29/10/2008

Hunger [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Hastings-Smith Rob…
interview: Steve McQueen
film profile] and In Bruges [+see also:
trailer
film profile] have been honoured with seven nominations each at the 11th annual British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) and will vie for the title of Best Independent British Film of the year. Slumdog Millionaire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danny Boyle
film profile] has six nominations, Shifty five and Somers Town [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Son of Rambow [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and The Duchess [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] four nominations each.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Happy-Go-Lucky [+see also:
trailer
film profile] have three nominations while Man on Wire [+see also:
trailer
film profile], The Daisy Chain, Eden Lake [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and The Escapist [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] have two nominations each. The nominated films were chosen from over 150 entries.

Veteran independent actor David Thewlis will receive the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor this year.

BIFA Directors, Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson said, “We are delighted to be able to highlight such an eclectic range of new British film talent this year with the pre-nomination debut director category being the most competitive BIFA has ever had.”

BIFA founder Elliot Grove said, “The nominations reveal an unparalleled number of new and young film talent across the various categories. Together with more established film industry names, these nominees mark a refreshing eleventh year.”

The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 30 November in London and will be hosted by James Nesbitt.

The jury includes producer Simon Relph, David Lawson, Gina Carter and Cat Villiers, actors Anne Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Mark Strong and Christopher Simpson, director Joe Wright, photographer/director Rankin, writer/director Paul Andrew Williams, writer Abi Morgan, distributor Xavier Marchand (Momentum), casting director Shaheen Baig, agent Tor Belfrage and IMDB managing director Col Needham.