On Wednesday 28 November 2007, the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special awards ceremony hosted by James Nesbitt, at the Roundhouse in London.

“The BIFAs are the only British awards for British film that seem to exist… being judged by your peers, that’s always the best way to be judged.”

– Director Kevin MacDonald

“Anyone who goes to these Awards realises why they want to be involved in the industry and why they love the industry. And you don’t say that about the other ones.” – Actor James Nesbitt

“To stand up here with a British independent film award means everything to me.”

– Director Shane Meadows

On Wednesday 28 November 2007, the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special awards ceremony hosted by James Nesbitt, at the Roundhouse in London. Nominations and this year’s jury will be announced on Tuesday 23 October at the Haymarket Hotel in central London.

One of the most important awards ceremonies in the UK film calendar, BIFA honours the best and brightest film talent, rewarding excellence in independent films.

Throughout the past decade BIFA has established itself as a stamp of quality for British independent film, acknowledging cinematic masterpieces including My Name is Joe, which won Best Film and Best Director for Ken Loach in BIFA’s inaugural year 1998, followed by: Wonderland, Billy Elliot, Sexy Beast, Sweet Sixteen, Dirty Pretty Things, Vera Drake, The Constant Gardener and This is England; all past winners of the Best British Independent Film Award.

BIFA continues to celebrate British acting talent including Sir Ian McKellen, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Imelda Staunton, Emily Watson, Helen Mirren, Ewan McGregor, Ray Winstone and Tilda Swinton as well as recognising exciting new talent early in their careers including Daniel Craig (Some Voices), Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot), Ben Whishaw (My Brother Tom) and Emily Barclay (In My Father’s Den).

Enjoying ever increasing international recognition, BIFA has become a landmark in the careers of many new filmmakers. Director Shane Meadows received the prestigious Douglas Hickox (Debut Director) Award in BIFA’s first year for 24:7. Last year Meadows’ This is England won the Best British Independent Film Award and the film’s young lead Thomas Turgoose received the Most Promising Newcomer Award. Other British directors recognised by BIFA have included Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday), Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September and The Last King of Scotland) and Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot).

BIFA directors Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson say: “In our 10th anniversary year we are planning to celebrate the very best in British filmmaking with a party to end all parties at the Roundhouse. We look forward to raising the profile of British independent films still further and honouring talented actors and emerging filmmakers in the years to come.”

Elliot Grove founder of the Awards and the Raindance Film Festival says: “I am delighted by the way the Awards have grown. The Raindance Award is an ideal platform to recognise and honour films of merit and enables Raindance to spotlight those films that would not normally get such high profile recognition”

Proud supporters and patrons of BIFA include Tilda Swinton, Ray Winstone, Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Samantha Morton, Bill Nighy, Trudie Styler, Meera Syal and Michael Winterbottom.

Created by Raindance

For further press information, please contact Zoe Flower or Keeley Naylor at Emfoundation:

zoe@emfoundation.com / keeley@emfoundation.com / 020 7247 4171

For further information on BIFA, please go to www.bifa.org.uk