The 24th British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) were held live in London on Sunday 5 December 2021. The ceremony, hosted by comedian Asim Chaudhry, celebrated excellence in British independent cinema with 24 awards presented across acting, directing, writing, and technical categories. The event was broadcast live online and highlighted a strong year for character-driven storytelling and innovative filmmaking from the UK.
Several films stood out during the evening. Clio Barnard’s Bradford-set drama Ali & Ava and the coming-of-age feature Sweetheart were among the notable winners, but Aleem Khan’s intimate drama After Love emerged as the evening’s most successful film. After Love, which follows a widow who uncovers a hidden chapter of her late husband’s life, earned six awards in total, including Best Independent British Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress.
Accepting the prestigious Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution to British independent cinema was Riz Ahmed, recognized for his continued impact at the intersection of artistry and representation. Presenter Yann Demange praised Ahmed for carving out space for himself and inspiring a new generation of performers. In his acceptance, Ahmed reflected on the role of performance and mentorship in his career with characteristic warmth and wit.
Winners and shortlisted nominees at the 2021 British Independent Film Awards:
Best British Independent Film – AFTER LOVE
Ali & Ava
Boiling Point
The Nest
The Souvenir: Part II
Best Director – ALEEM KHAN (AFTER LOVE)
Philip Barantini (Boiling Point)
Clio Barnard (Ali & Ava)
Sean Durkin (The Nest)
Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir: Part II)
Best Actress – JOANNA SCANLAN (AFTER LOVE)
Caitríona Balfe (Belfast)
Carrie Coon (The Nest)
Claire Rushbrook (Ali & Ava)
Ruth Wilson (True Things)
Best Actor – ADEEL AKHTAR (ALI & AVA)
Riz Ahmed (Encounter)
Stephen Graham (Boiling Point)
Jude Law (The Nest)
James Norton (Nowhere Special)
Best Supporting Actress – VINETTE ROBINSON (BOILING POINT)
Judi Dench (Belfast)
Jo Hartley (Sweetheart)
Nathalie Richard (After Love)
Tilda Swinton (The Souvenir: Part II)
Best Supporting Actor – TALID ARISS (AFTER LOVE)
Richard Ayoade (The Souvenir: Part II)
Lucian-River Chauhan (Encounter)
Ciarán Hinds (Belfast)
Ray Panthaki (Boiling Point)
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) – ALEEM KHAN (AFTER LOVE)
Prano Bailey-Bond (Censor)
Celeste Bell (Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché)
Cathy Brady (Wildfire)
Marley Morrison (Sweetheart)
Best Screenplay – ALEEM KHAN (AFTER LOVE)
Clio Barnard (Ali & Ava)
Terence Davies (Benediction)
Sean Durkin (The Nest)
Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir: Part II)
Breakthrough Producer – MICHELLE ANTONIADES (SWEETHEART)
Helen Jones (Censor)
Jessica Malik (She Will)
Hester Ruoff (Boiling Point)
Rob Watson (The Power)
Best Debut Screenwriter – CATHY BRADY (WILDFIRE)
Prano Bailey-Bond (Censor)
Aleem Khan (After Love)
Marley Morrison (Sweetheart)
Reggie Yates (Pirates)
The Raindance Discovery Award – POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ (Paul Sng, Celeste Bell, Zoe Howe, Rebecca Mark-Lawson, Matthew Silverman, Daria Nitsche)
Bank (Job Daniel Edelstyn, Hilary Powell, Christopher Hird)
The Bike Thief (Matt Chambers, Pk Fellowes, Sophia Gibber, Lene Bausager)
I Am Belmaya (Sue Carpenter, Christopher Hird)
Rebel Dykes (Harri Shanahan, Siân A. Williams, Siobhan Fahey)
Best British Short Film – FEMME
Egúngún (Masquerade)
Night of the Living Dread
Play It Safe
Precious Hair & Beauty
Best International Independent Film – FLEE
Compartment No. 6
First Cow
Petite Maman
Pleasure
Best Casting – CAROLYN MCLEOD (BOILING POINT)
Shaheen Baig (After Love)
Shaheen Baig (Ali & Ava)
Shaheen Baig (Pirates)
Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann (Belfast)
Best Cinematography – MATTHEW LEWIS (BOILING POINT)
Mátyás Erdély (The Nest)
Magdalena Kowalczyk (Cow)
Annika Summerson (Censor)
Haris Zambarloukos (Belfast)
Best Costume Design – GRACE SNELL (THE SOUVENIR: PART II)
Michael O’Connor (The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain)
Guy Speranza (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie)
Annie Symons (Benediction)
Charlotte Walter (Belfast)
Best Music – CONNIE FARR, HARRY ESCOTT (ALI & AVA)
Iain Cooke (Pirates)
Jed Kurzel (Encounter)
Clint Mansell (In the Earth)
Van Morrison (Belfast)
Best Effects – STEVEN BRAY, MIKE KNIGHTS, DAN MARTIN, LEIGH CRANSTON (DASHCAM)
Gary Brown, István Molnár, Dan Martin (Censor)
Rupert Davies (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain)
Best Editing – HELLE LE FEVRE (THE SOUVENIR: PART II)
Rebecca Lloyd, Jacob Schulsinger, Nicolas Chaudeurge (Cow)
Úna Ní Dhonghaíle (Belfast)
Mark Towns (Censor)
Ben Wheatley (In the Earth)
Best Make-Up & Hair – VICKIE LANG, KRISTYAN MALLETT, DONALD MCINNES (THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN)
Siobhan Harper-Ryan (The Souvenir: Part II)
Ruth Pease (Censor)
Nadia Stacey (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie)
Wakana Yoshihara (Belfast)
Best Production Design – STEPHANE COLLONGE (THE SOUVENIR: PART II)
Jim Clay (Belfast)
Suzie Davies (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain)
Aimee Meek (Boiling Point)
Paulina Rzeszowska (Censor)
Best Sound – JAMES DRAKE, ROB ENTWISTLE, KIFF MCMANUS (BOILING POINT)
Nicolas Becker, Cyril Holtz, Linda Forsen (Cow)
Tim Harrison, Jamie Roden, Adele Fletcher (Censor)
Martin Pavey (In the Earth)
Andrew Stirk, Paul Davies, Morgan Muse, Bernard O’Reilly, Julian Howarth (Encounter)
RICHARD HARRIS AWARD – RIZ AHMED
The 2021 BIFAs underscored the strength of British independent film across genres and formats — from intimate character studies and innovative debut features to technically ambitious productions. The awards showcased a diverse slate of filmmakers, actors, and creative teams whose work continues to define and expand the landscape of UK independent cinema.