top of page
  • Writer's pictureMartyn Wakefield

BIFA New Talent Longlists Announced including Ruth Paxton & A BANQUET star Jessica Alexander (NEWS)

28 fiction and 14 documentary features have been longlisted in the British Independent Film Awards’ (BIFA) prestigious New Talent categories, including in a brand-new category for BIFA’s 25th year, Best Debut Director – Feature Documentary. 11 first-time fiction feature directors, 16 first-time documentary feature directors, 14 first-time writers, 20 breakthrough producers and 15 new performers have been recognised by BIFA voters for their outstanding achievements.

BIFA’s Springboard scheme will once again provide a tailored programme of continuing professional development, peer-to-peer support, mentoring, networking and skills development aimed to nurture emerging talent as they build on the success of their first features. Applications opened in September, with seven of this year's longlisted filmmakers joining the cohort of 30 filmmakers on the Film4 supported programme.


The final five nominations in each category will be announced Friday 4 November. Winners will be revealed at the 25th BIFA ceremony on Sunday 4 December.

For details of how to watch the longlisted films, visit watch.bifa.film

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) sponsored by BBC Film

RUTH PAXTON A Banquet

CHARLOTTE WELLS Aftersun

GEORGIA OAKLEY Blue Jean

JIM ARCHER Brian and Charles

FRANCES O’CONNOR Emily

LEE HAVEN JONES The Feast

STACEY GREGG Here Before

FRIDTJOF RYDER Inland

THOMAS HARDIMAN Medusa Deluxe

MIKEY MURRAY Mind-Set

ANDREW CUMMING The Origin


Best Debut Screenwriter sponsored by Film4

CHARLOTTE WELLS Aftersun

GEORGIA OAKLEY Blue Jean

DAVID EARL, CHRIS HAYWARD Brian and Charles

CLAIRE PEATE The Colour Room

FRANCES O’CONNOR Emily

ROGER WILLIAMS The Feast

WILLIAM STONE The Fence

SHANE CROWLEY God’s Creatures

STACEY GREGG Here Before

FRIDTJOF RYDER Inland

THOMAS HARDIMAN Medusa Deluxe

RUTH GREENBERG The Origin

MAYSOON PACHACHI Our River…Our Sky

Best Debut Director - Feature Documentary

JOSEPH CURRAN, DOMINIC AUBREY DE VERE A Story of Bones

JAY BEDWANI Donna

MARIE LIDÉN Electric Malady

MATTHEW DYAS Explorer

SARAH BEDDINGTON Fadia’s Tree

BECKY HUTNER Fashion Reimagined

LEAH GORDON, EDDIE HUTTON MILLS Kanaval

JONO MCLEOD My Old School

VICTORIA FIORE Nascondino (Hide And Seek)

KATHRYN FERGUSON Nothing Compares

PETER DAY Off the Rails

ELENA SÁNCHEZ BELLOT, MAIA KENWORTHY Rebellion

MATTHEW BAUER The Other Fellow


Breakthrough Performance sponsored by Netflix

JESSICA ALEXANDER A Banquet

RORY ALEXANDER Inland

PERCELLE ASCOTT I Came By

KÍLA LORD CASSIDY The Wonder

FRANKIE CORIO Aftersun

PHOEBE DYNEVOR The Colour Room

BALLY GILL Allelujah

LUCY HALLIDAY Blue Jean

LUCA HOGAN A Bit of Light

ALEXANDER LINCOLN In from the Side

LEO LONG I Used to Be Famous

ROSY MCEWEN Blue Jean

SAFIA OAKLEY-GREEN The Origin

DAVID PERKINS The Fence

DANIEL WATSON Give Them Wings

Breakthrough Producer sponsored by Pinewood & Shepperton Studios

ALEKSANDRA BILIĆ 8 Bar - The Evolution of Grime (also produced by Jamie Clark, David Upshal)

LEONORA DARBY A Banquet (also produced by Nik Bower, James Harris, Mark Lane, Laure Vaysse)

HÉLÈNE SIFRE Blue Jean

RUPERT MAJENDIE Brian and Charles

BECKY HUTNER, LINDSAY LOWE Fashion Reimagined (also produced by Andrea van Beuren)

ROGER WILLIAMS The Feast

SERENA ARMITAGE Flux Gourmet (also produced by Pietro Greppi)

ELIZABETH EVES The Forgiven (also produced by John Michael McDonagh, Nick Gordon, Trevor Matthews)

COLLIE MCCARTHY I Used to Be Famous

HENRY RICHMOND, LOUIS PAINE, FRIDTJOF RYDER Inland

ALEKSANDRA BILIĆ, JENNIFER CORCORAN Nascondino (Hide and Seek)

PAUL KENNEDY Nightride (also produced by Jon Silk)

TOM MILLER, KATE GLOVER The Phantom of the Open (also produced by Nichola Martin)

BEN PULLEN The Score (also produced by Matthew James Wilkinson)

NADIRA MURRAY Winners (also produced by Paul Welsh)


14 views0 comments
Post: Blog2 Post
bottom of page