For Sama becomes the first documentary to be honoured with the Best British Independent Film prize at the 2019 BIFA awards on Sunday night in London. The film depicts a woman’s journey with her husband and baby during the recent conflicts in Syria, and also scooped awards for Best Director (Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts), Best Documentary and Best Editing.
Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield also did rather well, perhaps as expected, with Hugh Laurie’s the Best Supporting Actor win and that of Best Screenplay (for Iannucci and Simon Blackwell) adding to the Best Casting, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design awards announced prior.
In the acting categories, it was Josh O’Connor (Only You) and Renée Zellweger (Judy) that picked up wins for Best Actor and Best Actress respectively. Only You director, Harry Wootliff, was also the recipient of Best Debut Director, while Judy had already claimed the Best Make Up & Hair Design prize. The Last Tree earned Sam Adewunmi the Most Promising Newcomer award, as well as Ruthxjiah Bellenea winning in the Best Supporting Actress category.
Check out the full winners below:
Best British Independent Film
For Sama
Best Director
Waad Al-Khateab, Edward Watts – For Sama
Best Actor
Josh O’Connor – Only You
Best Actress
Renée Zellweger – Judy
Best Supporting Actor
Hugh Laurie – The Personal History of David Copperfield
Best Supporting Actress
Ruthxjiah Bellenea – The Last Tree
Best Screenplay
Simon Blackwell, Armando Ianucci – The Personal History of David Copperfield
Most Promising Newcomer
Sam Adewunmi – The Last Tree
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)
Harry Wootliff – Only You
Best Debut Screenwriter
Emma Jane Unsworth – Animals
Breakthrough Producer
Kate Byers, Linn Waite – Bait
The Discovery Award
Children of the Snow Land – Zara Balfour, Marcus Stephenson, Mark Hakansson
Best Documentary
For Sama
Best British Short Film
Anna
Best International Independent Film
Parasite
Best Casting
Sarah Crowe – The Personal History of David Copperfield
Best Cinematography
Benjamin Kracun – Beats
Best Costume Design
Suzie Harman, Robert Worley – The Personal History of David Copperfield
Best Editing
Chloe Lambourne, Simon McMahon – For Sama
Best Effects
Howard Jones – A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Best Make Up & Hair Design
Jeremy Woodhead – Judy
Best Music
Jack Arnold – Wild Rose
Best Production Design
Cristina Casali – The Personal History of David Copperfield
Best Sound
David Bowtle-Mcmillan, Joakim Sundström, Robert Farr – Beats
The Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film
Kristin Scott Thomas
Special Jury Prize
Amanda Nebill
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