Wednesday, December 3-------The British Independent Film Awards, referred to as the "Brit indie Oscars" were announced this past weekend in London. A groovy event held this year at the Old Billingsgate Market, the BIFAs have become the cool alternative to the BAFTA Awards, which will be given out in January 2009.
The big winner of the evening, further consolidating its international box office performance is SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, the crowd-pleaser from Danny Boyle. The film won awards as Best British Independent Film, for its director Danny Boyle, and lead actor Dov Patel as Most Promising Newcomer.
Also winning three prizes was the Cannes Camera d'Or winner HUNGER by video artist-turned-filmmaker Steve McQueen, who won the Best Debut Director award, and the film's Michael Fassbender receiving well deserved kudos as Best Actor for his gut-wrenching and extremely physical performance as 1970s Irish activist Bobby Sands. Also winning for the film's exquisite cinematography was Sean Bobbitt.
Hats off to BIFA for acknowledging some of the best (if decidely offbeat) performances in film this year, including Eddie Marsden's hilarious and hurting performance as the driving instructor and Alexis Zegerman's turn as the kooky best friend in Mike Leigh's HAPPY GO LUCKY. A surprise choice was American indie actress Vera Farmiga's win as Best Actress in the Holocaust drama THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS. Hopefully these nods will help the films' chances of copping serious BAFTA, Oscar and Golden Globe consideration.
BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS
Best British Independent Film
Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
The Douglas Hickox Award (best debut director)
Steve McQueen, Hunger
Best Screenplay
Martin McDonagh, In Bruges
Best Actress
Vera Farmiga, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Best Actor
Michael Fassbender, Hunger
Best Supporting Actress
Alexis Zegerman, Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actor
Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky
Most Promising Newcomer
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Achievement in Production
The Escapist
Raindance Award
Zebra Crossings
Best Technical Achievement
Sean Bobbitt, Hunger for cinematography
Best Documentary
Man on Wire
Best British Short
Soft
Best Foreign Film
Waltz with Bashir
The Richard Harris Award (for Outstanding Contribution to British Film)
David Thewlis
The Variety Award
Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon)
Special Jury Prize
Joe Dunton
Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor
03.12.2008 | AwardsWatch's blog
Cat. : Alexis Zegerman Awards Watch BAFTA Best Debut Bobby Sands British Independent Film Awards British Independent Film Awards Cannes Danny Boyle Danny Boyle David Thewlis Dev Patel Dov Patel Eddie Marsan Eddie Marsden English Hindus Entertainment Entertainment Evening Standard British Film Awards Film Golden Globe Joe Dunton London Martin McDonagh Michael Fassbender Michael Fassbender Michael Sheen Mike Leigh Oscar Oscars Sandy Mandelberger Sean Bobbitt Slumdog Millionaire Steve McQueen the BAFTA awards the Best Debut Director award The Boy in the Striped Pajamas the British Independent Film Awards the Cannes the Douglas Hickox Award THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD Vera Farmiga AWARDS