As 2024 draws to a close, it heralds the arrival of awards season! While various Critics' Circle and Guild events have already commenced, tonight marked the first major event of the season in the UK: the British Independent Film Awards. Hosted by Peter Serafinowicz at London's Roundhouse, the ceremony saw Rich Peppiatt's dynamic Irish rap trio biopic Kneecap — already one of Empire's Best Movies of 2024 — emerge as the night's biggest winner. The film, now streaming on Prime Video UK, secured seven awards, including Best British Independent Film, Best Joint Lead Performance for Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh, and Best Debut Screenwriter for Peppiatt.
In other key acting categories, Marianne Jean-Baptiste won Best Lead Performance for her powerful portrayal of embattled matriarch Pansy in Mike Leigh's Hard Truths, a film that reunited its director and star after 28 years since their last collaboration, Secrets And Lies. Franz Rogowski won Best Supporting Performance for his role as the titular Bird in Andrea Arnold's magical-social-realist fable, beating out co-star Barry Keoghan, Hard Truths' Michele Austin, and Hoard actor Hayley Squires.
Additionally, Rungano Nyoni's On Becoming A Guinea Fowl secured two major awards — Best Director for Nyoni, and Best Breakthrough Performance for star Susan Chardy. The game-based documentary Grand Theft Hamlet also enjoyed success with two wins. Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls received a Best Debut Director — Feature Documentary nod for their lockdown project, and the film also picked up the Raindance Maverick Award for its innovative approach.
Despite being the British Independent Film Awards, Sean Baker's Anora won Best International Independent Film, with Baker dedicating the win to British boyband Take That, whose song 'Greatest Day' features in the movie's opening.
For a complete list of all the winners at this year's BIFAs, please visit this link.
Source link: https://www.empireonline.com
