Another great year at the 18th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards

Last night, at Old Billingsgate, stars of the British film industry braved the rain and arrived in hoards for the 18th Moët British Independent Film Awards. This glamorous event, hosted by the award-winning film maker and actor, RICHARD AYOADE, brought together the crème de la crème of British cinema to celebrate the wealth of independent British film this year.

Attendees of the star-studded event included KATE WINSLET, who received the Variety Award, an accolade bestowed on actors or filmmakers who have helped shine the international spotlight on Britain. BAFTA-winning actor CHIWETEL EJIOFOR was presented with the prestigious Richard Harris Award. Best British Independent Film was won by EX MACHINA and ALEX GARLAND won Best Director for EX MACHINA; the film will be screened in 74 cinemas across the country on Sunday 13 December as part of a landmark BIFA screening series supported by the BFI. Tickets can be booked at BIFA.

SAOIRSE RONAN won Best Actress for BROOKLYN and TOM HARDY won Best Actor for his dual role as Ronnie and Reggie Kray in LEGEND.

OLIVIA COLMAN won her third BIFA for her Best Supporting Actress performance in THE LOBSTER. BRENDAN GLEESON made it two years in a row, winning Best Supporting Actor for SUFFERGETTE this year after taking away Best Actor for Calvary last year.

Other guests included: ABIGAIL HARDINGHAM, AGYNESS DEYN, ALICIA VIKANDER, ANNE-MARIE DUFF, CAREY MULLIGAN, CELIA IMRIE, COLIN FARRELL, DOMHNALL GLEESON, DOUGLAS BOOTH, HELENA BONHAM CARTER, JASON ISAACS, JIM STURGESS, JULIE WALTERS, MARION COTILLARD, MEERA SYAL, MIA GOTH, MILO PARKER, STANLEY TUCCI, STEPHEN FINGLETON, TILLY WOOD, THOMAS BRODIE SANGSTER & TOM COURTENAY.

All of the lucky winners took home the iconic award designed by Fredrikson Stallard, and created by Swarovski as well as a personalised, Swarovski crystal encrusted magnum of Moët & Chandon.

KATE WINSLET, recipient of the prestigious Variety award, commented in her acceptance speech “It feels really great to be British, this moment, and being in this room feels really special… independent film is where I’ve learnt the most and laughed the most”

In Moët’s 6th year as title sponsor, guests were welcomed and invited to celebrate with Miniature Moët bottles, followed by Moët & Chandon served from Magnums over the glamorous dinner.

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PRAWN COCKTAIL
Atlantic prawns with a classic brandy-scented marie rose sauce, crisp romaine lettuce, pickled lemon and keta caviar

PIE & MASH
Steak, ale and mushroom pie, served with creamy mashed potato, wilted spinach and chantenay carrots

PUDDINGS
Sherry trifle, lemon meringue pie, pecan tart, white chocolate macaroons and
champagne jellies

Coffee, tea and petits fours
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During the after party Moët & Chandon was served alongside Jameson Whiskey cocktails, as well as a delicious choice of Blackcurrant or Blackberry Bellini.

The Moët & Chandon Pyramid also gave VIP guests the opportunity to try their hand at pouring champagne in one of the most extraordinary and unique ways during the reception.

2015 MOËT BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS WINNERS (bold and red):

Best British Independent Film (sponsored by Moët & Chandon)
45 YEARS Tristan Goligher, Andrew Haigh
AMY James Gay-Rees, Asif Kapadia
EX MACHINA Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, Alex Garland
THE LOBSTER Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Efthymis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos
MACBETH Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Laura Hastings-Smith, Todd Louiso, Jacob Koskoff, Michael Lesslie, Justin Kurzel

Best Director
45 YEARS Andrew Haigh
AMY Asif Kapadia
EX MACHINA Alex Garland
THE LOBSTER Yorgos Lanthimos
MACBETH Justin Kurzel

Best Actress (sponsored by MAC)
MARION COTILLARD Macbeth
CAREY MULLIGAN Suffragette
CHARLOTTE RAMPLING 45 Years
SAOIRSE RONAN Brooklyn
ALICIA VIKANDER The Danish Girl

Best Supporting Actress
HELENA BONHAM CARTER Suffragette
OLIVIA COLMAN The Lobster
ANNE-MARIE DUFF Suffragette
SIENNA MILLER High-Rise
JULIE WALTERS Brooklyn

Most Promising Newcomer (sponsored by The London Edition)
AGYNESS DEYN Sunset Song
MIA GOTH The Survivalist
ABIGAIL HARDINGHAM Nina Forever
MILO PARKER Mr Holmes
BEL POWLEY A Royal Night Out

The Discovery Award (sponsored by Raindance)
AAAAAAAAH! Andrew Starke, Steve Oram
BURN BURN BURN Daniel-Konrad Cooper, Tim Phillips, Charlie Covell, Chanya Button
ORION: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING Jeanie Finlay
THE RETURN Oliver Nias
WINTER Tilly Wood, Paula Crickard, Heidi Greensmith

Producer of the Year
TRISTAN GOLIGHER 45 Years
JAMES GAY-REES Amy
PAUL KATIS, ANDREW DE LOTBINIERE Kajaki: The True Story
CECI DEMPSEY, ED GUINEY, YORGOS LANTHIMOS, LEE MAGIDAY The Lobster
DAVID A HUGHES, DAVID MOORES The Violators

Best British Short Film
BALCONY Tom Kimberley, Ali Mansuri, Toby Fell-Holden
CRACK Joseph Taussig, Peter King
EDMOND Emilie Jouffroy, Nina Gantz
LOVE IS BLIND Lizzie Brown, Dan Hodgson
MANoMAN Kamilla Kristiane Hodøl, Simon Cartwright

Best Screenplay (sponsored by BBC Films)
45 YEARS Andrew Haigh
BROOKLYN Nick Hornby
EX MACHINA Alex Garland
HIGH-RISE Amy Jump
THE LOBSTER Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou

Best Actor (sponsored by Movado)
TOM COURTENAY 45 Years
COLIN FARRELL The Lobster
MICHAEL FASSBENDER Macbeth
TOM HARDY Legend
TOM HIDDLESTON High-Rise

Best Supporting Actor
LUKE EVANS High-Rise
BRENDAN GLEESON Suffragette
DOMHNALL GLEESON Brooklyn
SEAN HARRIS Macbeth
BEN WHISHAW The Lobster

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) (sponsored by 3 Mills Studios)
THE HALLOW Corin Hardy
KAJAKI: THE TRUE STORY Paul Katis
NINA FOREVER Chris & Ben Blaine
SLOW WEST John Maclean
THE SURVIVALIST Stephen Fingleton

Best Documentary
AMY James Gay-Rees, Asif Kapadia
DARK HORSE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Judith Dawson, Louise Osmond
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD Bous De Jong, Al Morrow, Jerry Rothwell
PALIO James Gay-Rees, John Hunt, Cosima Spender
A SYRIAN LOVE STORY Elhum Shakerifar, Sean McAllister

Outstanding Achievement in Craft
ADAM ARKAPAW Cinematography – Macbeth
MARK DIGBY Production Design – Ex Machina
CHRIS KING Editing – Amy
FIONA WEIR Casting – Brooklyn
ANDREW WHITEHURST Visual Effects, Ex Machina

Best International Independent Film
CAROL Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon, Phyllis Nagy, Todd Haynes
FORCE MAJEURE Erik Hemmendorff, Marie Kjellson, Philippe Bober, Ruben Östlund
GIRLHOOD Bénédicte Couvreur, Céline Sciamma
ROOM Ed Guiney, David Gross, Emma Donoghue, Lenny Abrahamson
SON OF SAUL Gábor Sipos, Gábor Rajna, Cara Royer, László Nemes