British Film Editors has announced the nominees for the Michael Johns Cut Above Award for Outstanding Assistant Editor and the Chris Crookall Cut Above Award for Breakthrough Editor.

The Outstanding Assistant Editor and The Breakthrough Editor Awards for young editing talent are in memory of two members who passed away in 2020. The winners will be announced at the BFE Cut Above Awards ceremony, to be held as a live streamed event on the 5th March at 7.30pm.

The five finalists in each category were selected by a sub-committee of BFE governors from a long-list of nominees. The winner of the awards will be chosen by separate juries, each chaired by a renowned editor. The juries will partly base their decision on interviews with the finalists and the BFE members who nominated them.

The Michael Johns Cut Above Award for Outstanding Assistant Editor nominees:

• ●  Ruth Antoine
• ●  Tom Coope
• ●  Simon Davis
• ●  Christopher Frith
• ●  Jay Kishan Patel

  Michael Johns had been a governor of GBFTE (the fore-runner of BFE) for many years, and one of his outstanding merits was in the championing of junior members of the cutting room, constantly offering help and advice.

  “These finalists have demonstrated that they are exceptional Assistant Editors. They are soaring in this role. If they choose to become editors they will be building on a very firm foundation. Behind their pathways to success are stories of endeavour, flair, cooperation and determination.”

  – Renée Edwards BFE, Chair.

The Chris Crookall Cut Above Award for Breakthrough Editor nominees:

• ●  Lindsey Woodward ​(I May Destroy You, The Last Bus)
• ●  Tatjana Rhodes ​(Tummy Ache, Dorcha)
• ●  Dan Gage​ ​(Home, Staged)
• ●  Liyana Mansor ​(​The Alienist)
• ●  Izzy Curry ​(Goldfish, I Hate Suzie)
• The BFE selection sub-committee wanted to highlight two nominees as ‘highly commended’: Gaz Evans

  (​Porno Uncle Jim)​ and Simon Whitcombe (​The Heist​).

  Chris Crookall was a younger BFE member who was enjoying an exceptional career. This Award for Breakthrough Editor ​celebrates the outstanding achievements of emerging editing talent in 2020​. ​All of these finalists have demonstrated exemplary qualities be that in documentary or in drama.