Will Andrew Scott swoop Best Lead Performance at this year’s BIFAs? Is it the first of many triumphs to come for the Irish actor?

BIFA – aka the British Independent Film Awards – has become the lifeblood of UK cinema since its genesis in 1998, shining a light on films and performances that fail to be recognised within the global awards framework. 

At the cutting edge of progressive filmmaking as ever, the year’s nominations see the likes of Mike Leigh’s final film Tender Loving Care, Lance Hammer’s devastating dementia drama Queen At Sea, Clio Barnard’s humanistic ensemble piece I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, and Simon Stone’s Ian Charleson biopic Elsinore all receiving multiple nominations.

In the acting categories, there are newcomers and veterans alike. All five of the rising stars named in this year’s cherished Breakthrough Performance – Galaxie Clear, Sekou Diaby, Jonathan Jules, Tut Nyuot, Leisa Gwenllian – are also amazingly nominated in the Best Lead/Supporting/Joint Lead Performance categories, respectively. Elsewhere, Billie Piper and Claire Foy are among the experienced stars picking up nods for Best Supporting Performance, while the likes of Juliette Binoche, Erin Doherty and Andrew Scott are in the race for Best Lead Performance. 

The latter, much acclaimed for his captivating portrayal as Charleson in Elsinore, will be hoping that this nomination is the first of many as the global awards circuit starts rolling out throughout the next few months. “I feel incredibly passionate about the story and the script was incredible,” he told Wonderland’s Features Editor Ben Tibbits about the film at SXSW earlier this year. “Just being around that whole thing was amazing.”

Who do you think will take home prizes on Sunday 6th December?

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