Now in its 17th year, the 2014 Moët British Independent Film Award nominations were announced by Jared Harris earlier today. As expected, Frank and Calvary are out in force, but as usual BIFA show a lot of love for films many people may not even yet be aware of, such as The Goob.
Another year and another Jack O’Connell film leads the way after Starred Up’s eight nods last year. The Belfast-set ’71 finds itself rewarded with nine nominations, including a repeat Best Actor nod for O’Connell. Pride follows close behind with seven nominations, with five going to Catch Me Daddy, Frank and Mr. Turner.
In fact, there is much to celebrate over in the Spall household, with Timothy and Rafe nominated in different acting categories and Spall the Younger’s X+Y only one overall nomination behind his dad’s critically-lauded biopic.
As you can see from last year’s winners, away from Metro Manila’s three wins it was a pretty even spread, so don’t be surprised if ’71 isn’t top dog on the night. It also goes without saying that BIFA aren’t interested in predicting February’s Oscar winners – though we all know full well this isn’t the last time we’ll see Cumberbatch, Knightley, Spall and Boyhood nominated.
This is about celebrating the very best of British and, as expected, it’s provided a rather dreamy list of nominations. As joint directors Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson (2014 marks the last of their nine ceremonies working together) say, “the shortlist demonstrates how the standard of creativity in British independent filmmaking continues to flourish year on year. The decision of who will walk away with one of the iconic MBIFA trophies is now in the hands of our distinguished independent jury announced today.”
Tom Hooper will chair said jury, including Jonathan Romney, Jon S. Baird, Luke Treadaway, Stanley Tucci, Tracy O’Riordan, Zawe Ashton and Sean Ellis. The winners will be announced at Old Billingsgate in London on Sunday 7th December.
Oh, and if you’re asking, our favourite part of this year’s list has to be that double nod for the ridiculously talented Ben Schnetzer. Keep your eyes peeled for the BAFTA Rising Star list…
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM:
’71
Calvary
Mr. Turner
Pride
The Imitation Game
2013’S WINNER: Metro Manila
BEST DIRECTOR:
John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
Lenny Abrahamson – Frank
Matthew Warchus – Pride
Mike Leigh – Mr. Turner
Yann Demange – ’71
2013’S WINNER: Sean Ellis – Metro Manila
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD (BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR):
Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe – Catch Me Daddy
Hong Khaou – Lilting
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – 20,000 Days On Earth
Morgan Matthews – X+Y
Yann Demange – ’71
2013’S WINNER: Paul Wright – For Those In Peril
BEST SCREENPLAY:
Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
Gregory Burke – ’71
John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – Frank
Stephen Beresford – Pride
2013’S WINNER: Steven Knight – Locke
BEST ACTRESS:
Alicia Vikander – Testament Of Youth
Cheng Pei Pei – Lilting
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy
2013’S WINNER: Lindsay Duncan – Le Week-End
BEST ACTOR:
Asa Butterfield – X+Y
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
Brendan Gleeson – Calvary
Jack O’Connell – ’71
Timothy Spall – Mr. Turner
2013’S WINNER: James McAvoy – Filth
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Dorothy Atkinson – Mr. Turner
Imelda Staunton – Pride
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Frank
Sally Hawkins – X+Y
Sienna Guillory – The Goob
2013’S WINNER: Imogen Poots – The Look Of Love
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Andrew Scott – Pride
Ben Schnetzer – Pride
Michael Fassbender – Frank
Rafe Spall – X+Y
Sean Harris – ’71
2013’S WINNER: Ben Mendelsohn – Starred Up
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER:
Ben Schnetzer – Pride
Cara Delevingne – The Face Of An Angel
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
Liam Walpole – The Goob
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy
2013’S WINNER: Chloe Pirrie – Shell
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION:
’71
20,000 Days On Earth
Catch Me Daddy
Lilting
The Goob
2013’S WINNER: Metro Manila
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT:
Chris Wyatt – Editing, ’71
Dick Pope – Cinematography, Mr. Turner
Robbie Ryan – Cinematography – Catch Me Daddy
Stephen Rennicks – Music, Frank
Tat Radcliffe – Cinematography – ’71
2013’S WINNER: Amy Hubbard – Casting, The Selfish Giant
BEST DOCUMENTARY:
20,000 Days On Earth
Next Goal Wins
Night Will Fall
The Possibilities Are Endless
Virunga
2013’S WINNER: Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer
BEST BRITISH SHORT:
Crocodile
Emotional Fusebox
Keeping Up With The Joneses
Slap
The Kármán Line
2013’S WINNER: Z1
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM:
Blue Ruin
Boyhood
Fruitvale Station
Ida
The Babadook
2013’S WINNER: Blue Is The Warmest Color
THE RAINDANCE AWARD:
Flim: The Movie
Gregor
Luna
Keeping Rosy
The Beat Beneath My Feet
2013’S WINNER: The Machine
THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BRITISH FILM):
To be announced
2013’S WINNER: Julie Walters
THE VARIETY AWARD:
To be announced
2013’S WINNER: Paul Greengrass
THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE:
Announced at the Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 7th December
2013’S WINNER: Sixteen Films
