Benedict Cumberbatch honoured by BIFAs

Imitation Game star to pick up Variety Award... plus full list of nominees.

by Amber Wilkinson

Benedict Cumberbatch on Alan Turing: It's all part of the momentum of what I hope is the recognition he deserves
Benedict Cumberbatch on Alan Turing: It's all part of the momentum of what I hope is the recognition he deserves

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has been named as the recipient of The Variety Award, which will be given to The Imitation Game star during the British Independent Film Awards ceremony in London on December 7.

The Variety Award recognises a director, actor, writer or producer who has helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK. Previous winners have included Paul Greengrass, Jude Law, Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson and Dame Helen Mirren.

The Imitation Game - which tells the story of Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing - is also nominated in four categories at this year's awards including a best actor nod for Cumberbatch.

The actor said: "I am delighted to receive this prestigious award. It is made even more special by the recognition of The Imitation Game in this year's nominations, a film I am very proud to be a part of.

The highest number of nominations went to Irish thriller '71, with nine nods, while miner's strike drama Pride picked up seven nominations. The full list of contenders is below, with winners announced at the ceremony in Old Billingsgate, hosted by Inbetweeners star Simon Bird:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

BEST DIRECTOR

  • John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
  • Lenny Abrahamson – Frank
  • Matthew Warchus – Pride
  • Mike Leigh – Mr Turner
  • Yann Demange – '71

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST ACTRESS

BEST ACTOR

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

  • Dorothy Atkinson – Mr Turner
  • Imelda Staunton – Pride
  • Maggie Gyllenhaal – Frank
  • Sally Hawkins – X+Y
  • Sienna Guillory – The Goob

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

  • Andrew Scott – Pride
  • Ben Schnetzer – Pride
  • Michael Fassbender – Frank
  • Rafe Spall – X+Y
  • Sean Harris – ‘71

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

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

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

BEST DOCUMENTARY

BEST BRITISH SHORT

  • Crocodile
  • Emotional Fusebox
  • Keeping Up With The Joneses
  • Slap
  • The Kármán Line

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM

THE RAINDANCE AWARD

Flim: The Movie... Gregor Luna Keeping Rosy The Beat Beneath My Feet

THE VARIETY AWARD

Benedict Cumberbatch

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)

To Be Announced

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

Announced at the awards

Share this with others on...
News

Stories still unspoken Interview with Thomas Pollack, Andrew McNeill and Katarina Kokenyova about Rozkvet

Where crows are watching JP Davidson and Craig Russell on nature, belief, UK horror and The Cull

Truth and lies Sean Hogan on true crime documentaries, unknowable characters and The Dark Gets In

A walking contradiction Sinéad O'Shea on James 'Fergie' Chambers Jr and All About The Money

Unconventional families Milcho Manchevski on being blacklisted and making Sister Brother Manhole Cover

Expecting the unexpected Jordan Mark Windsor and Sean Wallace on Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant

More news and features

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the Belfast Film Festival, the Cheltenham International Film Festival and the Leeds International Film Festival.



We're looking forward to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the French Film Festival and DOC NYC.



We've recently brought you coverage of Halloween Frightfest, the Scottish Queer International Film Festival, Newfest, the London Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, Grimmfest and Beyond Fest.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Sundance Announces Legacy line-up of archive films


Frightfest Newcastle event announced for May 2027


French Film Festival UK Programme announced


Tallinn Black Nights Documentary line-up and Special Screenings announced


London Winners announced