Pillion was the big winner at this year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs). The film, a charged coming-of-age romance set against a biker backdrop, was one of six winning productions that contributed to the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund.
The BIFAs are an annual showcase and celebration of the nation’s independent cinema, awarding the best of the UKs cinematic output from the past 12 months. At a ceremony held at London’s Roundhouse, films were recognised across 26 categories.
Director Harry Lighton’s Pillion ended the night with four BIFAs, the most of any film, picking up the night’s biggest award for Best British Independent Film, alongside winning the Best Costume Design, Best Debut Screenwriter and Best Makeup and Hair Design categories.
There were three wins for fellow Fund contributor A Want in Her. Myrid Carton’s personal documentary about illness and addiction won the Best Debut Director - Feature Documentary, Best Feature Documentary and The Raindance Maverick Award.
My Father's Shadow’s Akinola Davies Jr scooped the award for Best Director, Posy Sterling was awarded Best Breakthrough Performance for her turn in Lollipop, while Ish and Harvest picked up the Best Breakthrough Producer and Best Production Design awards respectively.
In addition to their contributions to the Fund, winning productions provided placements to 17 candidates from the Trainee Finder programme, the Fund’s flagship new initiative.
We congratulate each of the wining and nominated productions and thank them for their contributions that enable the Fund to invest in the continued development of the UKs workforce.