Pride The Big Winner At The British Independent Film Awards

by Helen Earnshaw | 8 December 2014

Pride

Pride was the big winner at the 17th Moet British Independent Film Awards, as it scooped three major awards, including Best British Independent Film.

Pride followed the U.K gay activists who helped the miners during their length strike back in 1984, and has won over critics and audiences since its release earlier this year.

It saw off competition from '71, Calvary, Mr Turner and The Imitation Game - all equally acclaimed movies - to scoop the top prize last night.

Imelda Staunton and Andrew Scott also walked away with the Best Supporting Actress and the Best Supporting Actor awards for their terrific performances in the film.

Yann Demange grabbed the attention of the movie world earlier this autumn with the release of '71, and he was rewarded with the Best Director award for his stunning work.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw - who has made her breakthrough this year with Belle - picked up the Best Actress award for her central performance in the period drama, seeing off the challenge from Alicia Vikander, Cheng Pei Pei, Keira Knightley, and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed.

The Best Actor category was one of the most competitive of the evening with Benedict Cumberbatch, Brendan Gleeson, Jack O'Connell, Timothy Spall and Asa Butterfield nomination for The Imitation Game, Calvary, '71, Mr Turner, and X+Y.

It was Brendan Gleeson who picked up the award after receiving rave reviews for his central performance as a priest in the John Michael McDonagh directed film.

Full List of Winners:

- Best British Independent Film

Pride

- Best Director

Yann Demange -'71

- The Douglas Hickox Award [Best Debut Director]
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Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard - 20,000 Days on Earth

- Best Screenplay
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Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan - Frank

- Best Actress
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Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Belle

- Best Actor
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