Belfast and Boiling Point top British independent film award nominations
Belfast, Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical tale of growing up during the Troubles, and one-shot restaurant kitchen drama Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham, have emerged as the frontrunners for the British independent film awards (Bifas) as both picked up 11 nominations.
Branagh’s film, which emerged as a serious Oscar contender after winning the influential People’s Choice award at the Toronto film festival, scored four acting nods, for Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds and for its young lead Jude Hill, but surprisingly was not nominated as best British independent film or for the directing and writing categories.
Boiling Point, which premiered to acclaim at the Karlovy Vary festival in the Czech Republic, also secured four acting nominations (including one for Graham), as well as best British independent film and best director for Philip Barantini.
After Love, starring Joanna Scanlan as a woman who discovers her husband’s secret life after he dies, scored an impressive nine nominations, including best actress for Scanlan and best director and screenplay for Aleem Khan. Also on nine is The Souvenir Part II from writer-director Joanna Hogg, the follow-up to Hogg’s 2019 The Souvenir, which was nominated for eight Bifas.
The winners will be announced on 5 December at a ceremony in London.
Full list of nominees
Best British independent film After Love Ali & Ava Boiling Point The Nest The Souvenir Part II
Best director Philip Barantini, Boiling Point Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava Sean Durkin, The Nest Joanna Hogg, The Souvenir Part II Aleem Khan, After Love
Best actress Caitríona Balfe, Belfast Carrie Coon, The Nest Claire Rushbrook, Ali & Ava Joanna Scanlan, After Love Ruth Wilson, True Things
Best actor Riz Ahmed, Encounter Adeel Akhtar, Ali & Ava Stephen Graham, Boiling Point Jude Law, The Nest James Norton, Nowhere Special
Best supporting actress Judi Dench, Belfast Jo Hartley, Sweetheart Nathalie Richard, After Love Vinette Robinson, Boiling Point Tilda Swinton, The Souvenir Part II
Best supporting actor Talid Ariss, After Love Richard Ayoade, The Souvenir Part II Lucian-River Chauhan, Encounter Ciarán Hinds, Belfast Ray Panthaki, Boiling Point
Douglas Hickox award (best debut director)Prano Bailey-Bond, Censor Celeste Bell, Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché [also directed by Paul Sng] Cathy Brady, Wildfire Aleem Khan, After Love Marley Morrison, Sweetheart
Breakthrough performance Lauryn Ajufo, Boiling Point Nell Barlow, Sweetheart Max Harwood, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Jude Hill, Belfast Ellora Torchia, In the Earth
Best documentary Cow Dying to Divorce I Am Belmaya Keyboard Fantasies Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché
Best screenplay Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava Terence Davies, Benediction Sean Durkin, The Nest Joanna Hogg, The Souvenir Part II Aleem Khan, After Love
Breakthrough producer Michelle Antoniades, Sweetheart Helen Jones, Censo r Jessica Malik, She Will [also produced by Bob Last] Hester Ruoff, Boiling Point [also produced by Bart Ruspoli] Rob
Watson, The Power [also produced by Matthew James Wilkinson]
Best debut screenwriter Prano Bailey-Bond, Censor [also written by Anthony Fletcher]Cathy Brady, Wildfire Aleem Khan, After Love Marley Morrison, Sweetheart Reggie Yates, Pirates
Raindance Discovery award Bank Job The Bike Thief I Am Belmaya Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché Rebel Dykes
Best British short film Egúngún (Masquerade) Femme Night of the Living Dread Play It Safe Precious Hair & Beauty
Best international independent film Compartment No 6First Cow Flee Petite Maman Pleasure
Best casting After Love Ali & Ava Pirates Belfast Boiling Point
Best cinematography The Nest Cow Boiling Point Censor Belfast
Best costume design The Electrical Life of Louis Wain The Souvenir Part II Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Benediction Belfast
Best music Pirates Ali & Ava Encounter In the Earth Belfast
Best effects Dashcam Censor The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain
Best editing The Souvenir Part II Cow Belfast Censor In the Earth
Best makeup & hair The Souvenir Part II The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain Censor Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Belfast
Best production design Belfast The Souvenir Part II The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain Boiling Point Censor
Best sound Cow Boiling Point Censor In the Earth Encounter