And the winner is…”: Behind the IFTA voting process
"Confidence in every result begins with confidence in the process behind it."
Donal Murray, Partner, Deloitte Ireland
For most viewers of the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA), the glamour lasts a few hours. But for the team behind it, months of work have already taken place before the first envelope is opened.
Each year, the IFTA celebrate the very best of Irish film, drama and creative talent. The awards shine a spotlight on actors, directors, writers and producers whose work reaches audiences around the world. Behind every nomination and every winner, however, lies a process that must be accurate, transparent and trusted.
That’s where Deloitte comes in.
For years, Deloitte Ireland has overseen the IFTA celebrations on the counting and verification of votes, providing assurance at every stage of the awards process. From determining shortlisted nominees to confirming category winners, Deloitte’s specialists review and validate all the votes submitted through multiple channels, combing technology, expertise with rigorous controls to ensure every result reflects the collective voice of the Academy and its juries.
The work itself is meticulous. Online votes are extracted and verified from voting systems, while jury votes submitted through dedicated forms undergo comprehensive review. It’s a process that requires precision, independence and absolute confidentiality.
Trust is everything in an awards process,
explains Donal Murray, Partner, Deloitte Ireland
“When nominees, audiences and the wider industry watch those envelopes being opened, they need complete confidence that every vote has been counted accurately and every result is beyond question. Our role is to provide that independent assurance and help protect the integrity of one of the country’s most important celebrations of onscreen creativity.”
For IFTA, that independent oversight plays a critical role in maintaining the credibility of the awards and the confidence of the industry it represents.
“The Irish film and television sector is enjoying extraordinary success on the global stage, and the integrity of our awards is fundamental to recognising that achievement,” says Aine Moriarty, Chief Executive of IFTA.
“Deloitte’s professionalism, expertise and independence give our members, nominees and audiences confidence in the process year after year. Their support helps ensure that every winner is recognised fairly and transparently.”
