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| Author | Mia Blakeney |
The 25th British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) took place on Sunday 4 December, hosted by Ben Bailey Smith at Old Billingsgate.
The standout winner of the night was Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut feature Aftersun, which picked up seven prizes on the night. Among these were the prizes for Best British Independent Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay.
Starring Frankie Corio and Paul Mescal, Aftersun follows Sophie, who reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories real and imagined fill the gaps between as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't.
The film has received a 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with Wells being praised for her powerful storytelling and ability to capture memories and emotions with absolute authenticity.
This year was the first year in which gender-neutral acting categories were introduced at the BIFAs. The prize for Best Lead Performance was awarded to Rosy McEwen for her role in Georgia Oakley’s feature debut Blue Jean. Kerrie Hayes took the award for Best Supporting Performance, also for her role in Blue Jean.
Another first for this year’s awards was the new category of Best Joint Lead Performance was awarded to Tamara Lawrance and Letitia Wright in The Silent Twins, a true story of twins who created a rich, fascinating world to escape the reality of their own lives.
Find out more and view the full list of winners of the 25th British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).