My Father’s Shadow, Pillion, and I Swear lead BIFA 2025 nominations — see the full list

Last year, the announcement of the 2024 British Independent Film Awards nominations was overshadowed somewhat by the result of the American presidential elections. But while in some ways the result of said elections continues to overshadow, well, just about everything, the arrival of the BIFA 2025 nominations this morning has at least seen a shaft of light break through ever-gathering clouds. And at the tail-end of another banner year for British indie cinema, an altogether different tale of political unrest leads the 2025 BIFAs race.

Although it doesn't release in UK cinemas until next February, Akinola Davies Jr.’s directorial debut My Father's Shadow — in which Gangs Of London's Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù stars as a man exploring Lagos with his brother and estranged father amid the 1993 Nigerian election crisis — has emerged as an early frontrunner for BIFA gold with an impressive 12 nominations, including for Best British Independent Film, Director, and Screenplay. Hot on its heels with a none-too-shabby 10 noms is another directorial debut, Harry Lighton's queer biker dom-com Pillion, which features in the above mentioned races against My Father's Shadow while also landing major nominations for Best Lead Performance and Supporting Performance for stars Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård respectively.

Elsewhere, Kirk Jones' Tourette's biopic I Swear is also proving as popular with critics as cinemagoers, landing nine nods overall including four — yes, four — in the key acting categories, with lead Robert Aramayo recognised alongside co-stars Scott Ellis Watson, Peter Mullan, and Maxine Peake. And, underlining just how good of a year 2025 has been for homegrown projects, Lynne Ramsey's Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence led Die My Love, Alex Garland's Warfare, and Harris Dickinson's first directorial rodeo Urchin are all up for multiple awards with eight, seven, and six nominations apiece. And for fans of McGwyer Mortimer (if you know you know), The Ballad Of Wallis Island hasn't been forgotten, don't you worry: it's up for Best British Independent Film and Tim Key and Tom Basden have a Joint Lead Performance nom to share between them.

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As you can see, there's more bangers than a busy butcher's among this year's BIFA nominations — and that's not even including the International Film race, which boasts the likes of Sorry, Baby and Sentimental Value. Scroll on down for all the main nominations for the British Independent Film Awards 2025.

Best British Independent Film

The Ballad Of Wallis Island

I Swear

My Father's Shadow

Pillion

Urchin

Best International Independent Film

It Was Just An Accident
Sentimental Value
Sirāt
Sorry, Baby
Sound Of Falling

Best Director

Laura Carreira — On Falling
Akinola Davies Jr — My Father’s Shadow
Kirk Jones — I Swear
Harry Lighton — Pillion
Lynne Ramsay — Die My Love

Best Screenplay

Tom Basden, Tim Key — The Ballad of Wallis Island
Laura Carreira — On Falling
Wale Davies — My Father’s Shadow
Kirk Jones — I Swear
Harry Lighton — Pillion

Best Lead Performance

Robert Aramayo — I Swear
Frank Dillane — Urchin
David Jonsson — Wasteman
Jennifer Lawrence — Die My Love
Harry Melling — Pillion
Cillian Murphy — Steve

Best Supporting Performance

Tom Blyth — Wasteman
Scott Ellis Watson — I Swear
Jay Lycurgo — Steve
Peter Mullan — I Swear
Maxine Peake — I Swear
Alexander Skarsgård — Pillion

Best Joint Lead Performance

Ebada Hassan, Saffiya Ingar — Brides
Tim Key, Tom Basden — The Ballad of Wallis Island
Andrea Riseborough, Brenda Blethyn — Dragonfly

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)

Laura Carreira — On Falling
Akinola Davies Jr — My Father’s Shadow
Harris Dickinson — Urchin
Harry Lighton — Pillion
Cal Mcmau — Wasteman

Breakthrough Performance

Scott Ellis Watson — I Swear
Ebada Hassan — Brides
Safiyya Ingar — Brides
Posy Sterling — Lollipop
Connor Tompkins — The Son And the Sea

Best Feature Documentary

Antidote
Mother Vera
Motherboard
The Shepherd And the Bear
A Want In Her

Cinema Of The Year

Depot Cinema
The Magic Lantern Cinema
Montrose Playhouse
Queen’s Film Theatre
Watershed

Winners will be announced at the BIFA ceremony at The Roundhouse, London on 30 November. For a complete list of nominees, head here.