BIFA contenders announced

The Lobster gets its claws on most nominations.

by Amber Wilkinson

Future dystopia The Lobster.
Future dystopia The Lobster.

The British Independent Film Award nominations have been annnounced.

The Lobster topped the list of nominations, with nominations Best British Independent Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Producer of the Year. Colin Farrell is nominated for Best Actor and Olivia Colman and Ben Whishaw for their supporting roles. Other actors in the chase for award include Brendan and Domnhall Gleeson, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy and Tom Hiddleston.

Hot on the heels of Yorgos Lanthimos' film about a dystopian future are Andrew Haigh's relationship drama 45 Years and Justin Kurzel's Shakespearean adaptation Macbeth with six nominations each, including Best British Independent Film and Best Director.

Asif Kapadia’s Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy, has five nominations, for Director, Documentary, Producer of the Year, for its Editing and for Best British Independent Film.

The final contender for Best British Independent Film is Alex Garland’s articifical-intelligence thriller Ex Machina.

A series of screenings of BIFA-nominated and winning films, supported by the BFI, was also announced. The partnership will see a selection of nominated films screened across the country from November 23, the first time that BIFA has been able to bring the films it celebrates directly to new audiences. The full programme will be announced on November 11.

Laurence Green, chairman of the BIFA Board, said, “BIFA’s committed voters watched over 260 films this year – more than ever. After thousands of hours of viewing, nearly 30 jury meetings and two rounds of voting, their nominations cover a breathtaking range of British films and filmmaking talent. With the support of the BFI, BIFA is delighted to be making it possible for the public to see these films before the winners are announced, bringing them to cinemas right across the UK and so giving audiences the chance to discover the very best of British film for themselves.”

As previously announced, the Variety Award will be presented to Kate Winslet.

The winners will be announced on December 6. The event will be live streamed on www.bifa.film

The full list of nominations is below:

Best British Independent Film

Best Director

Best Actress

Best Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Most Promising Newcomer

Best Debut Director (Douglas Hickox Award)

Raindance Discovery Award

Producer of the Year

  • James Gay-Rees, Amy
  • Tristan Goligher, 45 Years
  • Paul Katis and Andrew De Lotbiniere, Kajaki: The True Story
  • Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos and Lee Magiday, The Lobster
  • David A. Hughes and David Moores, The Violators

Best Achievement in Craft

Best Short Film

  • Balcony, Tom Kimberly, Ali Mansuri, Toby Fell-Holden
  • Crack, Joseph Taussig, Peter King
  • Edmond, Emilie Jouffroy, Nina Gantz
  • Love Is Blind, Lizzie Brown, Dan Hodgson
  • Manoman, Kamilla Kristiane Hodøl, Simon Cartwright

Best international independent film

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