The British Fantasy Awards (BFA) are awarded annually by the British Fantasy Society (BFS), first in 1976. Prior to that they were known as The August Derleth Fantasy Awards (see August Derleth Award). First awarded in 1972 (to ''The Knight of Swords'' by Michael Moorcock) only for novels, the number of award categories increased and in 1976 the BFS renamed them collectively to the British Fantasy Awards. As of 2023 the award categories are: * Best Fantasy Novel (the Robert Holdstock Award) * Best Horror Novel (the

August Derleth August William Derleth (February 24, 1909 – July 4, 1971) was an American writer and anthologist. He was the first book publisher of the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. He made contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos and the Lovecraftian horror, cosmi ...

Award) * Best Novella * Best Short Fiction * Best Anthology * Best Collection * Magazine/Periodical * Best Independent Press * Best Artist * Best Audio * Best Non-Fiction * Best Newcomer (the Sydney J. Bounds Award) * The Karl Edward Wagner Award for "important contribution to the genre or the Society" is given at the discretion of the BFS committee. The membership of the BFS vote to determine the shortlists of the awards, the winners being decided by juries.

Conventional Fiction Writing

¹Previously "Best Short Story", before 2008. ²Was originally presented as a single award known as "Best Novel", the August Derleth Fantasy Award, until split in 2012.

Anthology, Collection, Magazine, and Press

¹Provided as "Small Press" until 2015, when that was ended and replace with "Independent"

Multimedia

¹Was initially conferred 1973-1980 as "Best Comic"; it was revived in 2009 as "Best Comic / Graphic Novel". The category was removed at the 2022 AGM ²Awarded only to films from 1973 to 1990, this honor was renewed 2009–2011, (though split into two separate categories), and again starting in 2014 as "Best Film / Television Episode", and then "Best Film / Television Production" from 2016 onward. In the two years 2012–2013, the BFS decided to present for extraordinary contributions to screenplay literature to Woody Allen for ''Midnight in Paris'' (2012) and co-writers Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon for ''Cabin in the Woods'' (2013). The category was again removed following the 2022 AGM.

Nominees and winners (other awards)

Award controversy of 2011

In 2011, British writer Sam Stone won the British Fantasy Award but returned it three days later after editor and anthologist Stephen Jones posted a blog entry pointing out that three of the winning entries (and many of the shortlisted works) were published by Telos Publishing, a company owned by David Howe. At the time, Howe was also chair of the British Fantasy Society, British Fantasy Award coordinator, and partner of Stone.

References

External links

*
Excerpts and synopses of BFA Award winning and nominated novels
{{Fantasy fiction , state=collapsed

Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

Awards established in 1971 Novella awards Speculative fiction award–winning novellas 1971 establishments in the United Kingdom Anthology awards Short story collection awards