Peter Strickland’s critically acclaimed follow-up to his 2009 debut Katalin Varga, Berberian Sound Studio, has picked up the most prizes at the British Independent Film Awards. Its haul of four included Best Director for Strickland, Best Actor for Toby Jones, Best Production and Best Technical Achievement, for its Sound Design. Fittingly, in the film, Jones plays a film sound designer.
Theatre director Rufus Norris missed out on the best director prize, but his feature debut Broken won the Best British Independent Film. Rory Kinnear’s fearsome performance as a short-tempered neighbour earned him the Best Supporting Actor prize. The film is not yet scheduled for release in the UK, but it’s expected to hit the big screen some time in 2013.
The Imposter also won two BIFAs – one for Best Documentary and the director Bart Layton took the Best Debut Feature award.
Andrea Riseborough’s IRA supergrass in Shadow Dancer earned her the Best Actress honour, while the Best Supporting Actress prize went to Olivia Colman, in the as-yet-unreleased Hyde Park On Hudson.
The only award for the much heralded Sightseers was for co-stars Alice Lowe and Steve Oram for their screenplay.
The other main awards handed out at the ceremony at Old Billingsgate on the north bank of the Thames in the City of London, saw actor James Floyd honoured as the Most Promising Newcomer, for his role in My Brother The Devil, and The Hunt was awarded the Best International Independent Film prize.
The organisers also honoured Sir Michael Gambon with the Richard Harris Award for an outstanding contribution to British film by an actor, Jude Law was presented with the Variety Award for putting the spotlight on the UK industry and the Special Jury Prize went to Sandra Hebron, the year after she stood down after a decade at the helm of the London Film Festival.