Element Distribution are delighted that Nick Rowland’s CALM WITH HORSES received 10 BIFA nominations and Clare Dunne has received a BIFA nomination for Best Actress for her performance in Phyllida Lloyd’s HERSELF. The British Independent Film Awards highlight the most innovative and creative independent filmmaking and filmmakers in the UK.

Rowland’s award winning debut CALM WITH HORSES starring Cosmo Jarvis, Barry Keoghan and Niamh Algar received nominations in the following categories-

Best Casting – Shaheen Baig

Most Promising Newcomer- Niamh Algar

Breakthrough Producer- Dan Emmerson

Debut Screenwriter- Joe Murtagh

Debut Director- Nick Rowland

Best Supporting Actress- Niamh Algar

Best Supporting Actor- Barry Keoghan

Best Actor- Cosmo Jarvis

Best Director – Nick Rowland

Best British Independent Film

Nominee for both Debut Director and Best Director, Nick Rowland said “It’s such a dream come true to see CWH recognised by the BIFA voters. It’s a testament to the amazing work done by the entire cast and crew, and I am so excited to celebrate this with them all, in some kind of responsible and socially distanced fashion! It feels so special to be following in the footsteps of my filmmaking heroes, and it means even more to see so many of my good friends nominated alongside us too. You would never know 2020 has been a tough year for cinema, with so many amazing films being recognised today. It’s an honour to be in their company.”

Critically acclaimed HERSELF’s co-writer and star Clare Dunne, whose performance has been hailed as “a revelation” by Indiewire, received a BIFA nomination for Best Actress.

On hearing the nomination news, Clare Dunne commented “I can’t express how thrilled and honoured I am to be nominated by BIFA for best actress. Such incredible films and artists get included every year and I cannot believe I’ve been chosen to be amongst this incredible group of artists. So grateful to BIFA for this. Thank you to my family and friends and partner Jack for supporting me all the way! Many more thanks to Sharon Horgan, Clelia Mountford, Malcolm Campbell, Ed Guiney, Rory Gilmartin, Andrew Lowe, Rose Garnett and all the team in Merman, Element Pictures, BBC, BFI and Screen Ireland who made this film happen …. especially Phyllida Lloyd, who encouraged me to play Sandra – an incredible director of this whole cast. It’s mostly her I owe!”

HERSELF is coming soon to Irish and UK cinemas.  The film is an Element Pictures and Merman Films Production and was developed with BBC Films ,Screen Ireland and production was backed by Screen Ireland, BBC Films and the BFI (with National Lottery funding).

CALM WITH HORSES is currently available to watch on all major platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, Virgin Media and Volta. CALM WITH HORSES is a DMC Film, Element Pictures production in association with Altitude Film Entertainment; developed and co-financed by Film4 and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland with the participation of The Western Region Audiovisual Producer’s Fund/WRAP Fund.