The nominations for this year’s British Independent Film Awards were announced today (September 23) at Soho House, London. Reflecting the wealth and breadth of talent within the British Film Industry, the number of nominations for each category has been extended from four to five, with a strong multicultural presence both on and off screen.

Best Film (sponsored by Park Caledonia):

28 Days Later
Buffalo Soldiers
Dirty Pretty Things
Magdalene Sisters
Young Adam

Best Actor (sponsored by Aquarius Film Company):

Paddy Considine (In America)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things)
Ewan McGregor (Young Adam)
Kevin McKidd (16 Years of Alcohol)
Joaquin Phoenix (Buffalo Soldiers)

Best Actress:

Kate Ashfield (This Little Life)
Helena Bonham Carter (The Heart of Me)
Samantha Morton (In America)
Tilda Swinton (Young Adam)
Olivia Williams (The Heart of Me)

Best Supporting Actor/Actress (Sponsored by VMI):

Shirley Henderson(Wilbur (wants to kill himself))
Susan Lynch (16 Years of Alcohol)
Sophie Okonedo (Dirty Pretty Things)
Adrian Rawlins (Wilbur (wants to kill himself))
Benedict Wong (Dirty Pretty Things)

Most Promising Newcomer (Sponsored by Raindance):

Harry Eden (Pure)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things)
Romola Garai (I Capture the Castle)
Jamie Sives (Wilbur (wants to kill himself))
Fenella Woolgar (Bright Young Things)

Best Director (Sponsored by the Creative Partnership):

Danny Boyle (28 Days Later)
Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things)
David MacKenzie (Young Adam)
Jim Sheridan (In America)
Michael Winterbottom (In This World)

Best Screenplay (Sponsored by BBC Films):

Eric Weiss, Nora Maccoby & Gregor Jordon (Buffalo Soldiers)
Tim Firth & Juliette Towhidi (Calendar Girls)
Steve Knight (Dirty Pretty Things)
Peter Mullan (The Magdalene Sisters)
Anders Thomas Jensen & Lone Scherfig (Wilbur (wants to kill himself))

Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) (Sponsored by Gainsborough Studios):

Stephen Fry (Bright Young Things)
Sarah Gavron (This Little Life)
Richard Jobson (16 Years of Alcohol)
Jeremy Wooding (Bollywood Queen)
Penny Woolcock (The Principles of Lust)

Best Technical Achievement (Sponsored by Avid):

Tim Alban, Joakim Sundström and Stuart Wilson (Sound – In This World)
Peter Christelis (Editing – In This World)
David Holmes (Music – Buffalo Soldiers)
Michael Howells (Production Design – Bright Young Things)
John Rhodes (Cinematography – 16 Years of Alcohol)

Best Achievement in Production (Sponsored by Recorded Picture Company):

16 Years of Alcohol
28 Days Later
Bright Young Things
Buffalo Soldiers
In This World

Best Foreign Film (Sponsored by UGC Cinemas):

Belleville Rendez-vous
City of God
Secretary
Spirited Away
Whale Rider

Best British Documentary (Sponsored by UK Film Council):

100 Doors
Bodysong
Bugs!
The Game of their Lives
Hoover Street Revival

Best British Short (Sponsored by Nokia):

72 Faced Liar
Dad’s Dead
Extension 21
Perfect
Salary Man 6

Variety UK Personality of the Year:
Sir Ian McKellen

To view the gallery of photos from the nominations party[L=http://www.bifa.org.uk/gallery.php?gallery=1]click here[EL].