Actors from Extra Geography, Effi o Blaenau, Animol and Sunny Dancer are among the 14 UK talents on the British Independent Film Awards (Bifa) b
Actors from Extra Geography, Effi o Blaenau, Animol and Sunny Dancer are among the 14 UK talents on the British Independent Film Awards (Bifa) breakthrough performance longlist for 2026.
The actors highlighted for their performances in up-to-date UK independent features include Galaxie Clear and Marni Duggan, leads in Molly Manners’ Extra Geography, about two teenage girls at an English boarding school who make it their summer project to fall in love.
Scroll down for the full longlist
Tut Nyuot and Sekou Diaby both make the list for their performances in Ashley Walters’ directorial debut Animol, set in a juvenile detention centre where juvenile inmates navigate the harsh realities while attempting to find redemption.
Also selected are Leisa Gwenllian for her role in Marc Evans’ Effi o Blaenau, about a juvenile woman living in a slate quarry town in Wales; and Daniel Quinn-Toye for George Jaques’ teenage cancer survivor camp drama Sunny Dancer.
Eight of the longlisted actors have previously been selected as Screen UK and Ireland Stars of Tomorrow: Galaxie Clear, Sekou Diaby, Leisa Gwenllian, Jonathan Jules (all 2026); Tut Nyuot, Daniel Quinn-Toye (2025), Florence Hunt (2024) and Laurie Kynaston (2018). Séamus McLean Ross was named in the Rising Stars Scotland showcase in 2024.
The actors all qualify for Bifa’s six-month Breakthrough Performers Programme, offering sessions covering career development, wellbeing, casting, financial literacy and networking opportunities.
Previous winners of the award include Ben Whishaw, Jamie Bell, Naomi Ackie, Dev Patel, Jessie Buckley, Walters, and last year’s recipient Posy Sterling for Lollipop.
The breakthrough performance longlist follows yesterday’s cinema of the year list. The nominees will be announced on Tuesday, November 3; with the winners revealed at the Bifa ceremony at London’s Camden Roundhouse on Sunday, December 6.
Bifa Breakthrough Performance longlist 2026
Galaxie Clear, Extra Geography
Sekou Diaby, Animol
Marni Duggan, Extra Geography
Olive Gray, Surviving Earth
Joshua Griffin, Masc
Leisa Gwenllian, Effi o Blaenau
Florence Hunt, Queen At Sea
Jonathan Jules, Florid
Laurie Kynaston, Lady
Chirag Benedict Lobo, The Cycle Of Love
Séamus McLean Ross, California Schemin’
Tut Nyuot, Animol
Daniel Quinn-Toye, Sunny Dancer
Luke Tittensor, Straight Circle
