“Civil War” and “Kneecap” lead British Independent Film Awards 2024 craft winners
The British Independent Film Awards (Bifa) 2024 has announced the winners of its craft categories, highlighting exceptional talent in independent filmmaking. Irish-language comedy Kneecap emerged as the standout, winning four of the 10 awards, while Alex Garland's dystopian drama Civil War secured two.
Kneecap, directed by Rich Peppiatt, follows the journey of a west Belfast hip-hop trio as they strive to preserve their mother tongue. It leads this year’s Bifa nominations with 14 nods. The film’s victories include casting for Carla Stronge, editing for Julian Ulrichs and Chris Gill, original music for Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, and music supervision for Chris Welch and Jeanette Rehnstrom.
Civil War, Garland’s dystopian vision of near-future America, received awards for its effects, credited to David Simpson, and for sound, attributed to Glenn Freemantle, Mary H Ellis, and Howard Bargroff. The film premiered at SXSW and features Kirsten Dunst and Wagner Moura in key roles. Simpson also won in 2022 for Garland’s Men.
Cinematography honors went to Ben Fordesman for Love Lies Bleeding, his second Bifa win after Saint Maud. Rose Glass’s noir drama, set in 1980s New Mexico, stars Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian and premiered at Sundance. The film is also among the Bifa frontrunners with 12 nominations.
The costume design award was given to Michael O’Connor for Firebrand, a historical drama portraying Katherine Parr’s survival in the tumultuous Tudor court. With a cast led by Alicia Vikander and Jude Law, the Cannes title marked another success for O’Connor, previously recognized for The Duchess, Ammonite, and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.
Additional craft category winners include Lisa Mustafa for make-up and hair design in Unicorns and Jan Houllevigue for production design in The Assessment. The winners in all remaining categories will be announced on December 8 at London’s The Roundhouse.
Full List of Bifa 2024 Craft Winners:
- Casting: Carla Stronge, Kneecap
- Cinematography: Ben Fordesman, Love Lies Bleeding
- Costume Design: Michael O’Connor, Firebrand
- Editing: Julian Ulrichs and Chris Gill, Kneecap
- Effects: David Simpson, Civil War
- Music Supervision: Chris Welch and Jeanette Rehnstrom, Kneecap
- Make-up & Hair Design: Lisa Mustafa, Unicorns
- Original Music: Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, Kneecap
- Production Design: Jan Houllevigue, The Assessment
- Sound: Glenn Freemantle, Mary H Ellis, and Howard Bargroff, Civil War