RESEARCH: (BIFA) BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS

With interest, I have been following the recent BIFA nominations and awards for the UK Independent Cinema. The BIFA (British Independent Film Awards) represent the British Film Industry and give awards in recognition of the challenges facing independent, low-budget cinema in funding, distribution and marketing. American Honey is an example. It didn't gain success immediately after being distributed and promoted/presented to the public. The director Andrea Arnold cast an almost unknown cast (with the exception of Shia LaBeouf), using found locations (rather than expensive studio sets) and a low budget.

https://www.bifa.film/

The Director named Ken Loach is very well known for his real and current situations occurring around the country. Using issues and problems in the UK, Ken portrays his views through the eyes of the less fortunate because they most likely aren't addressed in the News.

On the BFI Study day, I learned that the film 'American Honey' is classified as a British film because of the cast and director as well as the key organisations involved. Andrea Arnold is also known for 'Fish Tank' in 2009 which had a budget of £million. Compare this with Star Wars with £230million. American Honey is an example of a BFI/Film 4 funding model.

American Honey's key themes involve adolescents along with their lifestyle which are themes and issues which are not usually featured by mainstream cinema. In addition, there was no expensive sets because it was shot on location - just like how my film/title opening will be produced.


Part of how the social reclaim was achieved within American Honey was through the handheld camera work which gives it an element of 'cinema verite'.

In both production values and budgets, my own production has many similarities as it is very low budget, only unknowns in the cast, and shooting on location.