Two Manx-made movies have achieved nominations in the prestigious British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs), which take place on Sunday 6th November.  

British actor Christian McKay (pictured) has been nominated for Best Newcomer for his performance as Orson Welles in Me & Orson Welles, which was filmed in the Gaiety Theatre in March last year.

Meawhile, gritty kidnap thriller The Disappearance of Alice Creed, which was shot on the Island earlier this year, has been nominated for Best Overall Production for the Raindance Award which honours an independent film, often by a first-time director, that demonstrates visionary energy and artistic integrity.

DTI Minister David Cretney MHK says, "Despite the recent difficulties which we are experiencing in terms of volume of films produced on the Island, we are delighted that the quality of productions we are working with remains high and that our reputation as a reliable film

financier and producer is intact.

"Like many other industries across the Island and further afield, the film industry has been seriously affected by the recent global financial difficulties but we are very hopeful that we’ll see an upturn in 2010.

"In the meantime, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for our nominees on 6th December."

Me & Orson Welles will be screening in the Broadway Cinema and in cinemas across the UK from December 4th 2009.  The Disappearance of Alice Creed will be released in the UK next year.