06/12/2021 - It was a night of big surprises as the BIFAs rewarded debut filmmakers and honoured a plethora of new names

Aleem Khan’s debut feature, After Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aleem Khan
film profile], has won six awards at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs). Khan also personally won Best Director, Best Debut Director and Best Screenplay. The film’s star, Joanna Scanlan, won Best Actress for her portrayal of a British Muslim convert who discovers that her recently deceased husband had a second family in France. Talid Ariss, who plays her teenage son, won Best Supporting Actor at the ceremony, which took place on Sunday evening. The film was produced by The Bureau and was released by the BFI in the UK.

It was a great night for British Asian talent at the awards, which were hosted by comedian Asim Chaudhry. Adeel Akhtar picked up Best Actor for his performance in Clio Barnard’s Ali & Ava [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which also won for Best Music. Riz Ahmed won the honorary Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film.

There were four awards for Philip Barantini’s single-take kitchen drama Boiling Point [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Philip Barantini
film profile]: Vinette Robinson won Best Supporting Actress, Carolyn McCleod took home Best Casting, Best Cinematography was bestowed upon Matthew Lewis, and the film was also honoured with the Best Sound Award.

Best Documentary went to Paul Sng and Celeste Bell for Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché. The film also took home the Raindance Discovery Award.

Finally, the Special Jury Prize was given to Raising Films, which supports and campaigns for parents and carers working in the UK screen sector.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best British Independent Film
After Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aleem Khan
film profile] - Aleem Khan (UK)

Best Director
Aleem Khan - After Love

Best Screenplay
Aleem Khan - After Love

Best Actress
Joanna Scanlan - After Love

Best Actor
Adeel Akhtar – Ali & Ava [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (UK)

Best Supporting Actress
Vinette Robinson - Boiling Point [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Philip Barantini
film profile] (UK)

Best Supporting Actor
Talid Ariss - After Love

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)
Aleem Khan - After Love

Breakthrough Producer
Michelle Antoniades - Sweetheart (UK)

Breakthrough Performance
Nell Barlow - Sweetheart

Best Debut Screenwriter
Cathy Brady - Wildfire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cathy Brady
film profile] (UK/Ireland)

Best Documentary
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché - Paul Sng, Celeste Bell (UK)

The Discovery Award
Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché - Paul Sng, Celeste Bell

Best British Short Film
Femme - Sam H Freeman, Ng Choon Ping (UK)

Best International Independent Film
Flee [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Poher Rasmussen
film profile] – Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Denmark/France/Norway/Sweden)

Best Casting
Carolyn Mcleod - Boiling Point

Best Cinematography
Matthew Lewis - Boiling Point

Best Costume Design
Grace Snell - The Souvenir: Part II [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (UK)

Best Editing
Helle Le Fevre - The Souvenir: Part II

Best Music
Connie Farr, Harry Escott - Ali & Ava

Best Make-up & Hair
Vickie Lang, Kristyan Mallett, Donald McInnes - [+see also:
trailer
film profile] The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (UK)

Best Effects
Steven Bray, Mike Knights - Dashcam [+see also:
film review
interview: Rob Savage
film profile] (UK/USA)

Best Production Design
Stéphane Collonge - The Souvenir: Part II

Best Sound
James Drake - Boiling Point

Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film
Riz Ahmed

Special Jury Prize
Raising Films