British writer and director Aleem Khan’s directorial debut ‘After Love’ took home six awards at this year’s British Independent Film Awards. The film is about a widowed Muslim convert who uncovers the secret life led by her late husband.
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It landed six awards at Sunday night’s ceremony, including the top honor of best British independent film, best director, best debut director and best screenplay for Khan. The best actress awards also went to Joanna Scanlan for the film and Talid Ariss taking the best supporting actor award for the same.
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The event returned to an in-person event at their traditional home of Old Billingsgate in London. ‘People Just Do Nothing’ co-creator and star Asim Chaudhry hosted the ceremony. The pandemic saw BIFA livestream the 2020 awards in February this year.
Other winners were Adeel Akhtar who was named best actor for Clio Barnard’s story of forbidden love, ‘Ali & Ava’. Vinette Robinson won best supporting actress for Philip Barantini’s single-take restaurant drama, ‘Boiling Point’.
Boiling Point, which also won three other awards, went into the night with the joint highest number of nominations, tying with Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ with 11 nods each.
Riz Ahmed was presented with this year’s Richard Harris award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film.
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See the full list of winners, below:
Best British Independent Film
After Love – (WINNER)
Ali & Ava
Boiling Point
The Nest
The Souvenir Part II
Best Director
Aleem Khan, After Love – (WINNER)
Philip Barantini, Boiling Point
Clio Barnard, Ali & Ava
Sean Durkin, The Nest
Joanna Hogg, The Souvenir Part II
Best Actress
Joanna Scanlan, After Love (WINNER)
Caitríona Balfe, Belfast
Carrie Coon, The Nest
Claire Rushbrook, Ali & Ava
Ruth Wilson, True Things
Best Actor
Adeel Akhtar, Ali & Ava – (WINNER)
Riz Ahmed, Encounter
Stephen Graham, Boiling Point
Jude Law, The Nest
James Norton, Nowhere Special
Best Supporting Actress
Vinette Robinson, Boiling Point – WINNER
Judi Dench, Belfast
Jo Hartley, Sweetheart
Nathalie Richard, After Love
Tilda Swinton, The Souvenir Part II
Best Supporting Actor
Talid Ariss, After Love (WINNER)
Richard Ayoade, The Souvenir Part II
Lucian-River Chauhan, Encounter
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Ray Panthaki, Boiling Point