The winners of the 17th Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced at the star-studded ceremony, held at Old Billingsgate, which was hosted by THE INBETWEENERS star, Simon Bird. PRIDE won the most awards on the night, picking up Best British Independent Film, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor. Other major awards winner include Yann Demange won Best Director for ’71, Gugu Mbatha-Raw won Best Actress for BELLE and Brendan Gleeson won Best Actor for CALVARY. Andrew Scott collected his award for Best Supporting Actor for PRIDE and Imelda Staunton took home her award for Best Supporting Actress also for her role in PRIDE.
As previously announced, Emma Thompson was awarded the coveted Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film, and Benedict Cumberbatch the Variety Award, which recognizes an actor, director, writer or producer who has helped to shine the international spotlight on the UK. The Special Jury Prize went to John Boorman. The Raindance Award was won by LUNA.
The Moët British Independent Film Awards winners for 2014:
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Pride
BEST DIRECTOR
Yann Demange – ’71
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – 20,000 Days on Earth
BEST SCREENPLAY
Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – Frank
BEST ACTRESS
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
BEST ACTOR
Brendan Gleeson – Calvary
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Imelda Staunton – Pride
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Andrew Scott – Pride
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
The Goob
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Stephen Rennicks – Music – Frank
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Next Goal Wins
BEST BRITISH SHORT
The Kármán Line
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
Boyhood
THE RAINDANCE AWARD
Luna
THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
Emma Thompson
THE VARIETY AWARD
Benedict Cumberbatch
THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
John Boorman