NOMINATIONS AND JURY ANNOUNCED FOR THE 12TH BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS
The nominations and jury members for the twelfth annual British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) were announced today, Monday 26 October, at Soho House in London.
BIFA Directors, Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson say: “We have had a record number of films submitted this year, with the pre-selection committee viewing over 200 films. A highlight from the nominations is the very strong debut director category.”
The nominations this year reflect the up and coming and internationally renowned on and off screen talent.
The film receiving the most nods is Fish Tank with eight nominations. Moon follows with seven nominations. An Education, In The Loop and Nowhere Boy each receive six nominations and Bright Star receives four. Other films with multiple nominations areKatalin Varga receiving three, and Bronson and Bunny & The Bull receiving two nominations each.
First time BIFA actor nominees include Abbie Cornish, Carey Mulligan, Katie Jarvis, Aaron Johnson, Andy Serkis, Peter Capaldi, Sam Rockwell, Tom Hardy, Anne-Marie Duff, Kerry Fox, Alfred Molina, John Henshaw, Christian McKay and Hilda Péter.
This year sees repeat nominations for actress Katie Jarvis, who is nominated in this year’s Best Actress and Most Promising Newcomer categories. Duncan Jones and Armando Iannucci both receive nominations in the Best Director and Douglas Hickox Award categories for Moon and In The Loop respectively. Andrea Arnold holds two nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay for Fish Tank.
The BIFA Pre-Selection Committee of 70 members viewed more than 200 films, out of which they selected the nominations, decided by ballot.
Daniel Day Lewis, one of the most exceptionally talented and enigmatic actors in the industry, will be honoured with the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film by an Actor.
BIFA’s new jury is comprised of professionals and talent from across the British film industry including: Actress Jodie Whittaker, Actors Idris Elba, Liam Cunningham, Eddie Marsan and Peter Mullan, Directors Sarah Gavron and Eran Creevy, Producers Dixie Linder, Anita Overland and Adrian Sturges, Documentary Filmmaker Kate Blewett, Film Marketing Consultant Robert Mitchell, Projectionist Paul Speed and Head of Distribution and Exhibition at The UK Film Council Peter Buckingham.
The much anticipated 12th awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 6 December at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, in London and will be hosted by James Nesbitt.
BIFA are proud to announce the following nominees for this year’s awards:
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
An Education
Fish Tank
In The Loop
Moon
Nowhere Boy
BEST DIRECTOR
Sponsored by The Creative Partnership
Andrea Arnold – Fish Tank
Armando Iannucci – In The Loop
Duncan Jones – Moon
Jane Campion – Bright Star
Lone Scherfig – An Education
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Armando Iannucci – In The Loop
Duncan Jones – Moon
Peter Strickland – Katalin Varga
Sam Taylor Wood – Nowhere Boy
Samantha Morton – The Unloved
BEST SCREENPLAY
Sponsored by BBC Films
An Education – Nick Hornby
Fish Tank – Andrea Arnold
In The Loop – Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Moon – Nathan Parker
Nowhere Boy – Matt Greenhalgh
BEST ACTRESS
Sponsored by M.A.C
Abbie Cornish – Bright Star
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria
Katie Jarvis – Fish Tank
Sophie Okonedo – Skin
BEST ACTOR
Sponsored by Stolichnaya Elit
Aaron Johnson – Nowhere Boy
Andy Serkis – Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Peter Capaldi – In The Loop
Sam Rockwell – Moon
Tom Hardy – Bronson
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Anne-Marie Duff – Nowhere Boy
Kerry Fox – Bright Star
Kierston Wareing – Fish Tank
Kristin Scott Thomas – Nowhere Boy
Rosamund Pike – An Education
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sponsored by Stolichnaya
Alfred Molina – An Education
Jim Broadbent – The Damned United
John Henshaw – Looking for Eric
Michael Fassbender – Fish Tank
Tom Hollander – In The Loop
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Christian McKay – Me & Orson Welles
Edward Hogg – White Lightnin’
George MacKay – The Boys Are Back
Hilda Péter – Katalin Varga
Katie Jarvis – Fish Tank
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Bronson
Bunny & The Bull
The Hide
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Katalin Varga
RAINDANCE AWARD
Sponsored by Raindance
Colin
The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Down Terrace
Exam
They Call It Acid
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Bright Star – Cinematography – Greig Fraser
Bunny & The Bull – Production Design – Gary Williamson
Fish Tank – Cinematography – Robbie Ryan
Moon – Original Score – Clint Mansell
Moon – Production Design – Tony Noble
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Sponsored by Chapter Media
The Age of Stupid
The End of The Line
Mugabe and The White African
Sons of Cuba
Sounds Like Teen Spirit
BEST BRITISH SHORT
Christmas with Dad
Leaving
Love You More
Sidney Turtlebaum
Washdays
BEST FOREIGN FILM
Il Divo
The Hurt Locker
Let The Right One In
Sin Nombre
The Wrestler
THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution to British Film)
Daniel Day Lewis
THE VARIETY AWARD
To Be Announced
THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Sponsored by The UK Film Council
Announced at the British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 6 December
Proud supporters and patrons of BIFA include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.
BIFA would like to thank its Sponsors: The UK Film Council, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, Chapter Media, The Creative Partnership, M.A.C, Raindance, Soho House, Stolichnaya, Variety.
Created by Raindance
For further press information, contact Elizabeth Benjamin or Zoe Flower at Emfoundation: elizabeth@emfoundation.com / zoe@emfoundation.com / 020 7247 4171
NOTES TO EDITORS
BIFA was created by Raindance in 1998.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 2009
A film will be eligible for an Award if:
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It is intended for theatrical release, AND has had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK OR has screened at a British-based film festival between 1 December 2008 and 30 November 2009.
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Where there is any major studio substantially funding a film, the total budget must not exceed £10M.
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It has been produced or majority co-produced by a British company OR is in receipt of at least 51% of its budget from a British source or sources OR it qualifies as a British film under the DCMS guidelines AND includes sufficient creative elements from the UK.
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BIFA also consider foreign independent films for the Best Foreign Independent Film category. Foreign films must have a British theatrical release during the eligibility period stated above.
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Best British Short Film Award submissions: Any British short films that have won an award between 16 October 2008 and 15 October 2009 are eligible for consideration. A short film must be no longer than 40 minutes (including credits).
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Films that have been entered previously are not eligible. Re-issues of previously released films are not eligible.
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All films submitted for consideration are viewed by the Advisory Committee with the help of a nominated screening panel, who then decide the nominations by ballot.
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All nominated films will be viewed by the Jury. The winners will be decided by a secret ballot.
Full Eligibility Criteria may be viewed at: http://www.bifa.org.uk/rules
