It’s our favourite night of the year! The 2021 BIFA awards took place this evening at Old Billingsgate in London. Hosted by People Just Do Nothing’s Asim Chaudhry, those attending include Emma Corrin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Joe Cole, Lucy Boynton, Jude Law, Harris Dickinson, Paapa Essiedu, Caitriona Balfe, Morfydd Clark, Riz Ahmed, Wumni Mosaku, Ruth Wilson, Stephen Graham and James Norton.
The 24th British Independent Film Awards saw Joanna Scanlan’s After Love take home a handful of awards, Clio Barnard’s Ali & Ava also did well – and there’s something wonderful in championing the very best in British Independent film – so, hey – we’re all winners here.*
David Sztypuljak and Scott Davis were our men at the event, asking questions.
You can see our interviews below, as well as a full list of tonight’s winners and nominees.
*Actual winners are below.
The 2021 BIFA Red Carpet Interviews
The 2021 BIFA Winners Room Interviews
The 2021 BIFA Winners and Nominess
Best British Independent Film
After Love – (WINNER)
Ali & Ava
Boiling Point
The Nest
The Souvenir Part II
Best Director
Aleem Khan, After Love – (WINNER)
Philip Barantini, Boiling Point
Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava
Sean Durkin, The Nest
Joanna Hogg, The Souvenir Part II
Best Actress
Joanna Scanlan, After Love (WINNER)
Caitríona Balfe, Belfast
Carrie Coon, The Nest
Claire Rushbrook, Ali & Ava
Ruth Wilson, True Things
Best Actor
Adeel Akhtar, Ali & Ava – (WINNER)
Riz Ahmed, Encounter
Stephen Graham, Boiling Point
Jude Law, The Nest
James Norton, Nowhere Special
Best Supporting Actress
Vinette Robinson, Boiling Point – WINNER
Judi Dench, Belfast
Jo Hartley, Sweetheart
Nathalie Richard, After Love
Tilda Swinton, The Souvenir Part II
Best Supporting Actor
Talid Ariss, After Love (WINNER)
Richard Ayoade, The Souvenir Part II
Lucian-River Chauhan, Encounter
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Ray Panthaki, Boiling Point
Breakthrough Performance
Nell Barlow, Sweetheart (WINNER)
Lauryn Ajufo, Boiling Point
Max Harwood, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Jude Hill, Belfast
Ellora Torchia, In the Earth
The Douglas Hickox Award
(Best Debut Director)
Aleem Khan, After Love (WINNER)
Prano Bailey-Bond, Censor
Celeste Bell, Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché [Also Directed By Paul Sng]
Cathy Brady, Wildfire
Marley Morrison, Sweetheart
Best Screenplay
Aleem Khan, After Love (WINNER)
Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava
Terence Davies, Benediction
Sean Durkin, The Nest
Joanna Hogg, The Souvenir Part II
Breakthrough Producer
Michelle Antoniades, Sweetheart (WINNER)
Helen Jones, Censor
Jessica Malik, She Will [Also Produced By Bob Last]
Hester Ruoff, Boiling Point [Also Produced By Bart Ruspoli]
Rob Watson, The Power [Also Produced By Matthew James Wilkinson]
Best Debut Screenwriter
Cathy Brady, Wildfire (WINNER)
Prano Bailey-Bond, Censor [Also Written By Anthony Fletcher]
Aleem Khan, After Love
Marley Morrison, Sweetheart
Reggie Yates, Pirates
The Raindance Discovery Award
Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché, Paul Sng, Celeste Bell, Zoë Howe, Rebecca Mark-Lawson, Matthew Silverman, Daria Nitsche (WINNER)
Bank, Job Daniel Edelstyn, Hilary Powell, Christopher Hird
The Bike Thief, Matt Chambers, Pk Fellowes, Sophia Gibber, Lene Bausager
I Am Belmaya, Sue Carpenter, Christopher Hird
Rebel Dykes, Harri Shanahan, Siân A. Williams, Siobhan Fahey
Best British Short Film
Femme (WINNER)
Egúngún (Masquerade)
Night Of The Living Dread
Play It Safe
Precious Hair & Beauty
Best International Independent Film
Flee (WINNER)
Compartment No. 6
First Cow
Petite Maman
Pleasure
Best Casting
Carolyn Mcleod, Boiling Point (WINNER)
Shaheen Baig, After Love
Shaheen Baig, Ali & Ava
Shaheen Baig, Pirates
Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann, Belfast
Best Cinematography
Matthew Lewis, Boiling Point (WINNER)
Mátyás Erdély, The Nest
Magdalena Kowalczyk, Cow
Annika Summerson, Censor
Haris Zambarloukos, Belfast
Best Costume Design
Grace Snell, The Souvenir Part II (WINNER)
Michael O’Connor, The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain
Guy Speranza, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Annie Symons, Benediction
Charlotte Walter, Belfast
Best Music
Connie Farr, Harry Escott, Ali & Ava (WINNER)
Iain Cooke, Pirates
Jed Kurzel, Encounter
Clint Mansell, In The Earth
Van Morrison, Belfast
Best Effects
Steven Bray, Mike Knights, Dashcam (WINNER)
Gary Brown, István Molnár, Dan Martin, Censor
Rupert Davies, The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain
Best Editing
Helle Le Fevre, The Souvenir Part II (WINNER)
Rebecca Lloyd, Jacob Schulsinger, Nicolas Chaudeurge, Cow
Úna Ní Dhonghaíle, Belfast
Mark Towns, Censor
Ben Wheatley, In The Earth
Best Make-Up & Hair
Vickie Lang, Kristyan Mallett, Donald Mcinnes, The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain (WINNER)
Siobhan Harper-Ryan, The Souvenir Part II
Ruth Pease, Censor
Nadia Stacey, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Wakana Yoshihara, Belfast
Best Production Design
Stéphane Collonge, The Souvenir Part II (WINNER)
Jim Clay, Belfast
Suzie Davies, The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain
Aimee Meek, Boiling Point
Paulina Rzeszowska, Censor
Best Sound
James Drake, Rob Entwistle, Kiff McManus Boiling Point (WINNER)
Nicolas Becker, Cyril Holtz, Linda Forsen, Cow
Tim Harrison, Jamie Roden, Adele Fletcher, Censor
Martin Pavey, In The Earth
Andrew Stirk, Paul Davies, Morgan Muse, Bernard O’reilly, Julian Howarth, Encounter
