Six BIFA nominations for LKoS
Posted at 2:32 PM (PDT) on Wednesday, October 25, 2006

By Katja Hofmann
Variety International

LONDON — "The Queen," "The Last King of Scotland" and "This is England" lead Blighty's indie noms.

Stephen Frear's royal drama "The Queen" was nominated for seven British Independent Film Awards today including best indie pic, helmer and femme thesp for Helen Mirren. In addition, Mirren also is to receive the Variety Personality of the Year Award.

"The Queen," which examines the impact of Princess Diana's death on Blighty's royal family, was closely followed by Kevin Macdonald's "The Last King of Scotland" and Shane Meadow's "This is England," which both received six noms each. Andrea Arnold's "Red Road" was nominated five times including best pic. Roger Michell's "Venus" also nabbed five noms including Peter O'Toole for best thesp.

Nicholas Hytner's "The History Boys" scored four noms. Like "The Last King of Scotland," the pic was produced through DNA Films, the U.K. shingle backed by Fox Searchlight. This marks a departure for the BIFAs following a recent rule change, which allows pic financed by U.S. studios to qualify for the awards as long as their budget doesn't exceed $15 million.

The noms were announced by this year's jury topper, veteran producer Sandy Lieberson at a function at London's Soho House. Amongst the Brit bizzers squeezing into the bar were "History Boys" and "Venus" producer Kevin Loader, Pathe UK topper Francois Invernel and BIFA founder Elliot Grove.

The BIFAs will take place on Nov. 29 at the Hammersmith Palais in west London.

For a complete list of nominations, click here.