Lady Macbeth and God’s Own Country rule over 2017 BIFAs
Staff Reporter | On 11, Dec 2017
Lady Macbeth and God’s Own Country ruled over the 2017 British Independent Film Awards last night, taking home multiple awards each.
William Oldroyd’s period drama led nominations going into the evening, with 15 nods in total – and the movie converted a large number of them, bagging Best Screenplay for Alice Birch, Most Promising Newcomer for Naomie Ackie and Best Actress for Florence Pugh. The film is currently available on Amazon Prime Video, reemphasising the important role streaming can play in supporting independent film.
Indeed, another multiple winner was I Am Not a Witch, which took home three awards: Breakthrough Producer for Emily Morgan, Best Debut Director and Best Director for Rungano Nyoni. The movie was distributed day-and-date in UK cinemas and online by Curzon Artificial Eye, and can currently be streamed on Curzon Home Cinema.
Armando Iannucci’s Death of Stalin also picked up four awards, which were handed out by Mark Gatiss at a ceremony in London. God’s Own Country, though, was an even bigger star of the night, winning Best British Independent Film, Best Actor for Josh O’Connor and Best Debut Screenwriter for Francis Lee.
Gary Oldman also received The Variety Award at the ceremony, which recognises a director, actor, writer or producer who has made a global impact and helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK.
Here’s the full list of winners:
Best British Independent Film
God’s Own Country
The Death of Stalin
I Am Not a Witch
Lady Macbeth
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Screenplay
Lady Macbeth
The Death of Stalin
God’s Own Country
I Am Not a Witch
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director
Rungano Nyoni – I Am Not a Witch
Armando Iannucci – The Death of Stalin
Francis Lee – God’s Own Country
William Oldroyd – Lady Macbeth
Martin McDonagh – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best British Short
Fish Story
1745
The Entertainer
Work
Wren Boys
Best Actor
Josh O’Connor – God’s Own Country
Jamie Bell – Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Alec Secareanu – God’s Own Country
Johnny Harris – Jawbone
Paddy Considine – Journeyman
Best Actress
Florence Pugh – Lady Macbeth
Emily Beecham – Daphne
Ruth Wilson – Dark River
Margaret Mulubwa – I Am Not a Witch
Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Supporting Actor
Simon Russell Beale – The Death of Stalin
Steve Buscemi – The Death of Stalin
Ian Hart – God’s Own Country
Woody Harrelson – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Sam Rockwell – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Clarkson – The Party
Andrea Riseborough – The Death of Stalin
Julie Walters – Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Kelly Macdonald – Goodbye Christopher Robin
Naomi Ackie – Lady Macbeth
Most Promising Newcomer
Naomi Ackie – Lady Macbeth
Harry Michell – Chubby Funny
Harry Gilby – Just Charlie
Cosmo Jarvis – Lady Macbeth
Lily Newmark – Pin Cushion
The Discovery Award
In Another Life
Even When I Fall
Halfway
Isolani
My Pure Land
The Douglas Hickox Award (Debut Director)
Rungano Nyoni – I Am Not a Witch
Francis Lee – God’s Own Country
Thomas Napper – Jawbone
William Oldroyd – Lady Macbeth
Deborah Haywood – Pin Cushion
Debut Screenwriter
Francis Lee – God’s Own Country
Rungano Nyoni – I Am Not a Witch
Johnny Harris – Jawbone
Alice Birch – Lady Macbeth
Gaby Chiappe – Their Finest
Best Documentary
Almost Heaven
Half Way
Kingdom of Us
Uncle Howard
Williams
Breakthrough Producer
Emily Morgan – I Am Not a Witch
Brendan Mullin & Katy Jackson – Bad Day for the Cut
Jack Tarling & Manon Ardisson- God’s Own Country
Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly – Lady Macbeth
Gavin Humphries – Pin Cushion
Best International Independent Film
Get Out
The Florida Project
I Am Not Your Negro
Loveless
The Square
Best Casting
Sarah Crowe – The Death of Stalin
Debbie McWilliams – Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Shaheen Baig & Layla Merrick-Wolf – God’s Own Country
Shaheen Baig – Lady Macbeth
Sarah Halley Finn – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Cinematography
Lady Macbeth – Thomas Riedelsheimer
David Gallego – I Am Not a Witch
Tat Radcliffe – Jawbone
Ari Wegner – Leaning Into the Wind
Ben Davis – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Costume Design
Holly Waddington – Lady Macbeth
Suzie Harman – The Death of Stalin
Sandy Powell – How To Talk To Girls at Parties
Holly Rebecca – I Am Not a Witch
Dinah Collin – My Cousin Rachel
Best Editing
Jon Gregory – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Peter Lambert – The Death of Stalin
David Charap – Jawbone
Joe Martin – Us and Them
Johnny Burke – Williams
Best Make-Up & Hair Design
Nicole Stafford – The Death of Stalin
Jan Sewell & Mark Coulier – Breathe
Julene Paton – I Am Not a Witch
Nadia Stacey – Journeyman
Sian Wilson – Lady Macbeth
Best Music
Carter Burwell – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Christopher Willis – The Death of Stalin
Matthew James Kelly – I Am Not a Witch
Paul Weller – Jawbone
Fred Frith – Leaning Into the Wind
Best Production Design
Cristina Casali – The Death of Stalin
Eve Stewart – Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
James Merifield – Final Portrait
Nathan Parker – I Am Not a Witch
Jacqueline Abrahams – Lady Macbeth
Best Sound
Anna Bertmark – God’s Own Country
Becki Ponting & Ian Wilson – Breathe
Maiken Hansen – I Am Not a Witch
Andy Shelley & Steve Griffiths – Jawbone
Joakim Sundström – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Effects
Nick Allder & Ben White – The Ritual
Ronald Grauer & Bernard Newton – The Death of Stalin
Dan Martin – Double Date
Luke Dodd – Journeyman
Chris Reynolds – Their Finest