WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT THE 15^TH MOËT BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS

London, Sunday 9^th December – An impressive array of British talent turned out this evening for the 15^th Moët British Independent Film Awards. The winners were announced at the star-studded ceremony, held at Old Billingsgate which was hosted by BIFA Winning actor James Nesbitt.

Best British Independent Film was won by BROKEN with Peter Strickland picking up Best Director for BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO; Andrea Riseborough won Best Actress for SHADOW DANCER and Toby Jones won Best Actor for BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO. Olivia Colman collected her second BIFA in two years, this time for Best Supporting Actress for HYDE PARK ON HUDSON and Rory Kinnear took home Best Supporting Actor for BROKEN.

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO won the most awards on the night, picking up four trophies for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Achievement In Production and Best Technical Achievement. THE IMPOSTER won two awards: Best British Documentary and The Douglas Hickox Award (Directorial Debut) for Bart Layton, matching the tally for BROKEN which also won two for Best British Independent Film and Best Supporting Actor. SIGHTSEERS won Best Screenplay and THE HUNT was awarded Best International Independent Film. James Floyd picked up the Most Promising Newcomer Award for his role in MY BROTHER THE DEVIL.

Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: "It is wonderful to see so many films acknowledged by our jury which goes to prove what a strong year 2012 has been for British Independent film. We were delighted that so many of the winners were with us tonight to collect their awards and celebrate our 15th Birthday, along with a number of previous winners, patrons, and friends of BIFA. We are extremely proud that The Moët British Independent Film Awards continues to highlight the extraordinary talent that is so plentiful within British independent filmmaking today."

As previously announced, Sir Michael Gambon was awarded the coveted Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film, and Jude Law the Variety Award, which recognises an actor, director, writer or producer who has helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK. The Special Jury Prize went to Sandra Hebron.

Emelie De Vitis, Marketing Director for Moët & Chandon, commented:  "Moët & Chandon is delighted to celebrate BIFA's 15th anniversary, as the stature of the awards continues to grow with so many world class winners. We are thrilled that so many of the brightest stars of the British film industry supported our ‘Toast for a Cause’ initiative, helping raise thousands of pounds for their favourite charities.”

The Raindance Award was won by STRINGS. Elliot Grove, Founder of Raindance Film Festival and BIFA added: “This year’s BIFA nominations demonstrate that British filmmakers are now an international force to be reckoned with.”

The Moët British Independent Film Awards are proud to announce the following winners for 2012 (highlighted below in red): 

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

Sponsored by Moët & Chandon

Berberian Sound Studio

Broken

Sightseers

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Imposter

BEST DIRECTOR

Sponsored by AllCity & Intermission

Bart Layton – The Imposter

Ben Wheatley – Sightseers

John Madden – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Peter Strickland – Berberian Sound Studio

Rufus Norris – Broken

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]

Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios

Bart Layton – The Imposter

Ben Drew – Ill Manors

Rowan Athale – Wasteland

Rufus Norris – Broken

Sally El Hosaini – My Brother the Devil

BEST SCREENPLAY

Sponsored by BBC Films

Abi Morgan – The Iron Lady

Alice Lowe, Steve Oram, Amy Jump – Sightseers

Mark O'Rowe – Broken

Paul Andrew Williams – Song for Marion

Peter Strickland – Berberian Sound Studio

BEST ACTRESS

Sponsored by M.A.C

Alice Lowe (Tina) – Sightseers

Andrea Riseborough (Colette McVeigh) – Shadow Dancer

Elle Fanning (Ginger) – Ginger & Rosa

Judi Dench (Evelyn Greenslade) – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Meryl Streep (Margaret Thatcher) – The Iron Lady

BEST ACTOR

Riz Ahmed (Aaron) – Ill Manors

Steve Oram (Chris) – Sightseers

Terence Stamp (Arthur) – Song for Marion

Tim Roth (Archie) – Broken

Toby Jones (Gilderoy) – Berberian Sound Studio

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Alice Englert (Rosa) – Ginger & Rosa

Eileen Davies (Carol) – Sightseers

Maggie Smith (Muriel Donnelly) – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth) – Hyde Park on Hudson

Vanessa Redgrave (Marion) – Song for Marion

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Sponsored by Sanderson & St Martins Lane

Billy Connolly (Wilf) – Quartet

Cillian Murphy (Mike Kiernan) – Broken

Domhnall Gleeson (Connor) – Shadow Dancer

Rory Kinnear (Bob Oswald) – Broken

Tom Wilkinson (Graham Dashwood) – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

Sponsored by Studiocanal

Elliott Tittensor (Tits) – Spike Island

Eloise Laurence (Skunk) – Broken

James Floyd (Rashid) – My Brother the Devil

Paul Brannigan (Robbie) – The Angels' Share

Zawe Ashton (Joyce Vincent) – Dreams of a Life

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

Sponsored by Company3

Berberian Sound Studio

Ill Manors

Sightseers

The Imposter

The Sweeney

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Sponsored by LightBrigade Media

Nic Knowland BSC– Cinematography – Berberian Sound Studio

Joakim Sundström, Stevie Haywood AMPS IPS– Sound Design – Berberian Sound Studio

Electric Wave Bureau – Music – Broken

Robbie Ryan – Cinematography – Ginger & Rosa

Andrew Hulme – Editing – The Imposter

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Dreams of a Life

London: The Modern Babylon

Marley

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir

The Imposter

BEST BRITISH SHORT

Supported by the BFI

Friday

Junk

Skyborn

Swimmer

Volume

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM

Amour

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Rust and Bone

Searching For Sugar Man

The Hunt

THE RAINDANCE AWARD

Frank

Strings

Love Tomorrow

City Slacker

Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)

Sir Michael Gambon

THE VARIETY AWARD

Jude Law

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

Sandra Hebron

Proud supporters and patrons of The Moët British Independent Film Awards include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, James Nesbitt, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.

The Moët British Independent Film Awards would like to thank all its supporters, especially: Moët & Chandon, BFI, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, Company3, M.A.C, Raindance, Sanderson & St Martins Lane – Morgans Hotel Group, Soho House, Studiocanal, Swarovski, Variety, AD Creative, AllCity, Intermission and LightBrigade Media.

Created by Raindance

Notes to the editor:

About The MOËT British Independent Film Awards.

Created in 1998, The British Independent Film Awards set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British filmmaking and British talent to a wider public.

In recognition of Moët & Chandon’s generous contribution as headline sponsor, the 2012 event is referred to as The MOËT British Independent Film Awards.

“Toast for a Cause”: whereby winners and nominees are invited to raise funds for their favourite charities by toasting with a mini bottle of Moët & Chandon.