The British Independent Film Awards were announced today and, although most of the films will have little bearing on the Academy Awards, it may still put some films on your radar that weren’t there before. “Rocks” and “His House” were two of the big winners. “Rocks” took Best British Independent Film, both Supporting Acting awards, Most Promising Newcomer, and Best Casting, while “His House” took Best Director, Best Actress, Best Effects, and Best Production Design. Some films that will have a presence at the Oscars include “The Father,” which won Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Editing. And in the Best International Independent Film, U.S. favorite “Nomadland” won.
Best British Independent Film
“Rocks”
Sarah Gavron, Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson,
Faye Ward, and Ameenah Ayub Allen
NOMINEES
- “Calm With Horses”
- “The Father”
- “His House”
- “Rocks”
- “Saint Maud”
Best Director
Remi Weekes
“His House”
NOMINEES
- Sarah Gavron — “Rocks”
- Rose Glass — “Saint Maud”
- Nick Rowland — “Calm With Horses”
- Remi Weekes — “His House”
- Florian Zeller — “The Father”
Best Screenplay
“The Father”
Florian Zeller & Christopher Hampton
NOMINEES
- “The Father” — Florian Zeller & Christopher Hampton
- “His House” — Remi Weekes
- “Mogul Mowgli” — Bassam Tariq & Riz Ahmed
- “Rocks” — Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson
- “Saint Maud” — Rose Glass
Best Actor
Anthony Hopkins
“The Father”
NOMINEES
- Riz Ahmed — “Mogul Mowgli”
- Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù — “His House”
- Amir El-masry — “Limbo”
- Anthony Hopkins — “The Father”
- Cosmo Jarvis — “Calm With Horses”
Best Actress
Wunmi Mosaku
“His House”
NOMINEES
- Bukky Bakray — “Rocks”
- Morfydd Clark — “Saint Maud”
- Clare Dunne — “Herself”
- Wunmi Mosaku — “His House”
- Andrea Riseborough — “Luxor”
Best Supporting Actor
D’angelou Osei Kissiedu
“Rocks”
NOMINEES
- Harris Dickinson — “County Lines”
- Barry Keoghan — “Calm With Horses”
- Alyy Khan — “Mogul Mowgli”
- Merab Ninidze — “The Courier”
- D’angelou Osei Kissiedu — “Rocks”
Best Supporting Actress
Kosar Ali
“Rocks”
NOMINEES
- Niamh Algar — “Calm With Horses”
- Kosar Ali — “Rocks”
- Jennifer Ehle — “Saint Maud”
- Ashley Madekwe — “County Lines”
- Fiona Shaw — “Kindred”
The Douglas Hickox Award
Debut Director
Rose Glass
“Saint Maud”
NOMINEES
- Henry Blake — “County Lines”
- Rose Glass — “Saint Maud”
- Eva Riley — “Perfect 10”
- Nick Rowland — “Calm With Horses”
- Remi Weekes — “His House”
Breakthrough Producer
Irune Gurtubai
“Limbo”
NOMINEES
- Douglas Cox — “Host”
- Daniel Emmerson — “Calm With Horses”
- Irune Gurtubai — “Limbo”
- Oliver Kassman — “Saint Maud”
- Edward King & Martin Gentles — “His House”
Debut Screenwriter
Riz Ahmed
“Mogul Mowgli”
NOMINEES
- Riz Ahmed — “Mogul Mowgli”
- Rose Glass — “Saint Maud”
- Theresa Ikoko & Claire Wilson — “Rocks”
- Joe Murtagh — “Calm With Horses”
- Remi Weekes — “His House”
Most Promising Newcomer
Komar Ali
“Rocks”
NOMINEES
- Niamh Algar — “Calm With Horses”
- Kosar Ali — “Rocks”
- Bukky Bakray — “Rocks”
- Frankie Box — “Perfect 10”
- Conrad Khan — “County Lines”
Best Documentary
“The Reason I Jump”
Jerry Rothwell, Jeremy Dear, Stevie Lee,
and Al Morrow
NOMINEES
- “The Australian Dream”
- “Being A Human Person”
- “The Reason I Jump”
- “Rising Phoenix”
- “White Riot”
The Raindance Discovery Award
“Perfect 10”
Eva Riley, Jacob Thomas, Bertrand Faivre,
and Valentina Brazzini
NOMINEES
- “Justine”
- “Looted”
- “One Man And His Shoes”
- “Perfect 10”
- “Rose: A Love Story”
Best British Short Film
“The Long Goodbye”
Aniel Karia, Riz Ahmed, and Tom Gardner
NOMINEES
- “Filipiñana”
- “The Forgotten C”
- “The Long Goodbye”
- “Mandem”
- “Sudden Light”
Best International
Independent Film
“Nomadland”
Chloé Zhao, Frances McDormand, Peter Spears,
Mollye Asher, and Dan Janvey
NOMINEES
- “Babyteeth”
- “Les Misérables”
- “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
- “Nomadland”
- “Notturno”
Best Casting
“Rocks”
Lucy Pardee
NOMINEES
- “Calm With Horses”
- “Saint Maud”
- “His House”
- “Limbo”
- “Rocks”
Best Cinematography
“Saint Maud”
Ben Fordesman
NOMINEES
- “His House” — Jo Willems
- “Limbo” — Nick Cooke
- “Mogul Mowgli” — Annika Summerson
- “Rocks” — Hélène Louvart
- “Saint Maud” — Ben Fordesman
Best Costume Design
“Misbehaviour”
Charlotte Walter
NOMINEES
- “Ammonite” — Michael O’Connor
- “Misbehaviour” — Charlotte Walter
- “Rocks” — Ruka Johnson
- “Saint Maud” — Tina Kalivas
- “The Secret Garden” — Michele Clapton
Best Editing
“The Father”
Yorgos Lamprinos
NOMINEES
- “The Father” — Yorgos Lamprinos
- “His House” — Julia Bloch
- “Host” — Brenna Rangott
- “Rocks” — Maya Maffioli
- “Saint Maud” — Mark Towns
Best Effects
“His House”
Pedro Sabrosa and Stefano Pepin
NOMINEES
- “His House”
- “Saint Maud”
- “Undergods”
Best Make Up & Hair Design
“Misbehaviour”
Jill Sweeney
NOMINEES
- “Ammonite”
- “His House”
- “Misbehaviour”
- “Rocks”
- “Saint Maud “
Best Music
“Mogul Mowgli”
Paul Corley
NOMINEES
- “His House” — Roque Baños
- “Mogul Mowgli” — Paul Corley
- “The Reason I Jump” — Nainita Desai
- “Rocks” — Connie Farr / Emelie Levienaise-Farrouch
- “Saint Maud” — Adam Janota Bzowski
Best Production Design
“His House”
Jacqueline Abrahams
NOMINEES
- “The Father”
- “His House”
- “Misbehaviour”
- “Saint Maud”
- “Undergods”
Best Sound
“The Reason I Jump”
Nick Ryan, Ben Baird, and Sarah de Oliveira Lima
NOMINEES
- “His House”
- “Host”
- “Mogul Mowgli”
- “The Reason I Jump”
- “Saint Maud”
BRITISH INDEPENDENT
The British Independent Film Awards highlight and reward the best, most innovative and creative independent filmmaking and filmmakers in the UK. We identify and encourage emerging talent, support and celebrate the independent film community and promote British film and talent to the public.
Each year, the BIFA voters view the 300+ entered films. After a rigorous discussion-based selection process the long list and nominations are decided by confidential vote. The winners in most categories are decided by independent juries, newly appointed each year and not involved in the nominations process. These juries, comprised of leading professionals and talent from the British film industry, meet to discuss the nominated films and the winners are decided by secret ballot. The winners for Best British Independent Film, Best International Independent Film, The Raindance Discovery Award, Best British Short Film and the nine craft categories are decided by a confidential vote amongst all BIFA voters. Once the votes have been counted and validated, the winners are announced at The British Independent Film Awards.
BIFA was founded by Elliot Grove and Suzanne Ballantyne in 1998, who also founded the Raindance Film Festival in 1993.
