20/09/2002 - The 5th British Independent Film Awards will take place on 30 October with 14 main categories and three special awards

Morvern Callar by Lynne Ramsay received BIFA nominations for the 5th edition of the British Independent Film Awards, scheduled to take place at the Pacha venue in London on Wednesday 30 October. BIFA president Eliot Grove announced the nominees in each of the 14 categories, that include best foreign film, and he was especially excited about the Best Newcomer category because of “the wealth of new acting talent that has emerged over the last 12 months”.
The frontrunners include Bloody Sunday by Paul Greengrass and The Lawless Heart by Tom Hunsinger & Neil Hunter with 5 each, as well as Ken Loach’s Sweet Sixteen with 4. The jury also assigns 3 special awards for Lifetime Achievement, the Jury Award and the Douglas Hickox nod for best first-time director.
Ewan McGregor is this year’s recipient of the Variety UK Personality Award, the only prize that is not assigned by the jury.
The BIFAs were created in 1998 in recognition of the achievements and talent working in independently funded British films, and to ensure they reached the largest possible audience both at home and abroad.