5 December 2010
London, Sunday 5th December 2010; The British film industry turned out in force earlier this evening for The Moët British Independent Film Awards. The winners of the 13th edition were announced at the glittering ceremony held at Old Billingsgate which was hosted by James Nesbitt.
Best British Independent Film was won by The King’s Speech with Gareth Edwards picking up Best Director for Monsters, Carey Mulligan Best Actress for Never Let Me Go and Colin Firth Best Actor forThe King’s Speech.
Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: “It has been a great year for British film and this years nominations certainly reflected the talent working in the country today. We are thrilled for all our winners and are so pleased to see such a variety of films taking home awards tonight.”
The King’s Speech won the most awards on the night, picking up five trophies for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay. Monsters also picked up an impressive three awards.
Emelie De Vitis, Marketing Manager Moët & Chandon commented: “As the champagne of film and cinema, Moët & Chandon is delighted to share in the celebrations of the very well deserved winners at The Moët British Independent Film Awards. We are thrilled that so many winners and nominees supported our ‘Toast for a Cause’ initiative, helping raise thousands of pounds for their favourite charities by toasting with mini Moët & Chandon bottles.”
Elliot Grove, Founder Raindance Film Festival and BIFA added: “The bumper list of Moët BIFA films this year prove that, in Britain at least, lack of money has done nothing to hamper quality or creativity”
The Moët British Independent Film Awards are proud to announce the following winners for 2010:
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
THE KING’S SPEECH
BEST DIRECTOR
Sponsored by The Creative Partnership
GARETH EDWARDS (MONSTERS)
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
CLIO BARNARD (THE ARBOR)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Sponsored by BBC Films
DAVID SEIDLER (THE KING’S SPEECH)
BEST ACTRESS
Sponsored by M.A.C
CAREY MULLIGAN (NEVER LET ME GO)
BEST ACTOR
COLIN FIRTH (THE KING’S SPEECH)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
HELENA BONHAM CARTER (THE KING’S SPEECH)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
GEOFFREY RUSH (THE KING’S SPEECH)
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Sponsored by Optimum Releasing
JOANNE FROGGATT (IN OUR NAME)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Sponsored by Ascent Media
MONSTERS
RAINDANCE AWARD
Sponsored by Exile Media
SON OF BABYLON
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Sponsored by Chapter Media
GARETH EDWARDS – VISUAL EFFECTS (MONSTERS)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE
BEST BRITISH SHORT
BABY
BEST FOREIGN FILM
A PROPHET
THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)
Sponsored by Working Title
HELENA BONHAM CARTER
THE VARIETY AWARD
LIAM NEESON
THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Sponsored by UK Film Council
JENNE CASAROTTO
**** IMAGES FROM THE AWARDS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM HERE:
Password: 41sGy2dm
Proud patrons of The Moët British Independent Film Awards include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.
BIFA would like to thank all its supporters, especially: Moët & Chandon, UK Film Council, Ascent Media, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, Chapter Media, The Creative Partnership, Exile Media, M.A.C, Optimum Releasing, Raindance, Soho House, Swarovski, Variety, Working Title.
Created by Raindance
For press information regarding The Moët British Independent Film Awards contact Emma McCorkell or Caragh Cook at Organic Marketing:
NOTES TO EDITORS
BIFA was created by Raindance in 1998.
You are kindly requested to always refer to the Awards as The Moët British Independent Film Awards
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 2010
A film will be eligible for an Award if:
- It is intended for theatrical release, AND has had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK OR has screened at a British-based film festival between 1 December 2009 and 30 November 2010
- Where there is any major studio substantially funding a film, the total budget must not exceed $20M .
- It has been produced or majority co-produced by a British company OR is in receipt of at least 51% of its budget from a British source or sources OR it qualifies as a British film under the DCMS guidelines AND includes sufficient creative elements from the UK.
- BIFA also consider foreign independent films for the Best Foreign Independent Film category. Foreign films must have a British theatrical release during the eligibility period stated above.
- Best British Short Film Award submissions: Any British short films that have won an award between 16 October 2009 and 15 October 2010 are eligible for consideration. A short film must be no longer than 40 minutes (including credits).
- Films that have been entered previously are not eligible. Re-issues of previously released films are not eligible.
- All films submitted for consideration are viewed by the Advisory Committee with the help of a nominated screening panel, who then decide the nominations by ballot.
- All nominated films will be viewed by an independent jury. The winners will be decided by a secret ballot.
Full Eligibility Criteria may be viewed at: http://www.bifa.org.uk/rules
