Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott-starring drama All Of Us Strangers has taken seven awards at this year’s British Independent Film Awards. The film, which is yet to be released in the UK, won Best British Independent Film, Best Director for Andrew Haigh, and Best Screenplay. There were two winners announced for Best Supporting Performance from a field of ten nominees and Paul Mescal took one of those trophies for his role in the film.
All of Us Strangers won four awards on the night, adding to its three craft awards, announced in November: Best Cinematography sponsored by Harbor and Kodak for Jamie D. Ramsay, Best Editing for Jonathan Alberts and Best Music Supervision for Connie Farr, her second BIFA, following her win for Clio Barnard’s Ali & Ava in 2021.
Elsewhere, Best Lead Performance went to Mia McKenna-Bruce in Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex, which follows three teenage girls navigating a wild summer holiday in Malia. Shaun Thomas won Best Supporting Performance for his role as Badger. The film won three BIFAs in total, including the previously announced win for Best Casting sponsored by Casting Society & Spotlight for Isabella Odoffin.
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay were presented with the Best Joint Lead Performance award for Femme, one of the best films of the year which was released into British cinemas on Friday. The film also won Best Costume Design for Buki Ebiesuwa and Best Make-Up & Hair Design for Marie Deehan.
Best Debut Director sponsored by BBC Film went to Savanah Leaf for Earth Mama, while Best Debut Screenwriter went to Nida Manzoor for Polite Society.
Theo Barrowclough won Breakthrough Producer for Scrapper, while Rye Lane star Vivian Oparah scored the 2023 Breakthrough Performance award for her role in the film.
Best Documentary Feature went to If the Streets Were on Fire, while Best Debut Director – Documentary Feature went to Chloe Abrahams for her very personal unearthing of a hidden family history in The Taste of Mango.
Aisling Bea presented Best British Short Film to Festival of Slaps.
Justine Triet’s critically acclaimed, Palme d’Or winning Anatomy of a Fall won the 2023 BIFA for Best International Independent Film sponsored by Champagne Taittinger.
