2020 British Independent Film Awards – Full Nominee List

The nominees for the 2020 British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) were announced live via a Facebook video on Wednesday 9 December 2020. This year’s list highlights a strong showing from new voices and bold independent projects, with Saint Maud, His House and Rocks dominating the nominations across major categories.

Rose Glass’ Saint Maud leads the field with 17 nominations, closely followed by Remi Weekes’ His House with 16 and Sarah Gavron’s Rocks with 15. Other notable films earning multiple nominations include Calm with Horses with 10 nods and Mogul Mowgli with 7. In total, 27 different films feature across the 2020 slate, demonstrating a broad and diverse year for UK independent cinema.

Debut directors made a significant impact: Nick Rowland (Calm with Horses) and Rose Glass (Saint Maud) together account for a substantial share of this year’s recognition, with each film receiving multiple nominations across categories. The Best International Independent Film category is particularly strong in 2020, featuring titles such as the French Les Misérables, the socially vital Never Rarely Sometimes Always, the celebrated Australian drama Babyteeth, and Nomadland starring Frances McDormand.

The winners of the 2020 BIFAs were scheduled to be announced in February 2021. Below is the complete list of nominees, presented by category.

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Calm with Horses
The Father
His House
Rocks
Saint Maud

BEST DIRECTOR
Sarah Gavron – Rocks
Rose Glass – Saint Maud
Nick Rowland – Calm with Horses
Remi Weekes – His House
Florian Zeller – The Father

BEST SCREENPLAY
Rose Glass – Saint Maud
Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson – Rocks
Bassam Tariq, Riz Ahmed – Mogul Mowgli
Remi Weekes – His House
Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton – The Father

BEST ACTRESS
Bukky Bakray – Rocks
Morfydd Clark – Saint Maud
Clare Dunne – Herself
Wunmi Mosaku – His House
Andrea Riseborough – Luxor

BEST ACTOR
Riz Ahmed – Mogul Mowgli
Sope Dirisu – His House
Amir El-Masry – Limbo
Anthony Hopkins – The Father
Cosmo Jarvis – Calm with Horses

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Niamh Algar – Calm with Horses
Kosar Ali – Rocks
Jennifer Ehle – Saint Maud
Ashley Madekwe – County Lines
Fiona Shaw – Kindred

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Harris Dickinson – County Lines
Barry Keoghan – Calm with Horses
Alyy Khan – Mogul Mowgli
Merab Ninidze – The Courier
D’Angelou Osei Kissiedu – Rocks

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD (DEBUT DIRECTOR)
Henry Blake – County Lines
Rose Glass – Saint Maud
Eva Riley – Perfect 10
Nick Rowland – Calm with Horses
Remi Weekes – His House

BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCER
Douglas Cox – Host
Daniel Emmerson – Calm with Horses
Irune Gurtubai – Limbo
Oliver Kassman – Saint Maud
Edward King, Martin Gentles – His House

DEBUT SCREENWRITER
Riz Ahmed – Mogul Mowgli
Rose Glass – Saint Maud
Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson – Rocks
Joe Murtagh – Calm with Horses
Remi Weekes – His House

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Niamh Algar – Calm with Horses
Kosar Ali – Rocks
Bukky Bakray – Rocks
Frankie Box – Perfect 10
Conrad Khan – County Lines

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Australian Dream
Being a Human Person
The Reason I Jump
Rising Phoenix
White Riot

THE RAINDANCE DISCOVERY AWARD
Justine
Looted
One Man and His Shoes
Perfect 10
Rose: A Love Story

BEST BRITISH SHORT FILM (SUPPORTED BY BFI NETWORK)
Filipiñana
The Forgotten C
The Long Goodbye
Mandem
Sudden Light

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
Babyteeth
Les Misérables
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Nomadland
Notturno

BEST CASTING
Shaheen Baig – Calm with Horses
Kharmel Cochrane – Saint Maud
Carmen Cuba – His House
Dan Jackson – Limbo
Lucy Pardee – Rocks

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Nick Cooke – Limbo
Ben Fordesman – Saint Maud
Hélène Louvart – Rocks
Annika Summerson – Mogul Mowgli
Jo Willems – His House

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Michele Clapton – The Secret Garden
Ruka Johnson – Rocks
Tina Kalivas – Saint Maud
Michael O’Connor – Ammonite
Charlotte Walter – Misbehaviour

BEST EDITING
Julia Bloch – His House
Yorgos Lamprinos – The Father
Maya Maffioli – Rocks
Brenna Rangott – Host
Mark Towns – Saint Maud

BEST EFFECTS
Undergods
Saint Maud
His House

BEST MAKE-UP AND HAIR DESIGN
Jaquetta Levon – Saint Maud
Sharon a Martin – His House
Ivana Primorac – Ammonite
Nora Robertson – Rocks
Jill Sweeney – Misbehaviour

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Jaqueline Abrahams – His House
Cristina Casali – Misbehaviour
Peter Francis – The Father
Marketa Korinkova, Elo Soode – Undergods
Paulina Rzeszowska – Saint Maud

BEST MUSIC
Roque Baños – His House
Paul Corley – Mogul Mowgli
Nainita Desai – The Reason I Jump
Connie Farr, Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch – Rocks
Adam Janota Bzowski – Saint Maud

BEST SOUND
His House
Saint Maud
Mogul Mowgli
The Reason I Jump
Host

The 2020 BIFA nominations reflect a year in which independent British film continued to amplify new perspectives and emerging talent. From debut directors and breakthrough performers to accomplished international features, the list recognises a wide variety of voices and filmmaking styles. The full list above captures the nominees across all categories as announced in December 2020.

Further suggested viewing (titles only):
Saint Maud; Calm with Horses; Mogul Mowgli; Herself; Limbo; Host; Rose: A Love Story; Babyteeth; Never Rarely Sometimes Always; Misbehaviour.