THE MOËT BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS AND JURY FOR 13th EDITION

The nominations and jury members for the thirteenth annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced today, Monday 1st November at St Martins Lane, London by Jared Harris.

Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: “This year’s nominations truly reflect the scope of independent filmmaking in the UK and, regardless of budget, each category showcases the wealth of talent committed to making quality British films.”

The Film receiving the most nominations is The King’s Speech with eight, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and two Best Supporting Actor nominations. Monsters, Never Let Me Go and The Arbor all received six nominations, Four Lions five and four nods went to Another Year, Made in Dagenham and Brighton Rock.

Nominations for Best Actor go to Jim Broadbent (Another Year), Riz Ahmed (Four Lions), Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), Scoot McNairy (Monsters) and Aidan Gillen (Treacle Junior). Leading ladies battling for the Best Actress are Manjinder Virk (The Arbor), Ruth Sheen (Another Year), Andrea Riseborough (Brighton Rock), Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham) and hoping to repeat last year’s success, Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go).

Emelie De Vitis, Marketing Manager Moët & Chandon commented: “Moët & Chandon is delighted to be supporting the Awards in a year where the talent pool is so strong. As the champagne of film and cinema, Moët & Chandon looks forward to celebrating the success of all nominees and the British Independent Film industry with glasses of Moët & Chandon at the glamorous awards evening on Dec 5th."

Newcomer Gareth Edwards receives an impressive four nominations for his directorial debut Monsters; categories include Best British Independent Film sponsored by Moët & Chandon, Best Director, The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director and Best Technical Achievement. Both Andrea Riseborough (Brighton Rock) and Manjinder Virk (The Arbor) are nominated in two categories, Most Promising Newcomer and Best Actress, with The Arbor also competing for Best British Documentary alongside Enemies of the People, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Fire In Bablyon and Waste Land.

The Raindance Award nominees for 2010 include Brilliant Love, Legacy, Son Of Babylon, Treacle Junior and Jackboots on Whitehall. This Award honours exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds, often with little or no industry support. Elliot Grove, Founder Raindance Film Festival and BIFA added: "The nominees for this year's Raindance Award show how vibrant and strong the state of independent film is in this country, despite the economic uncertainty. I am thrilled that we are able to support such great films, and know we'll see many more in the coming years"

The Pre-Selection Committee of 70 members viewed nearly 200 films, out of which they selected the nominations, which were decided by ballot.

The winners of The Moët British Independent Film Awards are decided by an independent jury comprised of leading professionals and talent from the British film industry. The Jury for 2010 will include: Mags Arnold (Editor), Finola Dwyer (Producer), Matthew Goode (Actor), Matt Greenhalgh (Writer), Andy Harries (Producer), Gemma Jones (Actress), David Mackenzie (Director), James Marsh (Director), Hannah McGill (Writer, Critic & Festival Programmer), Sean Pertwee (Actor), Jamie Sives (Actor), Jason Solomons (Film Critic), Gary Williamson (Production Designer).

The winners will be announced at the much anticipated 13th awards ceremony which will take place on Sunday 5 December at the impressive Old Billingsgate in London and will be hosted for the sixth year by James Nesbitt.

BIFA are proud to announce the following nominees for this year’s awards:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
Four Lions
Kick-Ass
The King’s Speech
Monsters
Never Let Me Go

BEST DIRECTOR
Sponsored by The Creative Partnership
Mike Leigh – Another Year
Matthew Vaughn – Kick-Ass
Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech
Gareth Edwards – Monsters
Mark Romanek – Never Let Me Go

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Debs Gardner Paterson – Africa United
Clio Barnard – The Arbor
Rowan Joffe – Brighton Rock
Chris Morris – Four Lions
Gareth Edwards – Monsters

BEST SCREENPLAY
Sponsored by BBC Films
Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Simon Blackwell, Christopher Morris – Four Lions
Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn – Kick-Ass
David Seidler – The King’s Speech
William Ivory – Made In Dagenham
Alex Garland – Never Let Me Go

BEST ACTRESS
Sponsored by M.A.C
Manjinder Virk – The Arbor
Ruth Sheen – Another Year
Andrea Riseborough – Brighton Rock
Sally Hawkins – Made In Dagenham
Carey Mulligan – Never Let Me Go

BEST ACTOR
Jim Broadbent – Another Year
Riz Ahmed – Four Lions
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
Scoot McNairy – Monsters
Aidan Gillen – Treacle Junior

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lesley Manville – Another Year
Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech
Rosamund Pike – Made In Dagenham
Keira Knightley – Never Let Me Go
Tamsin Greig – Tamara Drewe

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kayvan Novak – Four Lions
Guy Pearce – The King’s Speech
Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech
Bob Hoskins – Made In Dagenham
Andrew Garfield – Never Let Me Go

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Sponsored by Optimum Releasing
Manjinder Virk – The Arbor
Andrea Riseborough – Brighton Rock
Tom Hughes – Cemetery Junction
Joanne Froggatt – In Our Name
Conor McCarron – Neds

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Sponsored by Ascent Media
The Arbor
In Our Name
Monsters
Skeletons
Streetdance 3D

RAINDANCE AWARD
Sponsored by Exile Media
Brilliant Love
Jackboots On Whitehall
Legacy
Son Of Babylon
Treacle Junior

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Sponsored by Chapter Media
The Arbor – Sound – Tim Barker
Brighton Rock – Cinematography – John Mathieson
The Illusionist – Animation – Sylvain Chomet
The King’s Speech – Production Design – Eve Stewart
Monsters – Visual Effects – Gareth Edwards

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Arbor
Enemies of the People
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Fire In Babylon
Waste Land

BEST BRITISH SHORT
Baby
Photograph Of Jesus
Sign Language
Sis
The Road Home

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Dogtooth
I Am Love
A Prophet
The Secret In Their Eyes
Winter’s Bone

 

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
Sponsored by Working Title
To Be Announced

THE VARIETY AWARD
To Be Announced

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Sponsored by UK Film Council
Announced at the British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 5 December

Proud patrons of The Moet British Independent Film Awards include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.
BIFA would like to thank all its supporters, especially: Moët & Chandon, UK Film Council, Ascent Media, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, Chapter Media, The Creative Partnership, Exile Media, M.A.C, Optimum Releasing, Raindance, Soho House, St Martins Lane, Swarovski, Variety, Working Title.
Created by Raindance

For press information regarding BIFA contact Emma McCorkell or Caragh Cook at Rogers & Cowan: mailto:emccorkell@rogersandcowan.com mailto:ccook@rogersandcowan.com / 020 3048 0481 or 020 3048 0482

NOTES TO EDITORS
BIFA was created by Raindance in 1998.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 2010
A film will be eligible for an Award if:

It is intended for theatrical release, AND has had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK OR has screened at a British-based film festival between 1 December 2009 and 30 November 2010.

Where there is any major studio substantially funding a film, the total budget must not exceed $20M .

It has been produced or majority co-produced by a British company OR is in receipt of at least 51% of its budget from a British source or sources OR it qualifies as a British film under the DCMS guidelines AND includes sufficient creative elements from the UK.

BIFA also consider foreign independent films for the Best Foreign Independent Film category. Foreign films must have a British theatrical release during the eligibility period stated above.

Best British Short Film Award submissions: Any British short films that have won an award between 16 October 2009 and 15 October 2010 are eligible for consideration. A short film must be no longer than 40 minutes (including credits).

Films that have been entered previously are not eligible. Re-issues of previously released films are not eligible.

All films submitted for consideration are viewed by the Advisory Committee with the help of a nominated screening panel, who then decide the nominations by ballot.

All nominated films will be viewed by an independent jury. The winners will be decided by a secret ballot.
Full Eligibility Criteria may be viewed at: http://www.bifa.org.uk/rules

Sponsors

Moet UK Film Council
3 Mills Studios Ascent
Soho House Chapter Media
BBC Films Variety
M.A.C Optimum Releaseing
The Creative Partnership Raindance
Swarovski Exile Media
Working Title