A Philippine-set thriller, in the little-known language of Tagalog, has won the most awards – including the top awards – at this year’s British Independent Film Awards.
The BIFA for Best British Independent Film went to Metro Manila and the Best Director prize went the man behind it, Sean Ellis. The film was also honoured for the Best Achievement in Production.
The lead-acting prizes went to Lindsay Duncan for Le Week-End and James McAvoy for Filth. McAvoy said that the word “independent” really means “on your own.” “But tonight, we’re not on our own,” he added, at a star-studded ceremony, where nominees were treated to a plush mean including salmon, horseradish and dill rillettes, caramelised pumpkin wedges, roasted butternut squash and sage pithivier and salted caramel pannacotta.
Imogen Poots was the Best Supporting Actress for The Look of Love and Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn took the Best Supporting Actor honours for the prison drama Starred Up, which won the Best Screenplay prize at the London Film Festival but is yet to receive a theatrical release.
Starred Up and The Selfish Giant, which went into the night with the most nominations, took home only one award each.
Previously announced honours for veteran film-makers included the Richard Harris Award for an outstanding contribution by an actor, which went to Julie Walters; the Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass won the Variety Award, which recognises someone who has helped to shine the international spotlight on the UK; the Special Jury Prize went to the team that has brought the work of Ken Loach to the big screen.
The director of the BFI Film Fund, Ben Roberts, said 2013 had been a standout year for British film and the BIFAs had done a great job of spotlighting many brilliant filmmakers.
The full list of 2013 BIFA winners:
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Metro Manila
BEST DIRECTOR
Sean Ellis – Metro Manila
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Paul Wright – For Those in Peril
BEST SCREENPLAY
Steven Knight – Locke
BEST ACTRESS
Lindsay Duncan – Le Week-end
BEST ACTOR
James McAvoy – Filth
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Imogen Poots – The Look Of Love
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ben Mendelsohn – Starred Up
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Chloe Pirrie – Shell
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Metro Manila
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Amy Hubbard – Casting – The Selfish Giant
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer
BEST BRITISH SHORT
Z1
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
Blue is the Warmest Colour
THE RAINDANCE AWARD
THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
Julie Walters
THE VARIETY AWARD
Paul Greengrass
THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Sixteen Films & Friends (AKA Team Loach)