The Element Pictures-produced The Favourite won a record ten awards at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) in London tonight.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ third collaboration with Element Pictures won Best British Independent Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Olivia Colman’s performance as Queen Anne was awarded Best Actress, with co-star Rachel Weisz named Best Supporting Actress.
The film had already won 5 craft awards before tonight’s ceremony: Best Cinematography for Dubliner Robbie Ryan, as well as Best Casting for Dixie Chassay, Best Costume Design for Sandy Powell, Best Make Up and Hair Design for Nadia Stacey, and Best Production Design for Fiona Crombie.
I’m thrilled for all involved in The Favourite, we had a wonderful cast and crew who worked on this film led by visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos and we’re all hugely grateful to BIFA for this massive recognition.
Ed Guiney, Producer -Element Pictures
A great night for Element Pictures saw Sebastian Lelio’s Disobedience, which they produced, pick up a Best Supporting Actor for Alessandro Nivola.
Kerry actress Jessie Buckley was named Most Promising Newcomer for her role in Beast.
Disobedience is out now in Irish cinemas, with The Favourite out January 1st.
This is an extraordinary achievement for Element Pictures and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe and all the team at Element. We are proud to have supported Element down through the years on major Irish films such as Room, The Lobster and The Guard and we are delighted to see an Irish production company considered among the best in the world. We have high hopes for further international recognition for Element Pictures, as awards season progresses. We are also particularly proud of Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan who has built a very strong slate of work over the last number of years and is very deserving of this honour.
James Hickey, Chief Executive – Screen Ireland
Full list of winners:
The Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film
Judi Dench
The Special Jury Prize
Horace Ové, CBE
Best British Independent Film
The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos
Best Director
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Best Screenplay
Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite
Best Actress
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Best Supporting Actress
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
Best Actor
Joe Cole, A Prayer Before Dawn
Best Supporting Actor
Alessandro Nivola, Disobedience
Most Promising Newcomer
Jessie Buckley, Beast
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)
Richard Billingham, Ray & Liz
Debut Screenwriter
Bart Layton, American Animals
Breakthrough Producer
Jacqui Davies, Ray & Liz
The Discovery Award
Voyageuse, May Miles Thomas
Best Documentary
Evelyn, Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara
Best British Short Film
The Big Day, Dawn Shadforth, Kellie Smith and Michelle Stein
Best International Independent Film
Roma, Alfonso Cuarón, Nicolás Celis and Gabriela Rodriguez
Best Casting
Dixie Chassay, The Favourite
Best Cinematography
Robbie Ryan, The Favourite
Best Costume Design
Sandy Powell, The Favourite
Best Editing
Nick Fenton, Julian Hart and Chris Gill, American Animals
Best Effects
Howard Jones, Early Man
Best Make Up & Hair Design
Nadia Stacey, The Favourite
Best Music
Jonny Greenwood, You Were Never Really Here
Best Production Design
Fiona Crombie, The Favourite
Best Sound
Paul Davies, You Were Never Really Here