Culture-clash comedy Pride has won the top award at the 2014 Moët British Independent Film Awards (MBIFAs). The true story of an unusual political alliance between gay rights protestors and striking miners in 1980s Britain, it also took both best supporting actress for Imelda Staunton and best supporting actor for Andrew Scott.
Other categories were evenly spread across some of the year’s best UK indie films, with debut director Yann Demange taking best director for his Northern Ireland-set thriller ’71, Brendan Gleeson named best actor as the priest hero of Calvary, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw winning best actress for the 18th-century drama Belle.
As previously announced, Emma Thompson took home the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution to British film, with Benedict Cumberbatch taking the Variety Award and director John Boorman the Special Jury Prize.
Pride, ’71, Calvary, Belle and other winners including 20,000 Days on Earth, Frank, Catch Me Daddy and The Goob were all backed by the BFI Film Fund.
Ben Roberts, Director of the BFI Film Fund said:
Thanks to BIFA for recognising such an array of brilliant British storytelling and exceptional talent on both sides of the camera at this year's awards. We feel an enormous sense of pride in having worked with many of this year’s nominees and winners, many of whom we have been able to support with Lottery funding. Congratulations to them all and we look forward to working with many of them on their future projects, and seeing their continued success.”
The ceremony was hosted at Old Billingsgate, London by Inbetweeners star Simon Bird.
Best British independent film
Pride
Best director
Yann Demange – ’71
The Douglas Hickox Award [Best debut director]
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – 20,000 Days on Earth
Best screenplay
Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – Frank
Best actress
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
Best actor
Brendan Gleeson – Calvary
Best supporting actress
Imelda Staunton – Pride
Best supporting actor
Andrew Scott – Pride
Most promising newcomer
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy
Best achievement in production
The Goob
Best technical achievement
Stephen Rennicks – music – Frank
Best documentary
Next Goal Wins
Best British short
The Kármán Line
Best international independent film
Boyhood
The Raindance Award
Luna
The Richard Harris Award (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film)
Emma Thompson
The Variety Award
Benedict Cumberbatch
The Special Jury Prize
John Boorman
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