10 NFTS Alumni Named Across 2026 BIFA Nominations

The nominations for the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) have been announced and the National Film & Television School (NFTS) is proud to see so many alumni names listed across the categories!

Clio Barnard’s I See Buildings Fall Like Lightening received 8 nominations, including Best British Independent Film, Best Director and a Best Editing nomination for fellow graduate Maya Maffioli.

The craft nominations continue with Valerio Bonelli (Elsinore) also recognised in the Best Editing category, Simon Hayes (Ink) listed for  Best Sound and Roger Goula (Everybody Digs Bill Evans) for Best Original Music.

Debut filmmaker Louis Paxton has been nominated for both the Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) and Best Debut Screenwriter for his acclaimed The Incomer. Fellow graduate Jess O’Kane was also recognised in the Best Debut Screenwriter category for her black comedy Bad Apples.

Two NFTS alumni-led films have been nominated in the Best British Short Film, Coyotes, written and directed by Said Zagha and Vote Gavin Lyle, written and directed by Aneil Karia.

The Raindance Maverick Award, established to highlight innovation, uniqueness of vision, maverick filmmaking and risk-taking lists Jake Kuhn and The Peril at Pincer Point amongst the nominees.

See the full list of alumni involvement

Best British Independent Film

I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning — Clio Barnard
Additional alumni include second assistant sound Carys Ellis, editor Maya Maffioli, supervising sound editor Paul Davies, floor runner Yaz Evans

Best Director

Clio Barnard — I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)

Louis Paxton — The Incomer
Additional alumni include producer Shirley O'Connor, associate producer Solomon Golding, associate producer/production coordinator Carys Evans, first assistant director Ewan Stewart, 2nd Assistant Sound Lawrence Gartshore, For Head Gear Films Iris Cohen, production and development executive for bfi Phoebe Sutherland

Best Debut Screenwriter

Jess O’Kane — Bad Apples
Additional alumni include composer's assistant Nir Perlman, video game consultant Raphael Pimlott, Child Acting Coach Em Smith

Louis Paxton — The Incomer

The Raindance Maverick Award

The Peril at Pincer Point — Jake Kuhn
Additional alumni include sound designers Joseph Field Eccles and Nicholas Smyth, first assistant sound: dailies Magdalena Matuszek, sound recordist: dailies Andrew Ford, executive producer Igor Engler

Best British Short Film

Coyotes — Said Zagha

Vote Gavin Lyle — Aneil Karia
Additional alumni include production designer Alexandra Toomey, sound designer Paul Davies, cinematographer Stuart Bentley

Best Editing

Valerio Bonelli — Elsinore
Additional alumni include art department assistant Darya Naumchenko, 1st assistant editor Francesco Cibati, video assistant Max Fullerton, visual effects supervisor Victor Tomi

Maya Maffioli — I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning

Best Original Music

Roger Goula — Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Best Sound

Simon Hayes — Ink
Additional alumni include director of photography Alwin Kuchler, crowd 3rd assistant director Daniel Pachalski, visual effects supervisor and producer Dillan Nicholls, visual effects supervisor Dean Koonjul, script supervisor Lucy Hatherley, art director Owen Robertson, costume coordinator Lisa Ann Killeen, props buyer Yasmin Al-Naib, cast Jewel Konieczny

The National Film and Television School would like to wish a huge congratulations to all our alumni nominees and their collaborators who worked behind the scenes on these exceptional productions.

Best of luck for the ceremony in December!