Simon Stone's Andrew Scott drama 'Elsinore' tops the BIFA 2026 nominations with 12, ahead of 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' and 'Animol'; winners will be named on 6 December.
Simon Stone's "Elsinore" leads the nominations for the 2026 British Independent Film Awards, receiving 12, according to reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. The Studiocanal biographical drama stars Andrew Scott as Ian Charleson, the "Chariots of Fire" actor who was offered the role of Hamlet at London's National Theatre while ill with complications from AIDS. The film, which opened the BFI London Film Festival, is nominated for best British independent film, best director for Stone, best lead performance for Scott and best supporting performance for Billie Piper. Variety writes that the role has already put Scott into the Oscars best actor conversation.
Behind it, Clio Barnard's "I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning" earned eight nominations and Ashley Walters' feature directorial debut "Animol" seven, while the Welsh-language "Effi O Blaenau" and Lance Hammer's "Queen at Sea" each received six. Debut features "Extra Geography," "Straight Circle" and "Florid" collected five apiece, and Mike Leigh's "Tender Loving Care," described by Variety as the final film from the veteran director, earned three, including best British independent film and best director. The best British independent film shortlist is made up of "Effi O Blaenau," "Elsinore," "I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning," "Queen at Sea" and "Tender Loving Care."
The lead performance category, which is gender-neutral, pits Scott against Juliette Binoche for "Queen at Sea," Erin Doherty for "Faith," Leisa Gwenllian for "Effi O Blaenau," Jonathan Jules for "Florid" and newcomer Tut Nyuot for "Animol." The international independent film nominees are "All of a Sudden," "Club Kid," "La Bola Negra," "La Gradiva" and "Possible Love," and five titles are shortlisted for feature documentary. According to the reports, craft winners will be announced on 24 November on BIFA's social channels, with the remaining categories revealed at the ceremony at London's Roundhouse on 6 December.
