An Irish Goodbye: 'It's not every day that you pick up a Bafta'

"It's not every day that you pick up a Bafta in London."

An Irish Goodbye star James Martin cannot contain his joy after the Northern Ireland film won the award for best British short at the Baftas on Sunday.

It saw off The Ballad of Olive Morris and A Drifting Up to triumph at the ceremony at the Southbank Centre.

"I couldn't believe that I could go up to that stage," James told BBC News NI.

He is now looking forward to the Academy Awards on 12 March, which is his birthday.

"That might put the icing on my birthday cake - fingers crossed we get an Oscar," he said.

"We'll just see what happens on the day."

As for keeping his cool at the Baftas, he took advice from his father, the broadcaster Ivan Martin, who told him: "We don't do nervous in this house."

Ivan's movie star son said: "It's not every day you go this far with a movie like An Irish Goodbye.

"Really fair play to the lads and the cast and my co-stars last night at the Baftas."

James's mother Suzanne said she was delighted for the filmmakers.

"They created something very special on screen - something that moved me as a mum," she told BBC News NI.

Directed and written by Ross White and Tom Berkeley, An Irish Goodbye tells a story of two estranged brothers who come together after their mother's death.

It is a black comedy set on a rural farm in Northern Ireland, and was shot on location in Londonderry, Saintfield in County Down and Templepatrick in County Antrim.

Speaking in the Bafta winners' room, Ross said: "It's a remarkable year for Irish film and the talent on display across all the awards.

"We are a very small part of that but we're so honoured to be a part of that," he said.

"We're representing Northern Ireland as well, it just means means a lot for us.

"Our fellow nominees in Colm Bairéad for The Quiet Girl, The Banshees [Of Inisherin] team - to see this Irish talent all being recognised in this way is such an honour and fills us with pride."

The Banshees Of Inisherin, which had 10 nominations, won outstanding British film, best original screenplay, as well as best supporting actor and actress for Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon respectively.

Dubliner Richard Baneham has picked up a Bafta award in the special visual effects category for his work on Avatar: The Way Of Water.

An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) lost out in the not-in-the-English-language and adapted screenplay categories to All's Quiet On The Western Front.

Other Irish interests included Paul Mescal, Colin Farrell and Daryl McCormack in the leading actor category but that award went to Austin Bulter for his performance in Elvis.

The Baftas are one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the run-up to the Oscars on 12 March.

An Irish Goodbye, An Cailín Ciúin, The Banshees of Inisherin and Paul Mescal are all nominated for Oscars there too.