The BIFA 2025 winners have been announced, with ‘Pillion’ winning four awards including Best British Independent Film.
The Awards took place on 30 November at the Roundhouse in Camden, London, and were hosted by comedians Lou Sanders and Harriet Kemsley.
Pillion emerged as one of the major winners of the night, securing four wins, including the coveted prize for Best British Independent Film. Director Harry Lighton’s debut feature – a critically acclaimed BDSM rom-com starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård – also earned him the award for Best Debut Screenwriter.
The Ballad of Wallis Island also received its share of success. Co-stars and screenwriters Tom Basden and Tim Key took home the Best Screenplay award for their sharp script. They also shared the prize for Best Joint Lead Performance for their pitch-perfect chemistry opposite Carey Mulligan.
Spotlight co-sponsored the Best Casting category, alongside the Casting Society, and we’re delighted to congratulate Spotlight member Lauren Evans who won for I Swear.
Congratulations also goes to Robert Aramayo, who won Best Lead Performance for his role in I Swear – a biographical drama chronicling John Davidson’s struggles with Tourette Syndrome (TS). And also to Jay Lycurgo, who won Best Supporting Performance for their role in Tim Mielants’ Steve, and to Posy Sterling for her Breakthrough Performance as ‘Molly Brown’ in Lollipop
Emily Watson was presented with the honorary Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film. “When most of the stories that are being told to us, about us or by us are driven by a rapacious, hungry algorithm, the awkward truth is that the stories [independent filmmakers] tell are our life support,” Watson said, when accepting her award. “What you do can really help change things.”
Here are the BIFA 2024 Winners:
*indicates where a winner is a Spotlight member
Best British Independent Film — Pillion
Best Screenplay — Tim Key* / Tom Basden* for The Ballad of Wallis Island
Best Director — Akinola Davies Jr for My Father’s Shadow
Best Lead Performance — Robert Aramayo* for Hard Truths
Best Ensemble Performance — D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai / Will Poulter* / Cosmo Jarvis* / Kit Connor* / Finn Bennett* / Joseph Quinn* / Charles Melton for Warfare
Best Joint Lead Performance — Tim Key* / Tom Basden* for The Ballad of Wallis Island
Best Supporting Performance — Jay Lycurgo* for Steve
Breakthrough Performance — Posy Sterling* for Lollipop
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) — Cal McMau for Wasteman
Best Debut Screenwriter — Harry Lighton for Pillion
Best Debut Director – Feature Documentary — Myriad Carten for A Want in Her
Breakthrough Producer — Dhiraj Mahey for Ish
Best Feature Documentary — Myrid Carten, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Rosín Geraghty, Kat Mansoor for A Want in Her
The Raindance Maverick Award — Myriad Carten — The Want in Her
Best International Independent Film — Sentimental Value
Best British Short Film — Magid / Zafar
Best Casting – Lauren Evans for I Swear
Congratulations to all the winners!
Visit the BIFA website to see the full winners list.
Take a look at our website for more awards news and industry advice.
