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| Author | Mia Blakeney |
The British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) 2024 ceremony took place on Sunday 8 December at The Roundhouse, London. The BIFAs are one of the most innovative and exciting award bodies around, and are a launchpad for the upcoming 2025 Awards season. There is lots to look forward to in the coming months, including some outstanding British film contenders.
At this year’s British Independent Film Awards, Rich Peppiatt’s comedy Kneecap, which received the most award nominations, was the big winner of the night. It received seven awards (from it’s 14 nominations) including Best British Independent Film.
Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh received the award for Best Joint Lead Performance. The Irish-language hip-hip trio Kneecap, whom the film was based on and named after, played themselves in the biopic.
The film was Peppiatt’s debut feature, and he was presented the award for Best Debut Screenwriter. Kneecap alco received four Craft Awards, for Casting, Editing, Original Music and Music Supervision.
This year, the British Independent Film Awards were spread out amongst a diverse range of nominated films.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste won Best Lead Performance for her role as Pansy Deacon in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, a drama depicting mental health within a Black British family.
Franz Rogowski was presented the award for Best Supporting Performance for his portrayal of Bird, in the film of the same title.
Rungano Nyoni received the award for Best Director for the complex yet self-aware On Becoming A Guinea Fowl. Susan Chardy received the award for Best Breakthrough Performance, for her role as Shula.
Santosh picked up two awards: Best Screenplay for Sandhya Suri and Breakthrough Producer for Susan Chardy. The Hindi-language thriller follows a widow who inherits her late husband’s job as police constable.
Christopher Andrews received the award for Best Debut Director for their thriller Bring Them Down.
Grand Theft Hamlet, an innovative documentary about actors who attempt to shoot a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet entirely in the video game Grand Theft Auto, received the Raindance Maverick Award. Directors Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane also received the award for Best Debut Director – Feature Documentary.
Witches, a documentary based on director Elizabeth Sankey’s own experiences, received the award for Best Feature Documentary, and Wander to Wonder, a dark yet heartfelt stop-motion short from Nina Gantz, was presented the award for Best British Short Film.
DCM are a proud supporter of BIFA and British independent film and filmmakers.
Find out more and read the full list of winners on the BIFA website.