The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) today announced the longlist for The Raindance Discovery Award, awarding 12 standout films, comprising six features and six documentaries. The award highlights innovation, uniqueness of vision, maverick filmmaking and risk-taking, with a budget under £500k and no, or very limited, theatrical distribution deals in place.
A Clever WomanJon Sanders, Anna Mottram |
DonnaJay Bedwani, Dewi Gregory |
Electric MaladyMarie Lidén, Aimara Reques |
Fadia’s TreeSarah Beddington, Susan Simnett |
InlandHenry Richmond, Fridtjof Ryder, Louis Paine |
Off The RailsPeter Day, Grant Keir, Rob Alexander
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RebellionElena Sánchez Bellot, Maia Kenworthy, Kat Mansoor |
Swede CarolineFinn Bruce, Brook Driver, Anthony Toma |
The FenceWilliam Stone, Adam Pickford, Guy Davies |
WayfinderLarry Achiampong |
When We SpeakTas Brooker, James Wiseman |
WinnersHassan Nazer, Nadira Murray, Paul Welsh |
Previous recipients include Ben Wheatley, receiving an early accolade for his first feature Down Terrace. BIFA’s Raindance Discovery Award was presented in 2021 to Poly Styrene – I Am A Cliché (Paul Sng, Celeste Bell, Zoë Howe, Rebecca Mark-Lawson, Matthew Silverman, Daria Nitsche), documenting the punk icon and X-Ray Spex front-woman, as seen from her daughter’s perspective.
The final five nominations will be announced on Thursday 3 November (date tbc). Winners will be revealed at the 25th annual BIFA ceremony on Sunday 4 December.
Cover image: Fadia’s Tree
