The British Independent Film Awards have become an increasingly important part of the UK film calendar, celebrating the work of those fighting to make films outside the studio system. The nominations for the 15th annual Moët BIFAs have been announced today, at St Martins Lane, London by actor and BIFA Patron, Adrian Lester.
The most nominated movie this year goes to Broken with nine nominations, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Debut Director for Rufus Norris, Best Actor for Tim Roth and two Best Supporting Actor nominations for Cillian Murphy and Rory Kinnear. Sightseers and Berberian Sound Studio both picked up seven nominations each.
As always with the BIFAs, the nominations are a great mix of films ranging from those that have found success at the box office, to smaller movie relatively few have seen.
Joint directors of The Moët British Independent Film Awards’ Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson commented: “In this our 15th year, we are delighted to welcome back six-time former host James Nesbitt. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated Pre-Selection Committee who watched over 200 films in order to produce the 2012 Nominations, which once again reflect the diverse range of British film talent, and also welcome this year’s appointed independent Jury who will now spend the next month considering the nominated films.
Amanda Nevill, Chief Executive of the BFI, comments: “At 15 years old, the BIFAs are now firmly established as a key date in the UK film industry calendar and we’re delighted to be supporting this year’s awards. The BIFAs are the UK’s only awards focusing entirely on independent British films, as such they really help to shine a spotlight on the vast range and breadth of excellence in independent UK filmmaking – helping to promote independent British films to new audiences, and setting a focus on the Best of British just as the international awards season begins.
The winners will be announced at the much anticipated 15th awards ceremony which will be hosted by actor and BIFA Patron, James Nesbitt, who returns for his seventh year, on Sunday December 9th at the Old Billingsgate in London.
Here are the nominees:
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM: Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
Berberian Sound Studio
Broken
Sightseers
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Imposter
BEST DIRECTOR: Sponsored by AllCity & Intermission
Bart Layton The Imposter
Ben Wheatley Sightseers
John Madden The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Peter Strickland Berberian Sound Studio
Rufus Norris Broken
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]: Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Bart Layton The Imposter
Ben Drew Ill Manors
Rowan Athale Wasteland
Rufus Norris Broken
Sally El Hosaini My Brother the Devil
BEST SCREENPLAY: Sponsored by BBC Films
Abi Morgan The Iron Lady
Alice Lowe, Steve Oram, Amy Jump Sightseers
Mark O’Rowe Broken
Paul Andrew Williams Song for Marion
Peter Strickland Berberian Sound Studio
BEST ACTRESS: Sponsored by M.A.C
Alice Lowe (Tina) Sightseers
Andrea Riseborough (Colette McVeigh) Shadow Dancer
Elle Fanning (Ginger) Ginger & Rosa
Judi Dench (Evelyn Greenslade) The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Meryl Streep (Margaret Thatcher) The Iron Lady
BEST ACTOR
Riz Ahmed (Aaron) Ill Manors
Steve Oram (Chris) Sightseers
Terence Stamp (Arthur) Song for Marion
Tim Roth (Archie) Broken
Toby Jones (Gilderoy) Berberian Sound Studio
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Alice Englert (Rosa) Ginger & Rosa
Eileen Davies (Carol) Sightseers
Maggie Smith (Muriel Donnelly) The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth) Hyde Park on Hudson
Vanessa Redgrave (Marion) Song for Marion
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Sponsored by Sanderson & St Martins Lane
Billy Connolly (Wilf) Quartet
Cillian Murphy (Mike Kiernan) Broken
Domhnall Gleeson (Connor) Shadow Dancer
Rory Kinnear (Bob Oswald) Broken
Tom Wilkinson (Graham Dashwood) The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER: Sponsored by Studiocanal
Elliott Tittensor (Tits) Spike Island
Eloise Laurence (Skunk) Broken
James Floyd (Rashid) My Brother the Devil
Paul Brannigan (Robbie) The Angels’ Share
Zawe Ashton (Joyce Vincent) Dreams of a Life
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION: Sponsored by Company3
Berberian Sound Studio
Ill Manors
Sightseers
The Imposter
The Sweeney
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT: Sponsored by LightBrigade Media
Nic Knowland Bsc Cinematography Berberian Sound Studio
Joakim Sundström, Stevie Haywood AMPS IPS Sound Design Berberian Sound Studio
Electric Wave Bureau Music Broken
Robbie Ryan Cinematography Ginger & Rosa
Andrew Hulme Editing The Imposter
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Dreams of a Life
London: The Modern Babylon
Marley
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir
The Imposter
BEST BRITISH SHORT: Supported by the BFI
Friday
Junk
Skyborn
Swimmer
Volume
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
Amour
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Rust & Bone
Searching For Sugar Man
The Hunt
THE RAINDANCE AWARD
Frank
Strings
Love Tomorrow
City Slacker
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
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 9th December