British Film Editors has announced the winner of its inaugural Outstanding Contribution Award ahead of the ceremony for the 2025 Cut Above Awards with Paddington In Peru Film Editor, Úna Ní Dhonghaíle ACE, BFE  winning the honour.

BFE’s newest category is nominated by the BFE Board this year. The Outstanding Contribution Award honours an editor for their outstanding editing achievements and commitment to the craft. Úna Ní Dhonghaíle, ACE BFE won the award “for her tremendous contributions to cinema storytelling and her tireless work to champion the art and science of editing.”

Úna Ní Dhonghaíle, ACE BFE said, “I am deeply honoured, and completely humbled, to have received this incredible inaugural award, I have been rendered speechless!  I cannot thank the BFE Board of Governors enough. It means everything to me to be part of such an amazing community of editors at BFE and I feel we each support and raise the bar for each other. This is the greatest honour I could ever dream of, thank you!”

The BFE board said that Ní Dhonghaíle’s work “represents the very best of the craft of editing. Moreover, she generously mentors the next generation and her great volunteer work for BFE helps create community. In every way, Ní Dhonghaíle promotes the contributions that editors bring to the art of storytelling and inspires us all.”

She has collaborated with acclaimed directors including Sir Kenneth Branagh, Phillippa Lowthorpe, Tom Shankland, Hettie Macdonald, and Joachim Rønning. Her editing work includes the Oscar winning film BELFAST, DEATH ON THE NILE, STAN AND OLLIE, MISBEHAVIOUR as well as THE CROWN Series 1 and 2, THREE GIRLS, WALLANDER, and THE MISSING. Recognition includes 5 BAFTA nominations, 2 awards; 3 RTS nominations, 2 awards; 7 IFTA nominations, 3 wins. 

Ní Dhonghaíle edited YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA, which shall be released this summer and PADDINGTON IN PERU which is nominated for the BFE Cut Above Awards for Best Single Animation.

Two more categories, peer-nominated by Editors and Assistants and decided by a jury, were also revealed today
Chris Crookall Award for Breakthrough Editor:
(Sponsored by Salon)
Chris Crookall was a younger BFE member who was enjoying an outstanding career. It recognises a junior editor who shows the qualities and attributes to go far.
Nominees 2025:
Andre Prunetti
Romana Reeves
Ross Leppard
Jamie Kataky
Michal Zak
Michael Johns Award for Outstanding Assistant Editor:
Michael Johns, a long time governor of BFE was passionate about helping and promoting people in the industry. This award is open to any assistant editor in the UK.
Nominees 2025:
Jonny Moongate
Serwa Cort
Nick Davis
Emiliano Lopez
Jessica Medlycott
Highly Commended:  Jack Brown

The full list of nominations can be seen here

 

Awards Photography by Jonathan Knowles

Jon Creamer

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