Rocks triumphs at 2020 BIFAs
Now this is what I like to see: an awards body seriously spreading the wealth! Although top prize nominee Calm with Horses went home empty-handed, its fellow four competitors for the 2020 British Independent Film Award for Best Film were all rewarded with at least two prizes each, with all four's directors winning. The biggest winner was Sarah Gavron's brilliant Rocks; its five awards included three for its young cast and one for its casting director - here's hoping the Casting Society of America's sponsorship of that category earns Lucy Pardee a highly deserved Artios Award nod when Rocks finally receives a US release. His House won Best Director among four awards, The Father won Best Screenplay among three, and nominations leader Saint Maud took home a slightly disappointing two. Some inspired choices aside, the recognition of The Reason I Jump in Best Documentary rather undoes all the good taste BIFA voters have displayed elsewhere. Thankfully, it's landed on neither AMPAS' nor BAFTA's Documentary shortlists.
Best British Independent Film Rocks (Sarah Gavron, Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson, Faye Ward, Ameenah Ayub Allen)
Best Director
Remi Weekes (His House)
Best Screenplay (Sponsored by BBC Film)
Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton (The Father)
Best Actress
Wunmi Mosaku (His House)
Best Actor
Anthony Hopkins (The Father)
Best Supporting Actress
Kosar Ali (Rocks)
Best Supporting Actor
D’Angelou Osei Kissiedu (Rocks)
The Douglas Hickox Award for Debut Director (Sponsored by Kodak & Pinewood)
Rose Glass (Saint Maud)
Breakthrough Producer Award
Irune Gurtubai (Limbo) - also produced by Angus Lamont
Debut Screenwriter (Sponsored by Film4)
Riz Ahmed (Mogul Mowgli) - also written by Bassam Tariq
Most Promising Newcomer
Kosar Ali (Rocks)
Best Documentary The Reason I Jump (Jerry Rothwell, Jeremy Dear, Stevie Lee, Al Morrow)
The Raindance Discovery Award
Perfect 10 (Eva Riley, Jacob Thomas, Bertrand Faivre, Valentina Brazzini)
Best British Short Film (Supported by BFI Network)
The Long Goodbye (Aneil Karia, Riz Ahmed, Tom Gardne
Best International Independent Film (Sponsored by Champagne Taittinger)
Nomadland (Chloé Zhao, Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey)
Best Casting (Sponsored by Casting Society of America & Spotlight)
Lucy Pardee (Rocks)
Best Cinematography (Sponsored by Dirty Looks)
Ben Fordesman (Saint Maud)
Best Costume Design
Charlotte Walter (Misbehaviour)
Best Editing (Sponsored by Intermission Film)
Yorgos Lamprinos (The Father)
Best Effects
Pedro Sabrosa, Stefano Pepin (His House)
Best Make Up & Hair Design
Jill Sweeney (Misbehaviour)
Best Music (Sponsored by Universal Music Publishing Group)
Paul Corley (Mogul Mowgli)
Best Production Design (Sponsored by Studio Juice)
Jacqueline Abrahams (His House)
Best Sound (Supported by Halo Post)
Nick Ryan, Ben Baird, Sara de Oliveira Lima (The Reason I Jump)