Rules

A film will be eligible for an Award if:

•it is intended for theatrical release, AND has had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK OR has screened at a British-based film festival between 1st December 2007 and 30th November 2008 

•where there is any major studio substantially funding a film, the total budget must not exceed £10M ($20M)

•it has been produced or majority co-produced by a British company OR is in receipt of at least 51% of its budget from a British source or sources OR it qualifies as a British Film under the DCMS guidelines AND includes sufficient creative elements from the UK

•BIFA also consider foreign independent films for the Best Foreign Independent Film category. Foreign films must have a British theatrical release during the eligibility period stated above

• Films that have been entered previously are not eligible. Re-issues of previously released films are not eligible

All films submitted for consideration will be viewed by the Advisory Committee with the help of a nominated screening panel. The Advisory Committee will then decide the nominations by ballot.

All nominated films will be viewed by the Jury. The winners will be decided by a secret ballot. In the case of a tie, a deciding vote will be cast by the Jury Chairperson.

The Special Jury Prize will be decided entirely at the Jury's discretion.

The Douglas Hickox Award is to be given a British director for their debut feature film. The estate of Douglas Hickox shall present a cheque for £500 to the winner.

British Short Film Award submissions: Any British short films that have won an award 16th October 2007 and 15th October 2008 are eligible for consideration. A short film must be no longer than 40 minutes (including credits).

A feature films must be no less than 70 minutes in length.

The Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film by an Actor (male/female) to be decided by the Advisory Committee with the input of the Harris family.

In 2003 the British Independent Film Awards introduced a new award for Best British Feature Documentary. Eligible films must be non-fiction. They should be photographed in actual occurrence, or employ partial re-enactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction. (further eligibility criteria as with other feature films above).

All films must be submitted for consideration by September 22nd 2008. 

Under exceptional circumstances, inclusion and consideration of films which do not strictly comply with the above criteria will be subject to the discretion of the British Independent Film Awards Advisory Committee.