Steve McQueen's Hunger collected six of the major film awards at last night's Irish Film & Television Awards ceremony in Dublin.

Hunger was named best film, and also collected IFTAs for actor in a lead role, film for Michael Fassbender, actor in a supporting role, film for Liam Cunningham, original score David Holmes, production design Tom McCullagh, and sound Ronan Hill & Mervyn Moore. Fassbender was also presented with the Irish Film Board Rising Star Award.

Accepting the award for best film Steve McQueen said the IFTA meant more to him than any of the many awards the film has received to date and producer Laura Hastings-Smith thanked Northern Ireland Screen, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and Film4 for their support for the film and for telling stories about the past.

Michael Fassbender dedicated his award to all the people of Northern Ireland, on both sides, and expressed the filmmakers' desire that the film they had made 'respected the 'troubles' up there'.

Speaking about the awards IFTA CEO Áine Moriarty said, 'In these difficult times it is inspiring to see the exceptional talent and creative work coming from the Irish film and television industry continue to entertain, engage and capture the imagination of audiences here in Ireland and abroad. I would like to congratulate all IFTA winners and nominees for their fine achievements this year.'

The other principal film awards went to Kisses director Lance Daly who picked up the award for director, film, while Martin McDonagh received the best script film award for In Bruges. In Bruges also received the IFTA for best international film.

In the acting categories Eileen Walsh received the award for actress in a lead role, film, for Eden while Saoirse Ronan won the award for actress in a supporting role, film, for Death Defying Acts.

Award presenters included local directors Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan, and cinematographer Christopher Doyle who presented PJ Dillon with the director of photography IFTA for 32A. The President of Ireland Mary McAleese presented the industry lifetime contribution award to veteran documentary filmmaker George Morrison who himself presented the inaugural feature documentary IFTA, the George Morrison Award, to the surfing documentary Waveriders.

The Tudors ruled in the television section, also picking up six awards, some of those in the craft categories which are shared between film and TV drama produced in Ireland.

Winners of the 6th annual Irish Film & Television Awards

Best Film

Hunger - Laura Hastings-Smith, Robin Gutch (Blast! Films)

Director

Lance Daly, Kisses - (Element Pictures Distribution)

Script

Martin McDonagh, In Bruges- (Universal Pictures International)

Actor in a lead role

Michael Fassbender, Hunger - (Blast! Films)

Actress in a lead role

Eileen Walsh, Eden - (Samson Films)

Actor in a supporting role

Liam Cunningham, Hunger - (Blast! Films)

Actress in a supporting role

Saoirse Ronan, Death Defying Acts- (Lionsgate UK)

Feature documentary - the George Morrison award

Waveriders - Margo Harkin (Element Pictures Distribution)

Best international film

In Bruges

Best international actor

Robert Downey Jr, Iron Man

Pantene best international actress award - People's Choice*

Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia! The Movie

Irish film board Rising Star Award

Michael Fassbender

Film & TV CRAFT / TECHNICAL CATEGORIES

Costume design

Joan Bergin, The Tudors - (AB Productions Ltd)

Director of photography

PJ Dillon, 32A - (Janey Pictures)

Editing

J. Patrick Duffner, Kisses - (Element Pictures Distribution)

Make up & hair - (Sponsored by MAC)

Sharon Doyle & Dee Corcoran, The Tudors - (AB Productions Ltd)

Original score

David Holmes, Hunger - (Blast! Films)

Production design

Tom McCullagh, Hunger - (Blast! Films)

Sound

Ronan Hill & Mervyn Moore, Hunger - (Blast! Films)

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