Aleem Khan’s directorial debut After falling in love was the featured artist at this year’s British Independent Film Awards.
The film – about a widowed Muslim who uncovers a secret life led by her late husband – won six awards at Sunday night’s ceremony, including the highest honor. Best British Independent Film. After falling in love also won Best Director, Best Debut Director and Best Screenplay for Khan; best actress for Joanna Scanlan; and best supporting actor for Talid Ariss.
People just don’t do anything co-creator and star Asim Chaudhry hosted the festival, which saw the BIFAs return to a live event at their traditional home in London’s Old Billingsgate. The pandemic saw BIFA live stream the 2020 awards ceremony in February of this year.
Elsewhere in the night, Adeel Akhtar was named best actor for Clio Barnard’s tale of forbidden love, Ali & Ava, while Vinette Robinson won best supporting actress for Philip Barantini’s one-off restaurant drama, Boiling point.
Boiling point, which also won three other awards, goes into the night with the highest number of nominations, equaling Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast with 11 nods each.
As previously announced, Riz Ahmed has been awarded this year’s Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution of an Actor to British Cinema.
See the full list of winners, below:
Best British Independent Film
After falling in love – (WINNER)
Ali & Ava
Boiling point
The nest
Souvenirs Part II
Best Director
Aleem Khan, After falling in love – (WINNER)
Philip Barantini, Boiling point
Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava
Sean Durkin, The nest
Joanna Hogg, Souvenirs Part II
Best Actress
Joanna Scanlan, After falling in love (WINNER)
Caitriona Balfe, Belfast
Carrie Coon, The nest
Claire Rushbrook, Ali & Ava
Ruth Wilson, Real things
Best Actor
Adeel Akhtar, Ali & Ava – (WINNER)
Riz Ahmed, Meeting
Stephen Graham, Boiling point
Jude Law, The nest
James Norton, No place special
Best Supporting Actress
Vinette Robinson, Boiling point – WINNER
Judi Dench, Belfast
Jo Hartley, Lover
Nathalie Richards, After falling in love
Tilda Swinton, Souvenirs Part II
Best Supporting Actor
Talid Ariss, After falling in love (WINNER)
Richard Ayoade, Souvenirs Part II
Lucian River Chauhan, Meeting
Ciaran Hinds, Belfast
Ray Panthaki, Boiling point
Excellent performance
Nell Barlow, Lover (WINNER)
Lauryn Ajufo, Boiling point
Max Harwood, Everyone talks about Jamie
Jude Hills, Belfast
Ellora Torchia, Underground
Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)
Aleem Khan, After falling in love (WINNER)
Prano Bailey-Bond, Censorship
Celeste Bells, Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché [Also Directed By Paul Sng]
Cathy Brady, Forest fires
Marley Morrison, Lover
Best script
Aleem Khan, After falling in love (WINNER)
Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava
Terence Davies, Adoration
Sean Durkin, The nest
Joanna Hogg, Souvenirs Part II
Breakthrough producer
Michelle Antoniades, Lover (WINNER)
Helen Jones, Censorship
Jessica Malik, She will [Also Produced By Bob Last]
Hester Ruoff, Boiling point [Also Produced By Bart Ruspoli]
Rob Watson, Power [Also Produced By Matthew James Wilkinson]
Best Debut Screenwriter
Cathy Brady, Forest fires (WINNER)
Prano Bailey-Bond, Censorship [Also Written By Anthony Fletcher]
Aleem Khan, After falling in love
Marley Morrison, Lover
Reggie Yates, pirate
Raindance Discovery Award
Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché, Paul Sng, Celeste Bell, Zoë Howe, Rebecca Mark-Lawson, Matthew Silverman, Daria Nitsche (WIN)
Bank, Job Daniel Edelstyn, Hilary Powell, Christopher Hird
Bicycle thief, Matt Chambers, Pk Fellowes, Sophia Gibber, Lene Bausager
I am Belmaya, Carpenter Sue, Christopher Hird
Rebel Dykes, Harri Shanahan, Siân A. Williams, Siobhan Fahey
Best British Short Film
Femme (WINNER)
Egun (Carnival)
Night Of The Living Dread
Play it safe
Precious hair & beauty
Best International Independent Film
Escape (WINNER)
Drawer No. 6
First cow
Small Maman
Please
The best casting
Carolyn Mcleod, Boiling point (WINNER)
Shaheen Baig, After falling in love
Shaheen Baig, Ali & Ava
Shaheen Baig, pirate
Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann, Belfast
Best Cinematography
Matthew Lewis, Boiling point (WINNER)
Matyas Erdely, The nest
Magdalena Kowalczyk, Cows
Annika Summerson, Censorship
Haris Zambarloukos, Belfast
The best costume design
Grace Snell, Souvenirs Part II (WINNER)
Michael O’Connor, The Electric Life of Louis Wain
Guy Speranza, Everyone talks about Jamie
Annie Symons, Adoration
Charlotte Walter, Belfast
The best music
Connie Farr, Harry Escott, Ali & Ava (WINNER)
Iain Cooke, pirate
Jed Kurzel, Meeting
Clint Mansell, Underground
Van Morrison, Belfast
The best effect
Steven Bray, Mike Knights, Camera journey (WINNER)
Gary Brown, Istvan Molnar, Dan Martin, Censorship
Rupert Davies, The Electric Life of Louis Wain
Best Editing
Helle Le Fevre, Souvenirs Part II (WINNER)
Rebecca Lloyd, Jacob Schulsinger, Nicolas Chaudeurge, Cows
Úna Ní Dhonghaile, Belfast
Mark the Town, Censorship
Ben Wheatley, Underground
Best makeup & hairdo
Vickie Lang, Kristyan Mallett, Donald Mcinnes, The Electric Life of Louis Wain (WINNER)
Siobhan Harper-Ryan, Souvenirs Part II
Ruth Pease, Censorship
Nadia Stacey, Everyone talks about Jamie
Wakana Yoshihara, Belfast
Best production design
Stephane Collonge, Souvenirs Part II (WINNER)
Jim Clay, Belfast
Suzie Davies, The Electric Life of Louis Wain
Aimee Meek, Boiling point
Paulina Rzeszowska, Censorship
The best sound
James Drake, Rob Entwistle, Kiff McManus Boiling point (WINNER)
Nicolas Becker, Cyril Holtz, Linda Forsen, Cows
Tim Harrison, Jamie Roden, Adele Fletcher, Censorship
Martin Pavey, Underground
Andrew Stirk, Paul Davies, Morgan Muse, Bernard O’reilly, Julian Howarth, Meeting
