Moon Is Big Winner At British Independent Film Awards

by Helen Earnshaw | 8 December 2009

The British film industry was under the spotlight this weekend when the 12th British Independent Film Awards rolled into town.

And it was festival favourites Moon and Fish Tank that came away as the big winners taking home two gongs a piece.

Each year throws up a new and exciting filmmaker and 2009 is no different as it comes in the form of Duncan Jones as he makes his directorial debut with Moon.

And the first time filmmaker saw him beautifully crafted movie scoop the best British Independent Film award as well as Jones winning Best Debut Director.

Moon has been a huge hit on the festival circuit this year and could well be a dark horse when the awards season gets into full swing.

Another big success story is Fish Tank, which shot teenage Katie Jarvis to stardom when the movie hit the festivals in 2009.

The follow up to Andrea Arnold’s Red Road back in 2006 and she remains one of the most exciting British directors currently working in the industry.

And for Fish tank Arnold scooped Best Director as well as Katie Jarvis picking up Most Promising Newcomer for her central performance.

It’s been a great week for Carey Mulligan as she picked up yet another award, this time in the form of Best Actress, for her role in An Education.

The actress is a serious prospect for the Golden Globes and could see herself sneak an Oscar nomination when they are announced in the new year.

Tom Hardy produced one of the most off the wall performances of 2009 for his role as notorious prisoner Charles Bronson in Bronson.

And for that performance he picked up the Best Actor gong. It rounds off a great year for the actor as he has found success on both the big screen as well as TV.

Nowhere Boy, which is yet to be released in the UK, has put actress Anne Marie Duff in the spotlight as she takes on the role of Julia Lennon.

She has come a long way since her Shameless days and she picked up the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance.

Best Supporting Actor when to John Henshaw for his role in the football themed Looking For Eric.

Daniel Day Lewis picked up the Outstanding Contribution award and returns to the big screen for the musical Nine.

The actor has already won two Oscars for his roles in My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood and has an outside chance of a nomination this time around for his role in Nine.

British acting legend Michael Caine was awarded The Variety Award.

Full list of winners:

Best British Independent Film - Moon

Best Director - Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank)

Best Debut Director - Duncan Jones (Moon)

Best Screenplay - In The Loop

Best Actress - Carey Mulligan (An Education)

Best Actor - Tom Hardy (Bronson)

Best Supporting Actress - Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy)

Best Supporting Actor - John Henshaw (Looking for Eric)

Most Promising Newcomer - Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank)

Best Documentary - Mugabe And The White African