Irish-language rap comedy Kneecap emerged as the big winner at the British independent film awards (Bifas) on Sunday, with seven prizes in total including the headline best British independent film award.
Starring rappers Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh – AKA Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – the Belfast-set film is directed by Rich Peppiatt and features an appearance from Michael Fassbender as a former republican paramilitary. The three leads won best joint lead performance, while Peppiatt also won best debut screenwriter. Kneecap had already won four craft awards, which were announced in November.
In his acceptance speech Peppiatt said: “I have to mention there is an irony in the best British film being Irish.” The film was jointly funded by, among others, the BFI, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, and Northern Ireland Screen, and is Ireland’s entry for the best international feature film Oscar.
Rungano Nyoni, took the best director award for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, having won the best debut director Bifa in 2017 for her previous film I Am Not a Witch, with actor Susan Chardy picking up breakthrough peformance. Other double winners on the night were in-game Shakespeare documentary Grand Theft Hamlet (best debut director – feature documentary, and Raindance Maverick award) and Lucknow-set crime drama Santosh (best screenplay and breakthrough producer).
Though it was excluded from the writing and directing categories, Mike Leigh’s new film Hard Truths did pick up a major award with best lead performance for Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Full list of winners
Best British independent film Kneecap
Best international independent film Anora
Best feature documentary Witches
Best director Rungano Nyoni, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Best screenplay Sandhya Suri, Santosh
Best lead performance Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths
Best supporting performance Franz Rogowski, Bird
Best joint lead performance Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh, Kneecap
Best ensemble performance Wicked Little Letters
Best debut director Christopher Andrews, Bring Them Down
Best debut director – feature documentary Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane, Grand Theft Hamlet
Breakthrough producer Balthazar De Ganay, James Bowsher, Santosh
Breakthrough performance Susan Chardy, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Best debut screenwriter Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap
Raindance Maverick award Grand Theft Hamlet
Best British short film Wander to Wonder
Outstanding contribution by an actor to British film Sophie Okonedo
