As awards season continues to heat up, the British Independent Film Awards just announced their nominees. While the women centric results from the European Film Awards were dire to say the least, women are faring better here.

And the lead actress race plans to be epic considering you have two of the greatest actresses nominated — Meryl Streep and Dame Judi Dench. The winners will be announced on December 9.

Here are the women nominated:

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director):

Sally El Hosaini — My Brother The Devil

Best Screenplay:

Abi Morgan — The Iron Lady

Alice Lowe, Amy Jump, Steve Oram — Sightseers

Best Actress:

Alice Lowe — Sightseers

Andrea Risenborough — Shadow Dancer

Elle Fanning — Ginger and Rosa

Judi Dench — The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Meryl Streep — The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actress:

Alice Englert — Ginger and Rosa

Eileen Davies — Sightseers

Maggie Smith — The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Olivia Colman — Hyde Park on Hudson

Vanessa Redgrave — Song for Marion

Most Promising Newcomer:

Eloise Lawrence — Broken

Zawe Ashton — Dreams of a Life

Best Documentary:

Carol Morley — Dreams of a Life

Judi Dench and Meryl Streep go head to head for Independent Film Awards (The Telegraph)

Dame Judi among veteran stars leading indie film nominees (BBC News)