The stars of independent cinema gathered at the Roundhouse in Camden on Sunday, November 30, 2025, for the annual British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) ceremony, hosted by Lou Sanders and Harriet Kemsley. The night saw Harry Lighton's unconventional romantic comedy, Pillion, emerge as the biggest winner, taking home four BIFAs, including the coveted Best British Independent Film. Lighton was also recognised with the Best Debut Screenwriter award.
The winning streak for debut talent continued as Akinola Davies Jr. was named Best Director for his first feature, My Father’s Shadow, while Cal McMau received The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) for the prison drama Wasteman. Dhiraj Mahey won Breakthrough Producer for Ish.
In the acting categories, Robert Aramayo won Best Lead Performance for his role as Tourette’s campaigner John Davison in I Swear. Jay Lycurgo took Best Supporting Performance for the 1990s school drama Steve. Newcomer Posy Sterling earned the Breakthrough Performance award for Lollipop.
The Ballad of Wallis Island saw its writers, Tom Basden and Tim Key, win both Best Screenplay and Best Joint Lead Performance for their roles as two former musical partners. The ensemble cast of Warfare, including Will Poulter, Kit Connor, Joseph Quinn, and Charles Melton, also received the Best Ensemble Performance award.
Other significant wins included Myrid Carten’s A Want in Her, a powerful exploration of mental health that secured Best Feature Documentary and Best Debut Director – Feature Documentary. Meanwhile, the BIFA for Best International Independent Film went to Joaquim Trier's intimate family drama, Sentimental Value.
Beyond the awards for 2025 releases, the ceremony celebrated the legacy of British film, with Emily Watson receiving the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film. The inaugural BIFA Cinema of the Year award was presented to The Magic Lantern Cinema in Tywyn.
