A distinguished actor born in Belfast in 1953, who has captivated audiences with his versatile performances across stage, film, and television, earning him Performing Arts iBAM! Award in 2024 for his contributions to Irish culture. From his early stage work with the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre to acclaimed roles in films like Belfast (2021), which garnered him Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, and TV series such as Game of Thrones and Rome, Hinds has showcased remarkable depth and authenticity. His recent projects, including the 2025 TV adaptation of The Narrow Road to the Deep North and the film Is This Thing On?, highlight his enduring impact. A private yet dedicated artist, Hinds lives in Paris with his partner, actress Hélène Patarot, and their daughter, Aoife, also an actress.

The 2024 iBAM! Award for Media/Journalism, is a distinguished Irish columnist, literary editor, and drama critic for The Irish Times since 1988, whose incisive commentary has shaped contemporary Irish discourse. Renowned for works like We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958, which won the An Post Irish Book of the Year in 2021, O’Toole has earned accolades including the Orwell Prize and European Press Prize for his insightful writings on Irish history, politics, and culture. A member of the Royal Irish Academy and Milberg Professor of Irish Letters at Princeton, his contributions to journalism and literature continue to inspire global audiences.

Cónal Creedon, recipient of the 2024 iBAM! Award for Literature, is a celebrated Cork-born novelist, playwright, and documentary filmmaker whose evocative works, including Spaghetti Bowl and Begotten Not Made, vividly capture the human condition through the lens of Cork city’s streets. His extensive body of work, spanning novels, stage plays like The Second City Trilogy, and documentaries such as The Burning of Cork, has earned international acclaim, including the 2024 Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts and the Eric Hoffer Award. A former Writer-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor at University College Cork, Creedon’s storytelling resonates globally, blending humor and insight to honor Ireland’s cultural legacy.