British Independent Film Awards 2015: the winners in full
Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller Ex Machina wins four awards, including best director and best British independent film.
The science-fiction thriller Ex Machina, written and directed by Alex Garland, has triumphed at the 2015 British Independent Film Awards. It won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, taking the awards for best British independent film, best screenplay and best director for Garland, while its visual effects won for Andrew Whitehurst the night’s award for outstanding achievement in craft.
Other awards were distributed evenly, with Saoirse Ronan crowned best actress for her role in 1950s-set New York drama Brooklyn and Tom Hardy named best actor for his dual role as the Kray twins in Legend.
Olivia Colman took best supporting actress for her turn in The Lobster (the film’s only win from its seven nominations), with Brendan Gleeson nabbing best supporting actor for Suffragette.
Lenny Abrahamson’s Room beat off competition from rivals including Carol and Girlhood to be named best international independent film, while racing documentary Dark Horse is best British documentary.
The late BFI production executive Chris Collins was honoured with the BIFAs’ Special Jury Prize, with an on-stage tribute from Ben Roberts, director of the BFI Film Fund. Winning films with backing from the Film Fund include The Lobster, Brooklyn, Suffragette, The Survivalist and Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance.
Best British independent film
Ex Machina – Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, Alex Garland
Best director
Ex Machina – Alex Garland
Best actress
Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
Best actor
Tom Hardy – Legend
Best supporting actress
Olivia Colman – The Lobster
Best supporting actor
Brendan Gleeson – Suffragette
Most promising newcomer
Abigail Hardingham – Nina Forever
Best screenplay
Ex Machina – Alex Garland
The Douglas Hickox Award (best debut director)
The Survivalist – Stephen Fingleton
The Discovery Award
Orion: The Man Who Would Be King – Jeanie Finlay
Best documentary
Dark Horse – Judith Dawson, Louise Osmond
Producer of the year
Paul Katis, Andrew de Lotbiniere – Kajaki: The True Story
Outstanding achievement in craft
Andrew Whitehurst – Visual Effects, Ex Machina
Best British short film
Edmond – Emilie Jouffroy, Nina Gantz
Best international independent film
Room – Ed Guiney, David Gross, Emma Donoghue, Lenny Abrahamson
Variety award
Kate Winslet
Richard Harris award for outstanding contribution by an actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Special Jury Prize
Chris Collins
