Ex Machina was the big winner at last night's Moët British Independent Film Awards as the science fiction film scooped four awards, including the Best British Independent Film gong.
Ex Machina
Ex Machina is a film that has had critics and audiences raving all year and could well find itself in the Oscar mix next year. It was the toast of London last night as the movie also scooped Best Director and Best Screenplay for Alex Garland and Outstanding Achievement in Craft for Andrew Whitehurst, who produced the film's wonderful visual effects.
Ex Machina saw off tough competition from 45 Years, Amy, The Lobster, and Macbeth to win Best Film, while Garland was up against Andrew Haigh, Asif Kapadia, Yorgos Lanthimos and Justin Kurzel - for 45 Years, Amy, The Lobster, and Macbeth - for Best Director. Hard to believe that Ex Machina is the feature film directorial debut for Garland who made the leap from screenwriter to director's chair.
Tom Hardy triumphed in the Best Actor category for his dual performance as Ronnie and Reggie Kray in Legend, beating off very tough competition from Tom Courtenay, Colin Farrell, Michael Fassbender and Tom Hiddleston for their performances in 45 Years, The Lobster, Macbeth, and High-Rise.
Saoirse Ronan's performance in Brooklyn has been critically acclaimed since the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year, and she scooped Best Actress for her performance. The actress is tipped to pick up her first Best Actress Oscar nomination early next year.
The Best Actress category was another tough one as Ronan was nominated alongside Marion Cotillard (Macbeth), Carey Mulligan (Suffragette), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years), and Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl).
The Lobster was a movie that was nominated in many major categories, but it only walked away with Best Supporting Actress for Oliva Colman. It was also a disappointing night for the multi-nominated Suffragette - Brendan Gleeson was their only winner as he scooped Best Supporting Actor.
Amy was perhaps the favourite to scoop Best Documentary but missed out as Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance triumphed; How To Change the World, Palio, and A Syrian Love Story were also nominated.
Room is a movie that will hit UK cinema screens in the new year but it already winning over the critics and it went on to win Best International Independent Film. Carol, Force Majeure, Girlhood, and Son of Saul were also nominated.
Full List of Winners:
- Best British Independent Film sponsored by Moët & Chandon: Ex Machina
- Best Director: Alex Garland - Ex Machina
- Best Actor sponsored by Movado: Tom Hardy - Legend
- Best Actress sponsored by MAC: Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn
- Best Supporting Actor: Brendan Gleeson - Suffragette
- Best Supporting Actress: Olivia Colman - The Lobster
- Best Screenplay sponsored by BBC Films: Alex Garland - Ex Machina
- Most Promising Newcomer sponsored by The London Edition: Abigail Hardingham - Nina Forever
- The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) sponsored by 3 Mills Studios: The Survivalist - Stephen Fingleton
- Best Documentary: Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance - Judith Dawson, Louise Osmond
- The Discovery Award sponsored by Raindance: Orion: The Man Who Would Be King - Jeanie Finlay
- Producer of the Year: Paul Katis, Andrew De Lotbiniere - Kajaki: The True Story
- Outstanding Achievement in Craft: Andrew Whitehurst - Visual Effect for Ex Machina
- Best British Short Film: Edmond - Emilie Jouffroy, Nina Gantz
- Best International Independent Film: Room - David Gross, Emma Donoghue, Lenny Abrahamson.
Tagged in British Independent Film Awards