Awards season is almost upon us as the British began their build-up to the 2014 BAFTA’s with their warm-up accolade group, the British Independent Film Awards.

As expected, Stephen Frears’ delightful dramedy Philomena is recognised with some nominations including acting nods for Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan (who is also mentioned in the Best Screenplay category) as well as being up for Best British Independent Film.

The controversial drama Filth has also earned several nods which feature acting nominations for James McAvoy, Eddie Marsan and Shirley Henderson.

Other standout British films to be recognised include the rom-com Le Week-end (with mentions for actors Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan and Jeff Goldblum) and Jonathan Glazer’s indie-thriller Under the Skin.

The latter film’s leading star, Scarlett Johansson will compete in the Best Actress category with competition coming from the likes of Dench, Duncan and Felicity Jones for The Invisible Woman.

Other big names to be recognised in the acting categories are Tom Hardy (Locke), Saoirse Ronan (How I Live Now), Kristin Scott Thomas (The Invisible Woman) and Mia Wasikowska (The Double).

Finally, Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine and the Palme d’Or-winning drama Blue is the Warmest Color are both in contention for the Best International Independent Film accolade.

The nominations are below (with my winner predictions in blue):

Best British Independent Film

Metro Manila
Philomena
The Selfish Giant
Starred Up
Le Week-end

Best Director

Jon S Baird – Filth
Clio Barnard – The Selfish Giant
Sean Ellis – Metro Manila
Jonathan Glazer – Under the Skin
David Mackenzie – Starred Up

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)

Charlie Cattrall – Titus
Tina Gharavi – I Am Nasrine
Jeremy Lovering – In Fear
Omid Nooshin – Last Passenger
Paul Wright – For Those in Peril

Best Screenplay

Jonathan Asser – Starred Up
Clio Barnard – The Selfish Giant
Steven Knight – Locke
Hanif Kureishi – Le Week-end
Jeff Pope, Steve Coogan – Philomena

Best Actress

Judi Dench – Philomena
Lindsay Duncan – Le Week-end
Scarlett Johansson – Under the Skin
Felicity Jones – The Invisible Woman
Saoirse Ronan – How I Live Now

Best Actor

Jim Broadbent – Le Week-end
Steve Coogan – Philomena
Tom Hardy – Locke
Jack O’Connell – Starred Up
James McAvoy – Filth

Best Supporting Actress

Siobhan Finneran – The Selfish Giant
Shirley Henderson – Filth
Imogen Poots – The Look of Love
Kristin Scott Thomas – The Invisible Woman
Mia Wasikowska – The Double

Best Supporting Actor

John Arcilla – Metro Manila
Rupert Friend – Starred Up
Jeff Goldblum – Le Week-end
Eddie Marsan – Filth
Ben Mendelsohn – Starred Up

Most Promising Newcomer

Harley Bird – How I Live Now
Conner Chapman / Shaun Thomas – The Selfish Giant
Caity Lotz – The Machine
Jake Macapagal – Metro Manila
Chloe Pirrie – Shell

Best Achievement in Production

A Field in England
Filth
Metro Manila
The Selfish Giant
Starred Up

Best Technical Achievement

Shaheen Baig – Casting – Starred Up
Johnnie Burn – Sound Design – Under the Skin
Amy Hubbard – Casting – The Selfish Giant
Mica Levi – Music – Under the Skin
Justine Wright – Editing – Locke

Best Documentary

Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer
The Great Hip Hop Hoax
The Moo Man
The Spirit of ‘45
The Stone Roses: Made of Stone

Best British Short

L’Assenza
Dr Easy
Dylan’s Room
Jonah
Z1

Best International Independent Film

Blue Is the Warmest Colour
Blue Jasmine
Frances Ha
The Great Beauty
Wadjda

The Raindance Award

Everyone’s Going to Die
The Machine
The Patrol
Sleeping Dogs
Titus

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony, hosted by actor James Nesbitt, in London on 8th December.