BIFA Favors “The Favourite” With A Record 10 Wins

BIFA Favors “The Favourite” With A Record 10 Wins

Monday, Dec. 3, 2018

Rachel Weisz (l) and Olivia Colman in "The Favourite." Colman won Best Actress and Weisz took Best Supporting Actress at the BIFA competition (photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures).

"Roma" named Best International Independent Film

LONDON
--

The Favourite won a record high 10 awards at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) held at Old Billingsgate on Sunday (12/2).

The film won Best British Independent Film, Best Director for Yorgos Lanthimos and Best Screenplay for Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. Olivia Colman maintained her perfect record of winning at BIFA every time she is nominated and took home her fourth BIFA trophy. Her performance as Queen Anne was awarded Best Actress. Her co-star Rachel Weisz was named Best Supporting Actress; Weisz last won at BIFA for The Constant Gardener in 2005.

The five awards on the night took the tally for The Favourite to 10, added to its five craft awards announced earlier this month for Best Casting (Dixie Chassay), Best Cinematography (Robbie Ryan), Best Costume Design (Sandy Powell), Best Make Up & Hair Design (Nadia Stacey) and Best Production Design (Fiona Crombie).

Joe Cole’s portrayal of an English boxer in a Thai prison in A Prayer Before Dawn won him the Best Actor award. Alessandro Nivola won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Dovid, in Disobedience opposite Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams.

American Animals writer director Bart Layton won the Debut Screenwriter award for his first fiction feature. The film also won Best Editing for Nick Fenton, Julian Hart and Chris Gill.

Richard Billingham received The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director for Ray & Liz. The film’s producer Jacqui Davies won the award for Breakthrough Producer.

Beast star Jessie Buckley was named Most Promising Newcomer.

You Were Never Really Here won two BIFAs--for Best Music sponsored by Universal Music Publishing Group and Best Sound supported by Silk Factory.

Evelyn was named Best Documentary. The Discovery Award went to Voyageuse by May Miles Thomas.

The Best British Short Film award was presented to The Big Day.

The only category of the night open to non-UK films, Best International Independent Film, was won by Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma.

The Special Jury Prize was presented to Horace Ové CBE. The jury praised Ove’s pioneering creative talent, his boundary-breaking achievements and his commitment to paving the way for the next generation.

As previously announced, Judi Dench was presented with the 2018 Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film and Felicity Jones received this year’s Variety Award which recognizes a director, actor, writer or producer who has made a global impact and helped focus the international spotlight on the U.K. Also previously announced was the winner of Best Effects--Aardman Animation’s Early Man.

The 21st ceremony was hosted by Russell Tovey. Here’s a full list of winners:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
THE FAVOURITE
YORGOS LANTHIMOS / DEBORAH DAVIS / TONY MCNAMARA / CECI DEMPSEY / ED GUINEY / LEE MAGIDAY

BEST SCREENPLAY
THE FAVOURITE
DEBORAH DAVIS / TONY MCNAMARA

BEST DIRECTOR
THE FAVOURITE
YORGOS LANTHIMOS

BEST BRITISH SHORT
THE BIG DAY
DAWN SHADFORTH / KELLIE SMITH / MICHELLE STEIN

BEST ACTOR
A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN
JOE COLE

BEST ACTRESS
THE FAVOURITE
OLIVIA COLMAN

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
DISOBEDIENCE
ALESSANDRO NIVOLA

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
THE FAVOURITE
RACHEL WEISZ

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
BEAST
JESSIE BUCKLEY

THE DISCOVERY AWARD
VOYAGEUSE
MAY MILES THOMAS

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD (DEBUT DIRECTOR)
RAY & LIZ
RICHARD BILLINGHAM