The British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) nominations were revealed on Thursday morning by hosts Susan Wokoma and Morfydd Clark at One Hundred Shoreditch in London. The nominations celebrate the talent in the British film industry, featuring exceptional debuts from new talents and previous BIFA nominees like Tilda Swinton, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Amir El-Masr. Leading the nominations with an impressive 16 nods is Rye Lane, the London-set romantic comedy directed by Raine Allen-Miller. The film follows two semi-reluctant lovers on an impromptu tour of Peckham. Rye Lane received nominations for best director and best debut director for Allen-Miller, best screenplay debut for writing duo Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia, and a best joint lead performance nomination for stars Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson. Oparah is also nominated in the breakthrough performance category. The film is also in the running for Best British Independent Film and eight craft categories.
Scrapper, a heartwarming story about a grieving young girl navigating the reappearance of an absent father, received a total of 14 nominations. Debut feature filmmaker Charlotte Regan received four nominations for best director, best screenplay, best debut director, and best debut screenwriter. The film is also nominated for Best British Independent Film. Scrapper also earned nominations for best joint lead performance for stars Harris Dickinson and Lola Campbell, with Campbell also scoring a nod in the breakthrough performance category.
BIFA veteran Andrew Haigh returns with All of Us Strangers, a captivating tale of a writer drawn back to his past and towards a mysterious new relationship. The film earned 14 nominations, including best director, best screenplay for Haigh, and best British independent film. In the performance categories, Andrew Scott received a best lead performance nomination, while Jamie Bell, Claire Foy, and Paul Mescal received best supporting performance nods.
Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature, How to Have Sex, received 13 nominations, showcasing the film’s impact and talent. Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping’s debut feature, Femme, received 11 nominations, and Mahalia Belo’s debut feature, The End We Start From, earned nine nominations.
The nominees were announced across various categories, including Best British Independent Film, Best International Independent Film, Best Director, Best Lead Performance, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Performance, Best Joint Lead Performance, Best Debut Director, Breakthrough Producer, Breakthrough Performance, Best Debut Director – Feature Documentary, Best Debut Screenwriter, The Raindance Maverick Award, Best Feature Documentary, Best British Short Film, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Effects, Best Music Supervision, Best Make-Up & Hair Design, Best Original Music, Best Production Design, and Best Sound.
The nominations reflect the talent and creativity present in the British independent film industry and highlight the outstanding contributions made by actors, directors, writers, and other crew members. The BIFAs serve as a platform to recognize and celebrate the achievements of those involved in independent filmmaking and help promote British talent on a global scale.
The winners of the British Independent Film Awards will be announced at the upcoming ceremony, honoring the exceptional films and performances that have captivated audiences and critics alike. With a diverse range of nominees and categories, the BIFAs continue to showcase the best of British independent cinema and support emerging talents in the industry.
