US-Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde Awards, an annual event created nearly 20 years ago by Alliance founder Trina Vargo, was held last night in Hollywood.
Honored on the night were Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, John C. Reilly and Éanna Hardwicke. Presenters were Will Ferrell, Hylda Queally, and Macdara Kelleher.
Among those hitting the “green carpet” were former Oscar Wilde Award honorees Richie Baneham and Sarah Bolger. Frankie Shaw, just back from Ireland, having directed Liam Neeson in “4 Kids Walk Into a Bank” was there, as were Thaddea Graham of Bad Sisters, Eoin Macken, Matt Walsh, Aisha Tyler & Emmett Hughes, Kevin Ryan, Alice Eve, Samantha Mumba, Nick McCarthy, and Glen Keogh.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Ferrell speaks onstage during the US-Ireland Alliance’s 19th annual Oscar Wilde Awards at Wilshire Ebell Theatre on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Éanna Hardwicke, John C. Reilly, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall were honored at the US-Ireland Alliance’s 19th annual Oscar Wilde Awards. Presenters were Macdara Kelleher, Hylda Queally, and Will Ferrell. Singers Lenii and Eiza Murphy performed. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for US-Ireland Alliance)
Vargo, who emceed the program, noted that the event was the catalyst for director JJ Abrams filming “Star Wars” on Skellig Michael in Ireland, with the obvious support of Lucasfilm President Kathy Kennedy.
On hand for the event was Northern Ireland editor, Nick Emerson, who is nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Film Editing for “Conclave.” Also present were Irish producers of the film “The Apprentice” Ruth Treacy and Julianne Ford, of Tailored Films. The film had Screen Ireland support and Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong have garnered Oscar nominations for their portrayals of Trump and Roy Cohn.
Will Ferrell presented to his good friend John C. Reilly, saying that “all the gifts that historically have come out of Irish society radiate from John.” He spoke of Reilly’s incredible body of work.
Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen execs Desiree Finnegan, Andrew Reid, and Steven Davenport were seen speaking with a number of film executives in the room about opportunities for production on the island.
Execs at the event included numerous producers including producers Pat Crowley, Joanne Lee of Jackson Pictures; producer Jenifer Westphal of Wavelength Productions; well as execs from Bad Robot, Lucasfilm, The Kennedy Marshall Company, Warner Bros, Amazon, Paramount, Sony, Netflix, Disney, Apple TV+, Mattel Films, Max, MBS, Black Bear, Legendary, AMC Studios, NBC Universal, 20th Century Studios, Bassett Vance Productions, Artists Equity, and Wild Atlantic Pictures.
