’71Nabs 9 Nominations In 17th Moët British Independent Film Awards

BIFA have announced the nominations for the 17th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards, announced today, at St Martins Lane, London by  Quiet Ones actor Jared Harris.

Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards’ Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: “This has been a record year for MBIFA with over 250 films submitted giving our dedicated members their toughest challenge to date. Hugely impressed by the quality of films and performances across all categories the shortlist demonstrates how the standard of creativity in British independent filmmaking continues to flourish year on year. The decision of who will walk away with one of the iconic MBIFA trophies* is now in the hands of our distinguished independent jury announced today. We are looking forward to seeing as many of the nominees as possible at the Awards on 7th December, to celebrate their incredible achievements. It will be a very personal celebration for us also, as the last in a wonderful 9 Award Ceremonies as Joint Directors of BIFA.”

This year’s highest nominated  film goes to ‘71 with nine nominations including Best British Independent Film; Best Director and Debut Director for Yann Demange; Best Screenplay for Gregory Burke; Best Actor for Jack O’Connell and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Harris  Pride  picked up seven nominations with Catch Me Daddy, Frank and Mr Turner all picking  up five nominations each

Nominations for Best Actress go to Alicia Vikander for Testament Of Youth; Cheng Pei Pei for Lilting; Gugu Mbatha-Raw for Belle; Keira Knightley for The Imitation Game and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed for Catch Me Daddy. Leading men hoping to take home the Best Actor award include Asa Butterfield for X+Y; Benedict Cumberbatch for The Imitation Game; Brendan Gleeson for Calvary; Jack O’Connell for ’71 and Timothy Spall for Mr Turner.

Best Supporting Actor nominations go to Andrew Scott and Ben Schnetzer, both for Pride; Michael Fassbender for Frank; Rafe Spall for X+Y and Sean Harris for ’71. Dorothy Atkinson for Mr Turner; Imelda Staunton for Pride; Maggie Gyllenhaal for Frank; Sally Hawkins for X+Y and Sienna Guillory for The Goob are all nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award.

Directors who have delivered dynamic debuts this year and are fighting for the Douglas Hickox Award are Daniel Wolfe and Matthew Wolfe for Catch Me Daddy; Hong Khaou for Lilting; Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard for 20,000 Days On Earth; Morgan Matthews for X+Y and Yann Demange for ’71.

The Raindance Award nominees for 2014 include: FLIM: THE MOVIE; GREGOR; LUNA; KEEPING ROSY and THE BEAT BENEATH MY FEET. This award honours exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds, often with little or no industry support. Elliot Grove, Founder of Raindance Film Festival and Moët British Independent Film Awards added: “The breadth and quality of the British films selected this year suggests a bumper year for British films. Raindance congratulates all the talented filmmakers whose wonderful films make up this year’s MBIFA nominations.”

The Pre-Selection Committee of over 70 members viewed a record breaking 250 plus films this year, out of which they selected the nominations, which were decided by ballot.

The winners of The Moët British Independent Film Awards are decided by an independent jury comprised of leading professionals and talent from the British film industry.

The Oscar® and BAFTA  winning Director Tom Hooper, who picked up five awards, including Best British Independent Film at the 2010 Moët British Independent Film Awards for The Kings Speech , will chair the Jury who will decide the winners of the 2014 awards.Hooper commented: “I am honoured to preside over the Moët BIFA jury this year. It has been an extremely strong year for filmmaking here in Britain and I am looking forward to helping the very best of this year’s independent films, get the recognition they deserve.”

The Jury for 2014 includes: Jury Chair – Tom Hooper (Director), Jonathan Romney (Writer, Director), Jon S Baird (Writer, Director), Luke Tredaway (Actor), Mary Burke (Producer), Sean Ellis (Writer, Director), Shira Macleod (Film Programming Consultant), Stanley Tucci(Actor, Director), Thea Sharrock (Director), Tinge Krishnan (Director) Tracy O’Riordan (Producer) and Zawe Ashton (Actor, Director).

Elsa Corbineau, Marketing Director Moët & Chandon, commented: “The pool of talents recognised by the Moët British Independent Film Awards has continuously inspired us with the richness it represents. With Moët & Chandon being the champagne of choice for celebration at international film festivals and award ceremonies, we are delighted to toast to the success of all nominees, including those for the ‘Best British Independent Film’ award sponsored by Moët & Chandon.”

The winners will be announced at the much anticipated 17th awards ceremony on Sunday 7 December at the impressive Old Billingsgate in London.

The Moët British Independent Film Awards is proud to announce the following nominees for this year’s awards:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
’71
Calvary
Mr Turner
Pride
The Imitation Game

BEST DIRECTOR
Sponsored by AllCity & Intermission
John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
Lenny Abrahamson – Frank
Matthew Warchus – Pride
Mike Leigh – Mr Turner
Yann Demange – ’71

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe – Catch Me Daddy
Hong Khaou – Lilting
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – 20,000 Days on Earth
Morgan Matthews – X+Y
Yann Demange – ’71

BEST SCREENPLAY
Sponsored by BBC Films
Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
Gregory Burke – ’71
John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – Frank
Stephen Beresford – Pride

BEST ACTRESS
Sponsored by M.A.C Cosmetics
Alicia Vikander – Testament of Youth
Cheng Pei Pei – Lilting
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy

BEST ACTOR
Sponsored by Movado
Asa Butterfield – X+Y
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
Brendan Gleeson – Calvary
Jack O’Connell – ’71
Timothy Spall – Mr Turner

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Dorothy Atkinson – Mr Turner
Imelda Staunton – Pride
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Frank
Sally Hawkins – X+Y
Sienna Guillory – The Goob

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sponsored by St Martins Lane
Andrew Scott – Pride
Ben Schnetzer – Pride
Michael Fassbender – Frank
Rafe Spall – X+Y
Sean Harris – ‘71

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Ben Schnetzer – Pride
Cara Delevingne – The Face of An Angel
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
Liam Walpole – The Goob
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
’71
20,000 Days on Earth
Catch Me Daddy
Lilting
The Goob

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Chris Wyatt – Editing – ’71
Dick Pope – Cinematography – Mr Turner
Robbie Ryan – Cinematography – Catch Me Daddy
Stephen Rennicks – Music – Frank
Tat Radcliffe – Cinematography – ’71

BEST DOCUMENTAR Y
20,000 Days on Earth
Next Goal Wins
Night Will Fall
The Possibilities Are Endless
Virunga

BEST BRITISH SHORT
Crocodile
Emotional Fusebox
Keeping Up With The Joneses
Slap
The Kármán Line

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
Blue Ruin
Boyhood
Fruitvale Station
Ida
The Badadook

THE RAINDANCE AWARD
Flim: The Movie…
Gregor
Luna
Keeping Rosy
The Beat Beneath My Feet

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
To Be Announced

THE VARIETY AWARD
To Be Announced

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Announced at the Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 7th December

You can check out some of the reviews for the nominated films at our reviews section  or search through Film Festivals.