about the entry fee to the awards. It gives the air of a money spin?
5. THEY ALWAYS GET IT WRONG
Once failed to receive a best Film nomination a few years back yet won an award at Sundance. Now The Crush has been Oscar nominated yet didn't get a mention last weekend at the IFTAs. Bet if the director of this short makes another one next year it will definitely receive an IFTA nomination?
6. NO CLOUT
Has anyone ever said 'let's go an see this movie because it won an IFTA award'? Anyone?
7. THEY ONLY SELECT CERTAIN FILMS
Because you need to pay a submission fee. That means some Irish films from last year didn't qualify for consideration. Not exactly the full picture of our 'film industry' is it?
8. TOO PREDICTABLE
How did that rubbish Perrier's bounty receive a Best Film nomination? Because the makers are known in the industry and people will vote for them regardless of the film's quality. Also, the more hype a movie gets then the better chance it has in receiving an IFTA nomination.
9. IT'S A BACKSLAPFEST
Which is not a proper word but it's apt. Everyone knows everyone in the industry and they'll vote for their pals. That's why most winning films are so predictable.
10. THEY NOMINATE TITLES FOR BEST FILM WHICH NO-ONE HAS SEEN
Unless you've been to Galway Film Fleadh or some other festival where everyone whoops and cheers on the latest IFB masterpiece. Last weekend's winner was sooo (sic) predictable!