The Studiocanal feature, in which Scott portrays Ian Charleson, the “Chariots of Fire” star who was offered the career-peak role of Hamlet at London’s National Theatre just as he was succumbing to complications from AIDS, has landed 12 BIFA nominations. Among the nods for the feature, which opened the BFI London Film Festival, are best British independent film, director for Simon Stone, lead performance for Scott and supporting actor for Billie Piper. Announced Tuesday by previous BIFA winners Jay Lycurgo and Posy Sterling, the BIFA nominations also gave high praise to Cleo Barnard’s “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning,” which earned eight nominations, followed by Ashley Walters’ feature directorial debut “Animol,” with seven.
Welsh-language feature “Effi O Blaenau” and “Queen at Sea” both emerged with six nominations, including best British independent film. Elsewhere, there was love for new filmmakers and old, with feature directorial debuts “Extra Geography,” “Straight Circle” and “Florid” getting five nominations each and “Tender Loving Care,” the final film from indie cinema icon Mike Leigh, landing three (including best British independent film and director). This 2026 cohort of nominees is perhaps one of the most eclectic in years for the BIFAs, underlined by the gender neutral lead performance category, where Scott rubs shoulders with an icon in Juliette Binoche (“Queen at Sea”), an Emmy-winner in her first lead role in Erin Doherty (“Faith”), another actor marking their first lead in Jonathan Jules (“Florid”) and newcomer Tut Nyout (“Animol”).
The British Independent Film Awards winners will be announced in two parts, with the Craft winners unveiled on Nov. 24 on BIFA’s social channels and other categories revealed at the BIFA ceremony on Dec. 6 at London’s Roundhouse.
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