Aside from the well-known national BAFTA awards presented in February, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts also recognizes regional talent through independent ceremonies in Scotland (BAFTA Scotland) and Wales (BAFTA Cymru).
The ceremony held today in Glasgow honored winners in 16 categories, with results shared on the organization’s social media platforms.
“On Falling” is the first feature film by Laura Carreira, a Portuguese director who has lived and worked in the UK for over a decade, and also created the short films “Red Hill” (2018) and “The Shift” (2020).
The film, produced by BRO Cinema and Sixteen Films as a Portuguese-British collaboration, delves into themes of job insecurity and loneliness and has already been showcased at various international festivals.
In 2024, Laura Carreira received a directing award at the San Sebastián Festival (Spain), and the film was honored with the First Feature Award at the London Film Festival.
Actress Joana Santos, the film’s lead, was recognized for her performance at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece.
“On Falling” follows the journey of Aurora, a young Portuguese émigrée in Scotland working a precarious and dehumanizing warehouse job, while struggling to survive and socialize in a house shared with other immigrants.
Born in Porto in 1994, Laura Carreira has lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, since she was 18, where she pursued a degree in film directing and continues to work.
“On Falling” marks Carreira’s first feature-length fiction film. The Portuguese-UK co-production was shot in Scotland with both professional and amateur actors.
Laura Carreira previously directed the shorts “Red Hill” (2018) and “The Shift” (2020), which also explore themes of work and insecurity.
Carreira is also nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Debut Director, and Best Debut Screenwriter honors at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), set to be announced on November 30.
