TEN THINGS THE IFTAS GET WRONG!

That time of year again and this blog is already bored with slagging our IFTAs. That's the Irish Film and Television Academy awards. So instead of another snarky post here are ten things the IFTAs are not doing well.


1. Competing with the Oscars/BAFTAs
Not only do our movies copy the Yanks/Brits but our awards ceremony does too! Where's the originality? Even the statuette looks almost identical!

2. Narrow vision
Only a small number of Irish releases get selected for nomination. This isn't because they are the best ones either.

3. Rewarding medocrity
Rubbish films that no-one likes winning awards because there's nothing else available?

4. Hype
There's too much hype in the media and this causes a lot of backlash. Wait until next week's newspapers!

5. Zero impact
If the hype wasn't bad enough do any of these films perform better at the box office because they won an IFTA? Does anyone say: 'Let's go and see this new Irish movie because it won an IFTA for best screenplay?'.

6. Celebrity obsessed
Oh look there's Amy and there's Brendan. Real movie stars in sh*t films. Where's the award for Best Irish independent feature film? That's where the real talent should be.

7. Inside job
Someone else must know this: the IFTAs are partly-funded by our Film Board. So let's understand this: the IFB funds sh*t films and then funds an organisation that gives these sh*t films awards?

8. They ALWAYS get it wrong
Unless your film arrives at the correct time it will get ignored. That's why Once didn't win. That's why Snap didn't win. That's why tonight's Best Film won't be.

9. Industry is too small
They've previously joined categories and this year only have four titles in the Best Film category. We're too small a country for such a lavish awards ceremony.

10. Pay to play
You have to pay money to get your film considered for a nomination. Even better you have to pay to attend (if not on the guestlist) What a con job!