by Nathaniel R
Best Supporting Actor Alessandro Nivola
The 21st annual British Independent Film Awards were held today in London with sexy Russell Tovey hosting and The Favourite winning *GULP* 10 awards (that has to be a record at BIFA, doesn't it?). But the most wonderful surprise news around these parts is the Best Handsome win -- excuse us, Best Supporting Actor win for Alessandro Nivola. We were certain that he'd make it through the whole season with no hardware for his (typically) excellent work in Disobedience but BIFA happily proved us wrong. Nivola is of course something of an honorary Brit since he's married to a very fine British actress (Emily Mortimer) and has often worked in British cinema.
The BIFA winners and a few more notes after the jump...
[links go to our reviews]
British Independent Film The Favourite
Best Screenplay Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite
Best Director Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Best Actor Joe Cole, A Prayer Before Dawn
Best Actress Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Best Supporting Actor Alessandro Nivola, Disobedience
Best Supporting Actress Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
Most Promising Newcomer Jessie Buckley, Beast
Following in Rachel Weisz's hilarious footsteps at the Gotham Awards, Olivia Colman gave Rachel Weisz's acceptance speech for her with a handy cutout head on a stick. This is one of the only times ever that star absences at awards shows have proven possibly more entertaining than actual attendance. The Favourite proxy speeches are already the best thing about this particular awards season though we do hope the cast is eventually seen together at either the Globes, SAG, or Oscars. C'mon personal assistants, get those schedules in order!
A Prayer Before Dawn is the only movie that didn't make it across the ocean among the big acting winners. Now I'm regretting having missed Beast which didn't quite crossover at US arthouses but did solid business with an $800,000 gross.
Ella Smith and Justin Salinger as the parents in Ray & Liz
Discovery Award Voyageuse, May Miles Thomas
Best Debut Director Richard Billingham, Ray & Liz
Best Debut Screenwriter Bart Layton, American Animals
Best Documentary Evelyn
Breakthrough Producer Jacqui Davies, Ray & Liz
Best British Short The Big Day
Best International Film Roma
BIFA voters definitely liked Ray & Liz (which I've heard good things about) and the crime drama American Animals. And here we have yet another prize for Roma
Best Casting Dixie Chassay, The Favourite
Best Cinematography Robbie Ryan, The Favourite
Best Costume Design Sandy Powell, The Favourite
Best Editing Nick Fenton, Julian Hart, and Chris Gill, American Animals
Best Makeup and Hair Design Nadia Stacey, The Favourite
Best Music Jonny Greenwood, You Were Never Really Here
Best Production Design Fiona Crombie The Favourite
Best Sound Paul Davies, You Were Never Really Here
Best Effects Howard Jones, Early Man
The Favourite nearly swept the craft awards winning everything it was nominated for except Editing and Sound. The only craft categories it wasn't nominated for were Music and Effects.
The Richard Harris Award (Basically Lifetime Achievement) Dame Judi Dench
The Variety Award (Basically a Tribute) Felicity Jones
The Special Jury Prize Horace Ové
ALL IN ALL a nice little boost for The Favourite today after being shut out at the NBR and NYFCC awards and unexpectedly losing the top prize at The Gothams earlier in the week.