Calvary receives four nominations at British Independent Film Awards

Calvary has been nominated for best film at the Moet British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).

Director John Michael McDonagh, who sparked a controversy when he said Calvary was not an Irish film, picked up two nominations for best director and best screenplay.

The film was also nominated for best actor for Brendan Gleeson’s performance.

McDonagh caused a stir earlier this year when he said, Irish films were neither intelligent nor technically accomplished.

"So I'm trying to get away from the description of the movie as an Irish film in a way. It's not an Irish film. It's just set in Ireland with lots of Irish characters," he stated.

Lenny Abrahamson's Frank received five nominations. Abrahamson was nominated for best director, Jon Ronson for best screenplay, Maggie Gyllenhaal for best supporting actress, Michael Fassbender for best supporting actor, and Stephen Rennicks for music.

British thriller ‘71, which follows a British soldier in Belfast during the Troubles, leads the field with nine nominations.

Pride, a film about an unlikely alliance between gay rights campaigners and miners during the 1984 miners' strike, picked up seven nominations, whilst Catch Me Daddy and Mr Turner received five each.

The winners will be announced on December 7th. The awards are focused on films made with a budget of less than £20 million (€22 million).