Simon Bird to host the 2014 British Independent Film Awards

The British Independent Film Awards have announced that actor, writer and comedian Simon Bird, of The Inbetweeners’ fame will host the 17th annual awards ceremony to be held on 7th December 2014.

“I am delighted to be hosting this year’s Moët British Independent Film Awards. As star of experimental, art-house piece The Inbetweeners 2, I was the obvious choice to emcee this event celebrating cutting-edge independent cinema. It’s been an outstanding year for British film, and I look forward to drinking champagne with the winners while half-heartedly consoling the other nominees.” – Simon Bird

This year’s awards also mark the anniversary of their partnership with Moët, who will be title sponsor for its fifth year running. This year’s nominations were announced on 3rd November at St Martins Lane, London. The nominees for Best British Independent Film were ‘71, Calvary, Mr Turner Pride and The Imitation Game. Leading the charge this year is ’71 with nine nominations.

The nominees for acting performances include Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw for Best Actress; Maggie Gyllenhaal and Imelda Staunton for Best Supporting Actress; Jack O’Connell and Timothy Spall for Best Actor; Rafe Spall and Michael Fassbender  for Best Supporting Actor. Cara Delevingne and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed are among the hopefuls for Most Promising Newcomer.

This year’s Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 7th December at Old Billingsgate. Now in its 17th year, the Awards were created by Raindance in 1998 and set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.