“The Favourite” sweeps the 2018 BIFAs

Darkly comic costume drama “The Favourite” dominated this year’s British Independent Film Awards with a record haul of ten awards (five major, five craft) including best film, best actress (Olivia Colman), best supporting actress (Rachel Weisz), best screenplay, best director (Yorgos Lanthimos), best cinematography, best casting and best costume design.

Of the other majors, Joe Cole won best actor for Thai prison boxing drama “A Prayer Before Dawn,” Alessandro Nivola won best supporting actor for “Disobedience,” most promising newcomer was Jessie Buckley for “Beast,” best international film was “Roma,” and best documentary was “Evelyn”.

Other winners included “American Animals” for best debut screenwriter and editing, “You Were Never Really Here” in music and sound categories, and “Ray and Liz” for best debut director and breakthrough producer.

Colman’s win, her fourth BIFA, maintains her perfect record of winning every time she has been nominated. Last year’s winner was “God’s Own Country” which took home best picture, actor and writer while “Lady Macbeth” and “I Am Not a Witch” also fared very well.