The 5th British Independent Film Awards, held on 30 October 2002 at the Pacha Nightclub in Victoria, London honoured the best British independent films of 2002.
[4] As per previous years, only films intended for theatrical release, and those which had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK or at a British film festival between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002 were eligible for consideration.
[5] Shortlists were announced on 18 September 2002 with Lynne Ramsay's psychological drama, Morvern Callar, leading with seven nominations.
[6] Winners in eleven categories were selected from the shortlists and a further five were awarded entirely at the jury's discretion, whose make up included Kate Ashfield, Jenne Cassarotto (Agent), Stuart Craig, Richard Gladstein, Robert Jones (Head of the premiere fund/film council), Asif Kapadia, Hamish McAlpine (Metro Tartan Distributors) and Trudie Styler.
An Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor and was created in this year to commemorate the life and work of Richard Harris.