FILMFOUR SCOOPS EIGHT BIFA AWARDS

FILMFOUR backed films scooped eight awards at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). The company had received a record 21 nominations in ten different categories.
‘Sexy Beast’, Jonathan Glazer's genre bending debut that has taken America by storm, triumphed as it won in all four categories in which it had been nominated. The award for Best Film was collected by Jeremy Thomas, who was also voted British Producer of the Year. Best Director went to Glazer, Ben Kingsley's astonishing performance earned him the Best Actor nod and Best Screenplay went to Louis Mellis and David Scinto.
The Douglas Hickox award for best debut feature was given to Asif Kapadia for ‘The Warrior’, an epic journey from the deserts of Rajasthan to the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas. The stunning cinematography of Director of Photography Roman Osin was rewarded by Best Technical Achievement. ‘The Warrior’ recently won the Grand prize at Dinard and Osin also collected an award for Best Cinematography at the San Sebastian Film Festival. FilmFour have secured a multi-territory international sales deal with Miramax and will open the film in the UK next year.
Best Actress went to Kate Ashfield for her performance in ‘Late Night Shopping’, Saul Metzstein's upbeat, oddball, after-hours comedy about the ups and downs of sex and shelf-stacking.
The Most Promising Newcomer award was won by Ben Whishaw, who gives a startling performance in the FilmFour Lab production ‘My Brother Tom’, the powerful debut feature from acclaimed documentary director Dom Rotheroe. The film opens in the UK on November 16, 2001. (CD)