Irish films lead nominations at British film awards this weekend

Ottoline Spearman

Two films produced and developed by Dublin-based Element Pictures have received a total of 22 nominations at this year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs), which take place in London on Sunday night.

My Father’s Shadow has received 12 nominations, including Best British Independent Film, Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr, and Best Screenplay for Wale Davies.

Directed by Davies Jr, the semi-autobiographical film stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and follows two brothers travelling with their estranged father through Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. Shot in Nigeria, it is the most nominated film of the year at the BIFAs. Its producers are Rachel Dargavel for Element Pictures and Funmbi Ogunbanwo for Fatherland Productions.

Pillion has secured 10 nominations. Based on the book Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, written and directed by Harry Lighton, the film stars Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgard and tells the story of a timid man who is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive. Filmed in London, its producers are Emma Norton, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures and Lee Groombridge.

Both films premiered to critical acclaim at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where My Father’s Shadow received the Camera d’Or Special Mention and Pillion was awarded the Un Certain Regard prize for Best Screenplay.

Pillion and My Father’s Shadow are also both shortlisted for the European Film Awards and The Gotham Awards. My Father’s Shadow was recently selected as the UK’s official selection for Best International Feature Film to compete in the 98th Academy Awards.

Pillion is on general release in Ireland and the UK from Friday. My Father’s Shadow will be released by MUBI in the US, UK, Ireland and Turkey on 6th February.