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British Film Awards 2019: Syrian war film 'For Sama' takes home best independent film, documentary, director

Reuters
LondonUpdated: Dec 02, 2019, 09:32 AM IST
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Photograph:(Reuters)

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'For Sama' follows Waad al-Kateab for five years of her life during the uprising in Aleppo, Syria, as she falls in love gets married, has a baby (named Sama) and navigates daily life under siege.

Documentary 'For Sama' won big at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) on Sunday (December 1), taking away the top prize for Best Independent Film, Best Director and Best Documentary.

'For Sama' follows Waad al-Kateab for five years of her life during the uprising in Aleppo, Syria, as she falls in love gets married, has a baby (named Sama) and navigates daily life under siege.

Best Screenplay went to Armando Iannucci's 'The Personal History of David Copperfield', a comedy-drama adaptation of the literary classic in which Dev Patel leads a racially diverse cast in the Victorian-era movie.

Both Hugh Laurie, who won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Iannucci's film, and Renee Zellweger, who won Best Actress for playing the titular role in 'Judy' were not at the event.

Lily James presented acting legend Kristin Scott Thomas the honorary Richard Harris award, whose previous recipients include Julie Walters, Emma Thompson, and Judi Dench.

Other nominees included Jessie Buckley for her part as a Glaswegian singer trying to made it on the Tennessee country scene in 'Wild Rose', and Chiwetel Ejiofor for Best Supporting Actress in the Netflix film 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind'.