Announced by 2023 winners, Mia McKenna-Bruce and Vivian Oparah, this year's BIFA nominations showcase the best of the year's British film. The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) has announced the nominees ahead of the awards ceremony, which will be held at the Roundhouse, London on 8 December. In total, 29 British feature films are recognised in the list.
Running away with the nominations is Irish-language rap biopic , which picked up nominations for best British independent film, director, and screenplay among others. All three lead performers – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh – were also recognised in the nominations. Rich Peppiatt’s comedy following the semi-true backstory of the titular Belfast hip-hop trio was one of the surprise hits of the year.
Kneecap’s Gaelic Irish and English-language music acted as a backdrop for a wider story on Northern Irish-British relations that “an absolute blast, a high-energy and frequently hilarious”. Just behind with 12 nominations was the lesbian bodybuilding romance noir , from director Rose Glass who previously set the BIFA record with 17 nominations for her debut film in 2020, winning in two categories. is also nominated for the major awards, including nods to its two central performers, Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brien.
We called the unconventional genre-shifting crime-romance film an “electrifying” ride when it debuted at the this year. Twice this year, Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir "The Outrun" has been adapted for British audiences. While the was one of the standouts at the Edinburgh International Festival, the film adaptation, featuring Soairse Ronan has also wowed audiences, garnering it nine nominations in the BIFA list.
, which claims to be the first major films to be filmed on the Orkney islands, has picked up nominations for Best British independent film, director, screenplay, and a nomination for Ronan’s performance. Down the list, there are also multiple nominations for Andrea Arnold’s coming-of-age fable , with Nykiya Adams picking up a best breakthrough performance, alongside nominations for her older castmates Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski. Last year, took home the most awards, including Best British independent film, director, supporting performance and screenplay.
Other recognised films included , , and . Here are the 2024 nominees in full:.
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'Kneecap' and 'Love Lies Bleeding' lead nominations for British Independent Film Awards
'Kneecap' and 'Love Lies Bleeding' lead nominations for British Independent Film Awards