The British Independent Film Awards were handed out Sunday evening and cult fave Ex Machina was the clear favorite taking home four prizes including the top prize. Founded in 1998, BIFA honors the best British independent films and filmmakers- a semi-cousin to our Independent Spirit Awards.
Alex Garland‘s sci-fi thriller- which starred Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens co-stars Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson- was critical and commercial success earlier this spring. While Ex Machina may be a bit too edgy to factor into the awards race fully, the film has managed a few stray prizes thus far (Vikander won Supporting Actress at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association) and the films’ cult will likely keep the film in heavy circulation for some time. Other big winners included Tom Hardy’s double performance in the gangster drama Legend (winning Best Actor) and Saorise Ronan‘s Best Actress prize for Brooklyn. Brooklyn looks to be contender with Ronan already receiving honors from the New York Film Critics Circle.
In perhaps the most ironic win so far in the 2015 awards cycle, Brendan Gleeson was cited for his supporting turn in the feminist period film Suffragette. The win for the veteran British actor marked only British Independent Film Award win for the female-heavy drama starring Carey Mulligan (Shame) and the films’ only major award on the circuit thus far. Check out the full list of winners below:
- BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM: Ex Machina
- DIRECTOR: Alex Garland, Ex Machina
- ACTOR: Tom Hardy, Legend
- ACTRESS: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
- SUPPORTING ACTOR: Brendan Gleeson, Suffragette
- SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Olivia Coleman, The Lobster
- SCREENPLAY: Ex Machina– Alex Garland
- INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM: Room
- DOCUMENTARY: Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance
- BRITISH SHORT: Edmond
- ACHIEVEMENT IN CRAFT: Ex Machina– Andrew Whitehurst (visual effects)
- DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD (Best Debut Director): Stephen Fingleton, The Survivalist
- MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER: Abigail Hardingham, Nina Forever
- DISCOVERY AWARD: Orion: The Man Who Would Be King
- PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Kajaki: The True Story
- VARIETY AWARD: Kate Winslet
- RICHARD HARRIS AWARD: Chiwetel Ejiofor
- SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: Chris Collins
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