9TH ANNUAL BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS AND JURY TODAY AT SOHO HOUSE

In its ninth year, the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) has established itself as one of the most important awards ceremonies in the British film industry and is regarded as a kick-off to the Awards Season. BIFA prides itself on providing a platform for up and coming talent and this year has increased the number of nominations in the Most Promising Newcomer Category as there was so much talent to choose from. BIFA is also excited to unveil its new jury, comprised of professionals and talents from across the British film industry.

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

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
The Last King of Scotland
The Queen
Red Road This is England
The Wind That Shakes the Barley

BEST DIRECTOR
SPONSORED BY THE CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP
Kevin Macdonald – The Last King of Scotland
Stephen Frears – The Queen
Michael Caton Jones – Shooting Dogs
Shane Meadows – This is England
Ken Loach – The Wind that Shakes the Barley

BEST ACTOR Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Peter O’Toole – Venus
Cillian Murphy – The Wind that Shakes the Barley
Tony Curran – Red Road
James McAvoy – The Last King of Scotland

BEST ACTRESS
SPONSORED BY MAC
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Kate Dickie – Red Road
Frances de la Tour – The History Boys
Robin Wright Penn – Breaking & Entering
Juliette Binoche – Breaking & Entering

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR / ACTRESS Martin Compston – Red Road
Leslie Phillips – Venus
Vanessa Redgrave – Venus
Joseph Gilgun – This is England
Stephen Graham – This is England

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER (ON SCREEN)
SPONSORED BY DIESEL
Jodie Whittaker - Venus
Thomas Turgoose – This is England
Samuel Barnett – The History Boys
Harry and Luke Treadaway – Brothers of the Head
Dominic Cooper – The History Boys
Rafi Gavron – Breaking & Entering


BEST SCREENPLAY
SPONSORED BY BBC FILMS
Alan Bennett – The History Boys
Peter Morgan – The Queen
Hanif Kureishi – Venus
Shane Meadows – This is England
Peter Morgan & Jeremy Brock – The Last King of Scotland

BEST FOREIGN INDEPENDENT FILM
Volver
Hidden (Cache)
The Beat My Heart Skipped
Brick
Hard Candy

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD
(BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR)
Menhaj Huda - Kidulthood
Paul Andrew Williams – London to Brighton
Andrea Arnold – Red Road
Tom Vaughan – Starter For Ten
Caradog W James – Little White Lies

BEST BRITISH DOCUMENTARY
The Road to Guantanamo
Blindsight
The Great Happiness Space
The Pervert’s Guide To Cinema
Unknown White Male


BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
SPONSORED BY SKILLSET
The Last King of Scotland – Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle
This is England – Music: Ludovico Einaudi (Original Music)
The Wind That Shakes The Barley – Cinematography: Barry Ackroyd
The Queen – Make-Up: Daniel Phillips
The Queen – Production Design: Alan MacDonald

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
SPONSORED BY RECORDED PICTURE COMPANY
London to Brighton
Kidulthood
Shooting Dogs
The Road to Guantanamo
Severance


BEST BRITISH SHORT
Cubs
Ex Memoria
The 10th Man
Who I Am & What I Want
At the End of the Sentence

THE RAINDANCE AWARD
SPONSORED BY RAINDANCE
The Ballad of AJ Weberman
London to Brighton
Scenes of a Sexual Nature

BEST 15 SECOND SHORT
SPONSORED BY NOKIA
Chrysanthemums the Word
What’s the Point?
Fate and Mr McKinley
Death of the Dinosaurs
Ah, Youth


SPECIAL AWARDS

THE VARIETY UK PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Helen Mirren

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD
(OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BRITISH FILM BY AN ACTOR)
SPONSORED BY BUENA VISTA INTERNATIONAL
To be Announced

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
SPONSORED BY THE UK FILM COUNCIL
To be Announced

This year’s jury, which will be chaired by Sandy Lieberson, consists of Reuben Barnes, Martin Childs, Anne V Coates, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Alan Cumming, Leo Davis, Anna Friel, Jason Isaacs, Mick Jones, Damian Lewis, Helen McCrory, Damien O’Donnell, Kelly Reilly, Martin Sherman and Colin Salmon.

The much anticipated awards ceremony will take place on 29th November 2006 at the Hammersmith Palais in West London.