Philomena stars nominated for British Independent Film awards

Philomena stars Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan are both in the running to pick up gongs at an awards ceremony celebrating the best in independent British cinema next month.

The pair have been shortlisted for the Best Actress and Best Actor awards respectively at the 16th British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).

The film, which tells the true story of Philomena Lee’s search for the son she was forced to give up for adoption in Ireland , is also in the running for Best Film.

Saoirse Ronan is also shortlisted for the Best Actress award as are Lindsay Duncan and Scarlett Johansson.

Coogan faces competition from Jim Broadbent, Tom Hardy for Locke and James McAvoy.

Also nominated is Jack O’Connell for Starred Up, the story of a young offender put in an adult prison with his father, which leads the way with eight nominations.

Its other nominations come in categories including Best Film, Best Screenplay and two Best Supporting Actor nods for Rupert Friend and Ben Mendelsohn.

The Selfish Giant, about two young boys working for a scrap dealer, picked up seven nominations including one for Downton Abbey star Siobhan Finneran who is shortlisted for Best Supporting Actress.

Ben Roberts, Director of the BFI Film Fund, said the event went “where other awards sometimes fear to tread” and put “the wild creativity of British independent filmmaking front and centre”.

The event, formally known as The Moet British Independent Film Awards, will be hosted by James Nesbitt at Old Billingsgate in London on Sunday December 8th.

PA