The 2009 British Independent Film Awards (aka BIFAs) earmark the best of independently-funded British films, recognising emerging and established talent and serving as a key platform for films coming from outside the studio system.

Five films, all with strong connections to the capital, are nominated for Best British Independent Film this year.

Low-budget sensation Fish Tank, shot in Essex and with production offices at London’s 3 Mills Studios, is a favourite to win with eight nominations. Following closely with seven nominations is Duncan Jones’ debut feature Moon – shot in Shepperton Studios. Armando Iannucci’s parliamentary satire In The Loop, this year’s London Film Festival’s closing film Nowhere Boy – which features the capital doubling for Liverpool – and Ealing-shot An Education, complete the list with six nominations each.

The list of London-shot films acknowledged this year continues with horror flick Colin and The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus. Colin is one of this year’s micro-budget success stories. Director Marc Price claims it cost just £45 to produce and it was shot largely in a flat in South London. The film was the most talked-about British feature at Cannes and it is a favourite to win the Raindance Award on Sunday. Meanwhile, Terry Gilliam’s fantastic tale, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, filmed in several locations across the capital and is a strong candidate for the Best Achievement in Production Award.

In the short film category are London-shot Simon Neal’s Washdays and Love You More by artist film-maker Sam Taylor Wood - whose debut feature, Nowhere Boy, is also nominated for Best British Film.

Finally, Sounds Like Teen Spirit, a comedic look into the junior version of the Eurovision festival by BAFTA-winning producer Stephen Woolley (recently appointed as a new Film London board member), contends for Best Documentary.

Local Faces

The nominees’ list is also packed with acting talent born and bred in the capital. An Education’s star Carey Mulligan and Dagenham-born Katie Jarvis, a first-timer who plays the lead in Fish Tank, are joined by established starlet Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria) and Sophie Okonedo (Skin) in the Best Actress category.

For the men, Hammersmith-born Tom Hardy and Andy Serkis, famously known for playing 'Gollum' in Lord of the Rings trilogy, could come out with the gong for Best Actor for their work in Bronson and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll respectively.

Nominated in supporting roles are also Southall-born Anne-Marie Duff for her performance as John Lennon’s absent mother in Nowhere Boy, Hollywood veteran Alfred Molina and his An Education co-star Rosamund Pike.

Last, but not least, in the talent showcase is Londoner George McKay, who could pick up the award for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance as a difficult teenager in parenting drama The Boys Are Back.

For the production specialists, cinematographer Robbie Ryan is nominated for best technical achievement for his work in Fish Tank. Ryan, a long-term collaborator of director Andrea Arnold, was also behind the cinematography of the short film GirlLikeMe, shown at this year’s Venice Film Festival and supported by Film London through the London Borough Film Fund Challenge.

This year, screen veterans Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) and Sir Michael Caine (Harry Brown, The Cider House Rules) will be presented with the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film by an Actor and the Variety Award respectively.

Championing the Underdog

Created by Raindance back in 1998, the BIFAs have retained their independent spirit through the years and managed to attract the support and respect of the industry at large. Confirmed patrons in 2009 include Dame Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Michael Sheen (The Damned United).

The BIFAs recognise films produced outside the big studios, or films with a budget under £10m with studio participation, and often serve as a jump-off platform for indie gems. Previous winners of the Best Independent British Film Award include Oscar®-nominated Billy Elliot, This is England and Oscar®-winning The Constant Gardener and Slumdog Millionaire.

As it has become customary, the jury at this year’s awards is comprised of hot names in the independent scene, including Brick Lane director Sarah Gavron, up-and-coming film-maker Eran Creevy (director of Shifty, a Film London Microwave production which received five BIFA nominations last year) and actors Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky) and Idris Elba (28 Weeks Later).

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at The Brewery in Central London on Sunday 6 December, which will once again be hosted by actor James Nesbitt.

Read the full list of BIFAs nominees.