The winners of the 2014 Moët British Independent Film Awards (MBIFAs) were announced yesterday in a ceremony in Old Billingsgate, hosted by Inbetweeners star Simon Bird. The ceremony was the 17th in the BIFA’s history; the jury included writer-director Jonathan Romney (also a famous film critic), producer Tracy O’Riordan and actors Stanley Tucci and Luke Treadaway, and was chaired by Tom Hooper, director of Les Misérables (2012) and The King’s Speech (2010).
Before the event, Hooper commented: “I am honoured to preside over the Moët BIFA jury this year. It has been an extremely strong year for filmmaking here in Britain and I am looking forward to helping the very best of this year’s independent films get the recognition they deserve.”
It has been a record year for the MBIFA, with over 250 films submitted; the awards have turned out to be widely distributed amongst the nominees, with no film particularly stealing the limelight. Although nominated for nine awards, Yann Demange’s Belfast-set Troubles drama ‘71 went home with only one gong, while Mike Leigh’s highly acclaimed biopic Mr Turner went away empty-handed. Matthew Warchus’s Pride, the true story of the political alliance between gay rights protestors and striking miners in Thatcher’s Britain, went home with two awards, as did Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank, a fictional story inspired by Frank Sidebottom – the famous alter ego of British musician and comedian Chris Sievey.
The winners were as follows:
Best British Independent Film
Pride
Best Director
Yann Demange – ‘71
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Début 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 winner of the Richard Harris Award, for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film, was Emma Thompson, and the Variety Award was won by Benedict Cumberbatch. The Special Jury Prize went to legendary director John Boorman.
by Arjun Sajip
Image courtesy of thehollywoodnews.com