Greasy Strangler takes BIFA gong

Jim Hosking’s The Greasy Strangler, produced by Ant Timpson, has taken out the Raindance-sponsored Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), which ran this morning (NZ time).

While much of NZ was watching John Key start the valedictory lap that will see him finish for Christmas ahead of most of the rest of us, eyes in London were on the BIFAs, which have become a very credible bash in the last few years, and helped the BAFTAs to be the more populist event they’ve long aspired to be,

The only other direct NZ interest a the awards was a nomination in the Best International Independent Film category for Hunt for the Wilderpeople. At the event, Wilderpeople wasn’t able to parlay its anointing as Empire’s Best Film of the Year into a UK gong, with Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight taking the honours.

Andrea Arnold’s American Honey took four awards, including Best British Independent Film. Babak Anvari’s Under the Shadow took three.

The winners at the British Independent Film Awards 2016 were:

Best British Independent Film
American Honey

Best Director
Andrea Arnold, American Honey

Best Screenplay
Under the Shadow

Best Actor
Dave Johns, I, Daniel Blake
Nominees

Best Actress
Sasha Lane, American Honey

Best Supporting Actor
Brett Goldstein, Adult Life Skills

Best Supporting Actress
Avin Manshadi, Under the Shadow

Most Promising Newcomer
Hayley Squires, I, Daniel Blake

The Douglas Hickox Award (Debut Director)
Babak Anvari, Under the Shadow

Outstanding Achievement in Craft
Robbie Ryan, American Honey