Dundalk filmmaker Aislinn Clarke nominated for prestigious IFTA Rising Star Award

Dundalk director and writer Aislinn Clarke has been nominated in the Rising Star category for the upcoming Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) awards.

Aislinn Clarke was born in Dundalk and moved to Northern Ireland as a teenager. Her debut horror feature The Devil’s Doorway was released in 2018 and played at numerous international horror festivals, and was released by IFC in the US.

She followed it up last year with Irish language horror Fréwaka, starring Clare Monnelly and Bríd Ní Neachtain, which had its World Premiere at Locarno Film Festival and has received two IFTA Nominations. Aislinn is a previous Bingham Ray New Talent nominee at Galway Film Fleadh, and was recognised last year by Variety as one of ‘Ireland’s Rising Stars Behind the Camera’, and she currently has projects in development with Paramount and Studiocanal. Her acclaimed short films include Childer and Eye Exam.

Speaking about her nomination Aislinn said: “It’s such an honour to be nominated for the IFTA Rising Star Award, which over the years has included so many of Ireland’s greatest talents. Is mór an onóir é a bheith san áireamh sa líon sin. Go raibh míle maith agaibh!”

The winner will be announced at the 2025 IFTA Awards Ceremony on Friday, February 14th.

Selected by a special jury and sponsored by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, this Rising Star Award is a unique IFTA Award, in that it puts an international spotlight on Irish professionals who have honed their craft in their formative years and have excelled in their respective fields. The nominees this year are described as being at “the vanguard of the next wave of Irish Screen Talent, whose incredible work will keep Ireland at the forefront of the global screen industries.”

Previous winners of the Rising Star Award include Saoirse Ronan, Michael Fassbender, Nicola Coughlan, Domhnall Gleeson, Siobhán Cullen, Jamie Dornan, Sarah Greene, Aoife McArdle, Colm Bairéad, Aisling Franciosi, John Michael McDonagh, Gerard Barrett, Stephen Fingleton, Tomm Moore, Patrick Gibson, Jacob McCarthy; all of whom have gone on to garner recognition and accolades both in Ireland and internationally.

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The Nominees for the 2025 Screen Ireland - IFTA Rising Star Award are:

• Anthony Boyle (Actor - Say Nothing, Masters of the Air, House of Guinness, Manhunt)
• Aislinn Clarke (Writer/Director - Fréwaka, The Devil’s Doorway, Eye Exam)
• Clinton Liberty (Actor - House of the Dragon, Holding, Red Election, Normal People)
• Alisha Weir (Actor - Abigail, Wicked Little Letters, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical)

Speaking about the 2025 Rising Stars, Áine Moriarty, Chief Executive of the Irish Film and Television Academy, said: “These four hugely talented Rising Stars represent the new wave of Irish professionals who are leading our homegrown industry on the world stage. This prestigious Award has recognised many great Irish talents at this early stage, and we hope this recognition will bolster the careers of these four skillful artists, spotlighting the next phase of their creative journeys internationally. Congratulations to each of them.”

Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said: “Our sincere congratulations to the 2025 IFTA Rising Star Award nominees announced today. Screen Ireland is proud to sponsor this award as part of the agency’s work supporting new and established talent across the industry, and we look forward to seeing each of the nominees' work as they move into the next stage of their careers.”