SIR MICHAEL CAINE ANNOUNCED AS VARIETY AWARD WINNER
FOR THE 12TH BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS
ON 6 DECEMBER 2009
Sir Michael Caine has been confirmed as the recipient of the Variety Award at this year’s British Independent Film Awards to be held on 6 December at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London and to be hosted by James Nesbitt. With a distinguished career spanning five decades, Sir Michael Caine is one of the most celebrated actors to focus the international spotlight on the British film industry.
Steven Gaydos, Executive Editor at Variety says: “Michael Caine’s versatility and durability have been hallmarks of his art over decades, making his continuing pursuit of excellence and his passionate and generous commitments to new filmmakers and edgy film projects all the more impressive.”
As previously announced, Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the most exceptionally talented and enigmatic actors in the industry, will also be honoured with the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film by an Actor.
BIFA also welcomes Production Designer Kave Quinn and Actor/Director/Writer Nick Moran to this year’s jury, comprised of professionals and talent from across the British film industry including: Actress Jodie Whittaker, Actors Idris Elba, Liam Cunningham, Eddie Marsan and Actor/Director/Writer 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.
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
Sponsored by Optimum Releasing
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 and 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 and 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
Sir Michael Caine
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, Optimum Releasing, Raindance, Soho House, Stolichnaya, Variety.
Created by Raindance
For further press information or for press accreditation please contact Elizabeth Benjamin or Zoe Flower at Emfoundation: elizabeth@emfoundation.com / zoe@emfoundation.com / 020 7247 4171
For further information on BIFA, visit www.bifa.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
BIFA was created by Raindance in 1998.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 2009
A film will be eligible for an Award if:
• 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.
• Where there is any major studio substantially funding a film, the total budget must not exceed £10M.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• Films that have been entered previously are not eligible. Re-issues of previously released films are not eligible.
• 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.
• 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
