BIFA winners announced

Good night for God's Own Country, Lady Macbeth and I Am Not A Witch

by Amber Wilkinson

Johnny and Gheorghe, played by Josh O'Connor and Alec Secareanu, in God's Own Country
Johnny and Gheorghe, played by Josh O'Connor and Alec Secareanu, in God's Own Country Photo: Courtesy of EIFF
Francis Lee's farm LGBT romance God's Own Country took home the top prize at the British Independent Film Awards last night. It's star Josh O'Connor, who plays a sheep farmer who falls for a migrant worker, was named best actor, while Lee also picked up the gong for best debut screenwriter.

The night reflected a strong year for British film, with no single film dominating the awards. William Oldroyd's dark costume drama Lady Macbeth won the best screenplay award for Alice Birch, while its star Florence Pugh was named best actress and her co-star Naomi Ackie judged most promising newcomer. Cinematographer Ari Wegner was also honoured for his work on the film. The best directing award went to Rungano Nyoni for her drama I Am Not A Witch along with the Douglas Hickox award for best debut director.

The best international film was Jordan Peele's Get Out. Supporting actor and actress honours went to Patricia Clarkson for The Party and Simon Russell Beale for The Death Of Stalin, which also did well in the technical awards.

The full list of nominees and winners is below:

Best British Independent Film

Best International Independent Film

Best Director

Best Screenplay

Best Actress

Best Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Most Promising Newcomer

Best Debut Director

Debut Screenwriter

Breakthrough Producer

The Discovery Award

  • Even When I Fall, Sky Neal, Kate Mclarnon, Elhum Shakerifar
  • Halfway, Ben Caird, Jonny Paterson
  • WINNER: In Another Life, Jason Wingard, Hannah Stevenson, Rebecca Clare Evans
  • Isolani, R Paul Wilson, Lisa Hague
  • My Pure Land, Sarmad Masud, Bill Kenwright

Best Documentary

  • WINNER: Almost Heaven, Carol Salter
  • Half Way, Daisy-May Hudson
  • Kingdom Of Us, Lucy Cohen, Julia Nottingham, Lucas Ochoa, Thomas Benski, Bill Rudgard
  • Uncle Howard, Aaron Brookner, Paula Vaccaro
  • Williams, Morgan Matthews, Hayley Reynolds, Sarah Hamilton

Best British Short Film

  • 1745, Gordon Napier, Morayo Akandé, John Mckay
  • WINNER: Fish Story, Charlie Lyne, Catherine Bray, Anthony Ing
  • The Entertainer, Jonathan Schey, Jodie Brown, Jun Bung Lee
  • Work, Aneil Karia, Scott O’donnell
  • Wren Boys, Harry Lighton, John Fitzpatrick, Sorcha Bacon

Best Cinematography

Best Casting

Best Costume Design

Best Editing

Best Effects

Best Make Up & Hair Design

Best Music

Best Production Design

Best Sound

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