MUMBAI: Films awarded Lottery funding to support their development and production have been nominated for 14 BAFTA Film Awards.

UK Film Council CEO John Woodward said, "In 2009 British independent films were more popular with cinema-goers than they have been for a decade – that, together with today’s news that three UK Film Council-backed films have been nominated in the BAFTA Outstanding British Film category, underlines the current strength of British filmmaking talent and the crucial importance of public investment in creative excellence."

Nowhere Boy is nominated for four awards, In the Loop and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll is nominated for two awards each, Fish Tank and Bright Star are nominated for one award each.

In addition, three short films supported by Lottery funding are nominated in the Short Film Category (I Do Air, Jade, and Off Season), and one film in the Short Animation category (Mother of Many).

Films which have had wider distribution have received more than 20 nominations.