Irish-language rap comedy Kneecap emerged as the big winner at the British independent film awards (Bifas) on Sunday, with seven prizes in total including the headline best British independent film award. Starring rappers Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh – AKA Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – the Belfast-set film is directed by Rich Peppiatt and features an appearance from Michael Fassbender as a former republican paramilitary. The three leads won best joint lead performance, while Peppiatt also won best debut screenwriter. Kneecap had already won four craft awards, which were announced in November. In his acceptance speech Peppiatt said: “I have to mention there is an irony in the best British film being Irish.” The film was jointly funded by, among others, the BFI, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, and Northern Ireland Screen, and is Ireland’s entry for the best international feature film Oscar. Rungano Nyoni, took the best director award for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, having won the best debut director Bifa in 2017 for her previous film I Am Not a Witch, with actor Susan Chardy picking up breakthrough peformance. Other double winners on the night were in-game Shakespeare documentary Grand Theft Hamlet (best debut director – feature documentary, and Raindance Maverick award) and Lucknow-set crime drama Santosh (best screenplay and breakthrough producer). Though it was excluded from the writing and directing categories, Mike Leigh’s new film Hard Truths did pick up a major award with best lead performance for Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Full list of winners Best British independent film Kneecap Best international independent film Anora Best feature documentary Witches Best director Rungano Nyoni, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Best screenplay Sandhya Suri, Santosh Best lead performance Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths Best supporting performance Franz Rogowski, Bird Best joint lead performance Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh, Kneecap Best ensemble performance Wicked Little Letters Best debut director Christopher Andrews, Bring Them Down Best debut director – feature documentary Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane, Grand Theft Hamlet Breakthrough producer Balthazar De Ganay, James Bowsher, Santosh Breakthrough performance Susan Chardy, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Best debut screenwriter Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap Raindance Maverick award Grand Theft Hamlet Best British short film Wander to Wonder Outstanding contribution by an actor to British film Sophie Okonedo