While the Oscars and BAFTAs take up a fair share of the awards spotlight the British Independent Film Awards (or the BIFAs as they are lovingly referred to) are, to our mind, a far more exciting and precise barometer of the state of British film.
It matters not how many LA-based golden statues are picked up by the British each February, it is the winners and nominees of the BIFAs which point, once again, to a thrilling year in British film with invention and stark, raving talent at the forefront.
Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant is rightly garlanded with nominations, as is David Mackenzie’s LFF-choice for many, Starred Up. Perhaps the more noticeable names of the Philomena cast and crew are present an dcorrect however it’s the slew of nominations for Jon Baird’s Filth and Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin which are very gratifying. Scarlett Johansson’s astonishingly deft performance in Glazer’s film is certainly worthy of praise as is the haunting music from Mica Levi.
As with every year this is a roll call for the best and brightest in the industry. The winners of the 16th annual BIFAs will be announced on the 8th of December. We’ll be there, I hope you’ll join us.
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
Metro Manila
Philomena
The Selfish Giant
Starred Up
Le Week-end
BEST DIRECTOR
Sponsored by All City & Intermission
Jon S Baird – Filth
Clio Barnard – The Selfish Giant
Sean Ellis – Metro Manila
Jonathan Glazer – Under the Skin
David Mackenzie – Starred Up
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Charlie Cattrall – Titus
Tina Gharavi – I Am Nasrine
Jeremy Lovering – In Fear
Omid Nooshin – Last Passenger
Paul Wright – For Those in Peril
BEST SCREENPLAY
Jonathan Asser – Starred Up
Clio Barnard – The Selfish Giant
Steven Knight – Locke
Hanif Kureishi – Le Week-end
Jeff Pope, Steve Coogan – Philomena
BEST ACTRESS
Sponsored by M.A.C Cosmetics
Judi Dench – Philomena
Lindsay Duncan – Le Week-end
Scarlett Johansson – Under the Skin
Felicity Jones – The Invisible Woman
Saoirse Ronan – How I Live Now
BEST ACTOR
Sponsored by BBC Films
Jim Broadbent – Le Week-end
Steve Coogan – Philomena
Tom Hardy – Locke
Jack O’Connell – Starred Up
James McAvoy – Filth
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Siobhan Finneran – The Selfish Giant
Shirley Henderson – Filth
Imogen Poots – The Look Of Love
Kristin Scott Thomas – The Invisible Woman
Mia Wasikowska – The Double
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sponsored by Sanderson & Saint Martins Lane
John Arcilla – Metro Manila
Rupert Friend – Starred Up
Jeff Goldblum – Le Week-end
Eddie Marsan – Filth
Ben Mendelsohn – Starred Up
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Sponsored by Studiocanal
Harley Bird – How I Live Now
Conner Chapman / Shaun Thomas – The Selfish Giant
Caity Lotz – The Machine
Jake Macapagal – Metro Manila
Chloe Pirrie – Shell
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Sponsored by Company3
A Field in England
Filth
Metro Manila
The Selfish Giant
Starred Up
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Sponsored by LightBrigade Media
Shaheen Baig – Casting – Starred Up
Johnnie Burn – Sound Design – Under the Skin
Amy Hubbard – Casting – The Selfish Giant
Mica Levi – Music – Under the Skin
Justine Wright – Editing – Locke
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer
The Great Hip Hop Hoax
The Moo Man
The Spirit of ’45
The Stone Roses: Made of Stone
BEST BRITISH SHORT
Supported by BFI NET.WORK
L’Assenza
Dr Easy
Dylan’s Room
Jonah
Z1
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
Blue is the Warmest Colour
Blue Jasmine
Frances Ha
The Great Beauty
Wadjda
THE RAINDANCE AWARD
Sponsored by Wentworth Media and Arts
Everyone’s Going to Die
The Machine
The Patrol
Sleeping Dogs
Titus
THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
To Be Announced
THE VARIETY AWARD
To Be Announced
THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Announced at the Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 8th December
