2021 BIFA Award Nominations announced

This week, the 2021 British Independent Film Awards were announced, celebrating the fantastic talent that exists in our film industry. 

In the category for Best Director, Clio Barnard is nominated for Ali & Ava, Philip Barantini is nominated for Boiling Point, Sean Durkin is nominated for The Nest, Joanna Hogg is nominated for The Souvenir Part II, and Aleem Khan is nominated for After Love. These directors and their films also comprise the five nominees for Best British Independent Film. 

Meanwhile, the nominees for the Douglas Hickox Award for Debut Director are Cathy Brady (Wildfire), Aleem Khan (After Love), Prano Bailey-Bond (Censor), Celeste Bell (Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché – also directed by Paul Sng), and Marley Morrison (Sweetheart)

The Raindance Discovery Award nominations are Bank Job (directed by Daniel Edelstyn and Hilary Powell), Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché (directed by Celeste Bell and Paul Sng), The Bike Thief (directed by Matt Chambers), Rebel Dykes (directed by Harri Shanahan and Sian A. Williams), and I Am Belmaya (directed by Sue Carpenter and Belmaya Nepali).

The Best British Short Film nominees ae Egungun (Masquerade) (directed by Olive Nwosu), Femme (directed by Sam Freeman and Ng Choon Ping) Play it Safe (directed by Mitch Kalisa), Precious Hair and Beauty (directed by John Ogunmuyiwa), and Night of the Living Dread (directed by Ida Melum).

Meanwhile, the nominees for Best Documentary are Cow (directed by Andrea Arnold), I Am Belmaya (directed by Sue Carpenter and Belmayi Nepali), Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché (directed by Celeste Bell and Paul Sng), Dying to Divorce (directed by Chloe Fairweather), and Keyboard Fantasies (directed by Posy Dixon).

Congratulations to all of the above, and to all of this year’s fantastic nominees! You can read a full list here. Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday 5 December.