Bifa Awards male and female categories scrapped for gender-neutral awards-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro

The Bifa Awards has gone gender neutral with its categories (Picture: Bifa)

The British Independent Film Awards (Bifa) are the latest to scrap male and female awards in favour of gender-neutral categories.

The awards, which aim to celebrate ‘the best, most innovative and creative independent filmmaking and filmmakers in the UK,’ follow on from the Brits and the MTV Movie Awards, which have already made the move.

There will now be five acting awards: best lead performance, best supporting performance, best joint lead performance, best ensemble, and the unchanged breakthrough performance award.

Up to 10 people can be nominated for best lead and best supporting peformance, while up to five can be nominated for joint lead and ensemble.

Bifa is also adding new categories, including best debut director – feature documentary, and the previous best music award will be split into best original music and best music supervision.

Bifa directors Amy Gustin and Deena Wallace said: ‘We’re very excited to be able to launch Bifa’s new expanded awards categories which will more fully capture the range of exceptional performances and acting talent in British independent film and allow us to celebrate even more talent than ever before.’

Riz Ahmed won at last year’s awards (Picture: Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Bifa directors Amy Gustin and Deena Wallace opened up about the change (Picture: Getty Images)

The 2022 nominations will be announced on November 22, and the ceremony will take place on December 4.

Last year, Riz Ahmed was honoured for outstanding contribution for his roles in Encounter, Shifty, Four Lions, and Mogul Mowgli.

Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham as a chef under pressure, received one award for best supporting actress, which went to Vinette Robinson.

Despite leading the nominations and racking up 11 nods, Sir Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical film Belfast, about his childhood in Northern Ireland, did not take home any awards.

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