Ireland's Oscar Hopeful: 'Aontas' Brings a Fresh Twist to the Heist Genre
Ireland's film academy has chosen the Irish-language feature "Aontas" as the country's submission for the best international feature Oscar. Directed by Damian McCann, the heist thriller stars Carrie Crowley and unfolds in reverse order, depicting a failed robbery at a rural credit union. The selection continues Ireland's recent success in the category, following nominations and shortlists for "The Quiet Girl" and "Kneecap."
The film's reverse-chronology structure inverts the traditional heist formula, opening with the robbery's aftermath before tracing backward to its origins. Shot across 18 days in the Glens of Antrim, the production drew funding from TG4, BBC Gaeilge, and Northern Ireland Screen's Irish Language Broadcast Fund, with support from Yellowmoon. The cast includes Carrie Crowley, who previously appeared in "The Quiet Girl," alongside Bríd Brennan, Eva-Jane Gaffney, Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Marcus Lamb, and Art Parkinson.
"Aontas" marks the third consecutive Irish-language feature to gain international Oscar traction, following "The Quiet Girl's" 2023 nomination and "Kneecap's" 2024 shortlisting. IFTA CEO Áine Moriarty praised the film's "powerful female performances," while director Damian McCann described learning of the selection while bringing in laundry, calling the news "a turnaround of a day."
This selection could further elevate Irish-language cinema on the global stage, potentially encouraging more productions in the language and attracting international distribution interest. The film's female-led heist narrative, told in reverse, may also broaden audience expectations for genre films from smaller film industries. If it secures a nomination, it could boost tourism to Northern Ireland's Antrim region and inspire emerging Irish filmmakers, though its ultimate impact depends on Academy voters' reception.