The 7th British Independent Film Awards, held on 30 November 2004 and hosted by Richard Jobson,^[1] honoured the best British independent films of 2004. For the second year in succession, the award ceremony was held at the Hammersmith Palais, London.^[2] Mike Leigh's period drama, Vera Drake swept the board, winning every category but one in which it was nominated.^[3][4][5][6]

As per previous years, only films intended for theatrical release, and those which had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK or at a British film festival between 1 October 2003 and 30 November 2004 were eligible for consideration. In addition, they needed either to have been produced / majority co-produced by a British company, or in receipt of at least 51% of their budget from a British source or qualified as a British Film under DCMS guidelines. Lastly, they could not be solely funded by a single studio.^[7]

Shortlists were announced by James Purefoy on 26 October 2004 at Soho House in London. Dead Man's Shoes led with eight nominations,^[8][9] but would fail to win any category in which it was nominated. Winners in fourteen categories were selected from the shortlists and a further three were awarded entirely at the jury's discretion, whose make up included Anthony Minghella, Helena Bonham Carter, Christian Slater, Cate Blanchett, Rosamund Pike, Lynne Ramsay, Sam Taylor-Wood, Skin, Mark Cousins, Laura De Casto (MD, Tartan Films), Antonia Bird, David Aukin, John Akomfrah and Stewart Till.^[7] A new category, The Raindance Award, honouring exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds was introduced in this year.^[10]

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