The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) has selected 13 documentaries for consideration in its 2024 Raindance Maverick award category. This award highlights innovative independent British films that showcase a variety of topics. The selections range from a film about postpartum depression to one about a historic labor dispute.
One standout selection is “Witches” by director Elizabeth Sankey. It examines how depictions of witches in movies relate to postpartum depression. The film combines interview clips with footage from old films. “Witches” was the only documentary shown at the prestigious Great 8 screenings at the Cannes Film Festival this year. It also screened at festivals in Tribeca, Rio de Janeiro and London.
Daniel Gordon’s “Strike: An Uncivil War” offers a fresh look at the 1984-85 UK miners’ strike. It focuses specifically on the Battle of Orgreave and includes previously unpublished footage and hidden government records. This sheds new light on an important event in British labor history.
In an unusual crossover of Shakespeare and video games, “Grand Theft Hamlet” follows the production of Hamlet within the virtual world of “Grand Theft Auto.” Directors Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane have secured nominations for their film in four BIFA categories, including debut director.
Several other films received multiple nominations as well. Jack King’s drama “The Ceremony” matched “Grand Theft Hamlet” with four mentions. The collaborative documentary “The Stimming Pool” and Gino Evans’ addiction film “Treading Water” each earned three nominations.
The BIFA gala ceremony on December 8 will announce the award winners. This longlist showcases the creative works of Britain’s independent filmmakers, from factual films to innovative storytelling experiments.