The British independent film industry celebrated its brightest talents on Sunday evening as the British Independent Film Awards 2025 ceremony unfolded at London's iconic Roundhouse in Camden.
Major Winners Dominate Ceremony
Pillion, the heartfelt biker romance featuring Harry Melling as timid Colin and Alexander Skarsgård as rugged Ray, emerged as the night's biggest success story. The film secured four prestigious awards, including the top prize for Best Independent Film. First-time feature writer and director Harry Lighton received the Best Debut Screenwriter honour, while the film also claimed craft awards for Best Costume Design and Best Make-up and Hair.
Tom Basden and Tim Key achieved remarkable success with their debut feature The Ballad Of Wallis Island, taking home both the Best Joint Lead Performance and Best Screenplay awards. The film, which also stars Carey Mulligan, follows the story of a faded folk musician reluctantly reuniting with his former partner for an eccentric fan.
Acting Excellence Recognised
In the acting categories, Robert Aramayo received the Best Lead Performance award for his powerful portrayal of Tourette's campaigner John Davison in I Swear. The Supporting Performance award went to Jay Lycurgo for his role in the intense school drama Steve, which co-stars Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy.
Newcomer Posy Sterling earned the Breakthrough Performance award for her moving depiction of a mother fighting for custody in Lollipop. Meanwhile, the cast of Warfare – including Will Poulter, Kit Connor, Joseph Quinn and Charles Melton – collectively received the Best Ensemble Performance prize.
Behind the Camera Achievements
Akinola Davies Jr was named Best Director for his debut feature My Father's Shadow, which explores two brothers coming to understand their father during a pivotal moment in Nigerian history. The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director went to Cal McMau for prison drama Wasteman.
In the documentary categories, Myrid Carten's deeply personal exploration of mental health and addiction within her family, A Want In Her, achieved an impressive triple victory. The film secured Best Feature Documentary, The Raindance Maverick Award, and Best Debut Director for a Feature Documentary.
Special Honours and International Recognition
The ceremony also presented several special awards, with veteran actress Emily Watson receiving the Outstanding Contribution to British Film prize. The Gosford Park and Chernobyl star was recognised for her remarkable career spanning both cinema and television.
Production company Warp Films, responsible for critically acclaimed works including Dead Man's Shoes, This Is England and recent series Adolescence, received the BIFA Special Jury Prize for their uncompromising commitment to telling raw and relevant stories.
In a celebration of cinema venues themselves, The Magic Lantern Cinema in the Welsh coastal town of Tywyn received the inaugural Cinema of the Year award. The Best International Independent Film honour went to Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value, an intimate exploration of family dynamics and the healing power of art.
The 2025 BIFA ceremony, hosted by comedians Lou Sanders and Harriet Kemsley, featured presenters including Carey Mulligan, Stephen Merchant, Ruth Wilson, Billy Crudup and Celia Imrie, marking another successful year for the awards founded in 1998 to champion creativity in British independent filmmaking.
