Andrew Haigh’s film, “All of Us Strangers,” features Andrew Scott as a screenwriter dealing with the loss of his parents during his childhood. The film has won top awards for best picture, best director, and best screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards.
Last month, the movie had already received four awards in the craft category at the Bifas, including editing, cinematography, music supervision, and screenplay. It went on to win three more at the ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London on Sunday. Along with Haigh’s win, Paul Mescal was also recognized as best supporting actor for his portrayal of a younger man who enters into a relationship with Scott’s character.
The film, All of Us Strangers, has gained significant critical acclaim and recognition, especially after director Haigh’s previous works such as Weekend and 45 Years. Its recent sweep at the Gotham awards, which is similar to the Bifas in the US, has further solidified its momentum. However, despite receiving four nominations, the film did not win any awards at the Gotham awards ceremony last month. It is set to be released in the UK in January.
Molly Manning Walker’s first full-length film, titled “How to Have Sex,” was recognized for its lead performance by Mia McKenna-Bruce, who portrays a 16-year-old navigating a tumultuous and complex summer vacation in Malia. Along with Paul Mescal, Shaun Thomas also won the award for best supporting performance for his role as a compassionate young man. The film had previously received the award for best casting at the craft awards.
Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Trier’s tense courtroom drama, which took the Palme d’Or at Cannes in May, won best international feature; the film took the same prize, as well as best screenplay, at the Gothams.
Former Olympic volleyball player, Savanah Leaf, won the award for best debut director for her drama, Earth Mama, which follows the story of a pregnant single mother. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay also received an award for their joint lead performances in Femme, a film about a drag queen and his closeted attacker. Femme also took home awards for costume design and hair and makeup at the craft awards ceremony.
Nida Manzoor won the first-time screenwriter award for her story about two sisters called “Polite Society.” Charlotte Regan’s “Scrapper” received the breakthrough producer award, while Vivian Oparah was recognized for her outstanding performance in the romantic comedy “Rye Lane,” which also won best original music.
The documentary “If the Streets Were on Fire” was awarded best documentary, and Chloe Abrahams, director of “The Taste of Mango,” won for best debut documentary director.
The Bifas were founded 25 years ago to celebrate British productions not bankrolled by a major studio. Bifa patron Ray Winstone opened the proceedings on Sunday night, while Lolly Adefope and Kiell Smith-Bynoe hosted, and stars including Fiona Shaw, Zawe Ashton, Asa Butterfield and Theo James presented awards.
Jodie Comer awarded Stephen Graham the Richard Harris prize for his remarkable contributions to British film. The special jury recognized We Are Parable, a grassroots organization devoted to promoting and engaging audiences with Black cinema, with a prize.
The past month has seen a surge in efforts to secure awards, following the conclusion of the actors’ strike on November 9th. Celebrities are working hard to promote their films in hopes of receiving top accolades in 2024.
Top candidates in a particularly impressive year also consist of, in addition to All of Us Strangers, another movie from a British filmmaker: The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer, which delves into the utopian existence created by Rudolf and Helga Hoss for their family just beyond the borders of Auschwitz, where Rudolf served as camp leader.
Martin Scorsese’s indigenous epic Killers of the Flower Moon is also likely to fare well, as is The Holdovers, Alexander Payne’s 1970-set comedy/drama, which reunites him with Sideways star Paul Giamatti.
Celine Song’s Past Lives, billed as a Brief Encounter for the new century, dominated the Gothams and is tipped for considerable silverware; other hopefuls include Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic, Maestro, Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos’s boisterous fantasy starring Emma Stone as a lustful reincarnated woman, and Cord Jefferson’s publishing satire American Fiction.
Two films that premiered just before the strike began are also expected to figure: Barbie and Oppenheimer. The nominations for the Golden Globe awards are announced on 11 December ahead of the ceremony on 7 January. Bafta nominations come on 18 January, and the ceremony follows a month later.
On February 23rd, the list of nominees for the Oscars will be announced. The ceremony, which will again be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, is scheduled for March 10th.
Source: theguardian.com
