Northern Irish feature ‘Hunger’ and Martin McDonagh’s ‘In Bruges’ received the most nominations for the 11th annual British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) taking place on November 30 in London. Other Irish related productions ‘The Daisy Chain’, ‘The Escapist’ and ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ also received nominations.
‘Hunger’, which will be released on Friday 31 October, directed by Turner Prize winner Steve McQueen received seven nominations including a Best Actor nomination for Michael Fassbender and Best Supporting Actor for Liam Cunningham and Best Screenplay for Enda Walsh and Steven McQueen, Best Director and Best Technical Achievement (Cinematography – Sean Bobbitt).
‘In Bruges’ also received seven nominations including two Best Actor nominations for its Irish stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, Best Screenplay for Irish screenwriter Martin McDonagh, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes) and Best Technical Achievement (Editing – Jon Gregory).
Both titles are nominated for the Best British Independent Film as are both directors featured in the Best Debut Director shortlist.
Subotica’s ’The Daisy Chain’, directed by Irish helmer Aisling Walsh, received two nominations including Best Actress for Samantha Morton and Best Achievement in Production. Parallel’s co production ’The Escapist’ starring Scot actor Brian Cox also was nominated in this category as well as director Rupert Wyatt being nominated for the Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director.
Irish novelist John Boyne’s film adaptation of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ was nominated for Best Director for Mark Herman and actress Vera Farmiga was nominated in the Best Actress Category. Asa Butterfield, who plays German character Bruno in the film, is nominated for Most Promising Newcomer while David Thewlis, who also stars in the movie, will receive the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film.
Elliot Grove, founder of Raindance and the British Independent Film Awards 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 BIFA pre-selection committee (of 70 members) viewed more than 150 films, out of which they selected the nominations.
Irish actress Eva Birthistle and Anne Marie Duff as well as Irish actor Christopher Simpson took part on the BIFA’s jury comprised of sixteen professionals and talents from across the British film industry including: producer and chair, Simon Relph, actor Mark Strong, director Joe Wright, photographer/director Rankin, writer/director Paul Andrew Williams, writer Abi Morgan, producers David Lawson, Gina Carter and Cat Villiers, distributor Xavier Marchand (Momentum), casting director Shaheen Baig, agent Tor Belfrage, and Col Needham, founder and managing director of the Internet Movie Database.
The awards ceremony will take place on November 30 at the Old Billingsgate Market in London and will be hosted by Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt.
