Irish-language heist thriller Aontas has been selected by the Irish Film and Television Academy to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. Directed by Damian McCann, the film follows three unlikely thieves in a reverse-chronology rural credit union robbery.
Irish Film and Television Academy Selects Aontas for the 2027 Oscars
The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) announced that the Irish-language feature thriller Aontas will represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category at the upcoming 99th Academy Awards. The announcement positions the film to compete for a spot on the official Oscar shortlist.
The selection committee included industry figures such as Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee, filmmaker Aisha Tyler, and directors Lee Cronin, Brian Kirk, and Kathryn Ferguson, alongside actor Fionnuala Flaherty and IFTA Chief Executive Áine Moriarty. Moriarty described Aontas as an intriguing and clever twist on the classic bank heist narrative,
praising the performances of Carrie Crowley, Bríd Brennan, and Eva-Jane Gaffney.
Reverse Chronology and Cast Details in Púca Pictures’ Debut Feature
Written by Sarah Gordon and Damian McCann, Aontas is the first feature film from bilingual production company Púca Pictures. The narrative departs from traditional chronological storytelling.
“Three unlikely thieves, led by a woman on the verge of a breakdown, rob a rural Irish Credit Union,” says the synopsis. “Opening in the tragic aftermath of the heist-gone-wrong, Aontas unfolds backwards, chapter by chapter to unravel the events that led to this point. What starts as a poorly executed robbery becomes a portrait of a wilful woman trapped in her own past.”
synopsis for Aontas, via RTÉ
The film opens in the tragic aftermath of a failed robbery before retracing the events chapter by chapter to reveal what drove the characters to the heist. Carrie Crowley leads the cast alongside Bríd Brennan and Eva-Jane Gaffney, supported by Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Marcus Lamb, and Art Parkinson.
Production Roots in the Glens of Antrim and International Festival Run
Production took place over 18 rainy days in Glenarm, County Antrim, following a script that McCann and Gordon originally wrote in the attic of their house. Post-production was completed at Yellowmoon Postproduction in Holywood, County Down. Funding came from TG4, BBC Gaeilge, and Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, with support from Yellowmoon.
Before capturing the attention of Oscar selectors, Aontas premiered on TG4 and TG4.ie in March and traveled the international festival circuit, screening at more than 40 festivals worldwide. The film also received six IFTA nominations.
Reflecting on the selection, director Damian McCann said, “It is such an honour that ‘Aontas’ has been selected to represent Ireland at the 99th Academy Awards. Thank you so much to IFTA and to the committee for their support. I was bringing some soggy washing in out of the rain when the news arrived – what a turnaround of a day.” He added, “We’ve been overwhelmed by the film’s journey so far – what feels like a very specifically Irish story seems to have really resonated with International audiences. My co-writer Sarah Gordon and I wrote the script in the attic of our house and we shot over 18 rainy days in the Glens of Antrim. We could never have imagined that this is where the journey might take us, but it’s a testament to the staggering graft.” McCann also mentioned that Aontas was born out of a conversation with my Mum where she described in detail how she would rob a bank (she’s an unlikely candidate…).
Following the Trail of An Cailín Ciúin and Kneecap
The selection continues a strong momentum for Irish-language cinema at the Academy Awards. Aontas follows in the footsteps of previous Irish submissions, including 2023’s An Cailín Ciúin—which became the first Irish-language film nominated for an Academy Award—and 2024’s Kneecap, which reached the International Feature Film shortlist. Five TG4 films have now been selected as Ireland’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film since 2021, including Arracht, Foscadh, An Cailín Ciúin, Kneecap, and now Aontas.
Oscar Timeline Leading to the 99th Academy Awards
With its national selection secured, Aontas enters the wider international race ahead of key Academy deadlines. The shortlist for the International Feature Film category will be announced on Tuesday, December 15, followed by the revelation of the final five nominees on Thursday, January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
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