| Date | |
|---|---|
| Author | Mia Blakeney |
The 2025 British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) Ceremony took place on Sunday 30 November at The Roundhouse in London.
The big winner of the night was Harry Lighton’s Pillion, which won four prizes including Best British Independent Film. Harry Lighton also received the award for Best Debut Screenwriter for this film.
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value won the prize for Best International Independent Film.
Akinola Davies Jr took the award for Best Director, for his debut feature My Father’s Shadow. The film tells the story of two brothers who first come to understand their father at a pivotal moment in both his life and Nigerian history.
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director), was presented to Cal McMau for his film Wasteman, which follows two cellmates in a British prison.
Best Screenplay was awarded to Tom Basden and Tim Key, for The Ballad Of Wallis Island. The two also won the award for Best Joint Lead Performance, for their roles as Charles Heath and Herb McGwyer.
Best Lead Performance went to Robert Aramayo, for his role as John Davidson, a young man diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome in I Swear. The award for Best Supporting Performance went to Jay Lycurgo, who played the part of Shy in Steve, and Best Breakthrough Performance to Posy Sterling, for her portrayal of Molly Brown in Lollipop.
A Want In Her received the award for Best Feature Documentary and The Raindance Maverick Award. The film’s director Myrid Carten, received the award for Best Debut Director – Feature Documentary.
The award for Breakthrough Producer was presented to Dhiraj Mahey, for Ish, and Magid / Zafar was awarded Best British Short Film.
New for 2025 was the award for Cinema of the Year. This brand new award, supported by KIA, proud partners of independent cinema, aims to champion independent cinemas who go above and beyond to support their community, and bring the magic of cinema to all. Over 130 cinemas were entered, and over 130,000 public votes were cast to decide the winner: The Magic Lantern Cinema in Tywyn, Wales.
DCM are a proud supporter of BIFA and British independent film, filmmakers and cinemas.
Find out more and read the full list of winners on the BIFA website.