By M&C News Dec 1, 2005, 10:32 GMT
The results of the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) were announced November 30, where top honours were shared between director Fernando Meirelles’ sweeping tale of romance and politics, 'The Constant Gardener', and the claustrophobic horror of Neil Marshall’s 'The Descent'.
Brazilian Meirelles’ African-set 'The Constant Gardener' was the big winner, taking three top awards – BEST ACTOR, Ralph Fiennes, BEST ACTRESS, Rachel Weisz, and BEST FILM.
Marshall’s leaner budgeted 'The Descent', which has become a box office success at home and abroad, won him BEST DIRECTOR and also took the BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT Award for the film’s editor, Jon Harris.
The success in the awards of 'The Constant Gardene'r is a further triumph for UK producer Simon Channing Williams, whose 'Vera Drake' dominated last year’s BIFAs, scooping six awards including the prestigious Best Film and Best Director trophies.
The other awards categories showed an equally eclectic mix: Scottish director Annie Griffin wins the DOUGLAS HICKOX (DEBUT DIRECTOR) Award for Festival her black comedy set during the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Griffin made her mark as a writer with the acclaimed TV series, 'The Book Room'.
BEST FOREIGN INDEPENDENT FILM was awarded to 'Downfall', the German director Oliver Hirschbiegel’s account of Adolf Hitler’s final days in his Berlin bunker as told by his secretary, while BEST DOCUMENTARY was awarded to Sean McAllister’s 'The Liberace of Baghdad', focusing on Iraq’s most famous pianist Samir Peter holed up in a Baghdad hotel as he waits for his visa which will grant him a new life in America.
BEST SCREENPLAY was given to Frank Cottrell Boyce for 'Million's'. And the SPECIAL JURY PRIZE awarded to industry veteran, producer Sandy Lieberson.
Actresses do well in the awards; one of our most seen young talents, Rosamund Pike took the BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS/ACTOR Award for her role as Elizabeth Malet in 'The Libertine'.
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER Award went to actress Emily Barclay in the UK/New Zealand co-production 'In My Father’s Den', the family-drama-with-hidden-secrets story of a disillusioned war journalist’s return home.
Keira Knightley received the VARIETY UK PERSONALITY Award, and Tilda Swinton was the recipient of this year’s RICHARD HARRIS AWARD, given annually to recognise outstanding achievement to the craft.
Hosting the 8th BIFA awards was James Nesbitt, with presenters including Hugh Dancy, Vanessa Redgrave, Kevin Macdonald, Ken Loach, John Simm, Amanda Donohoe, Helen McCrory, Imelda Staunton, Phil Davis and Joely Richardson.
You can view some photos from the event via the gallery to the top right.
Visit the official site for more information.
Your Talkback on this Story