Triple triumph for Slumdog and Hunger at Independent Awards

Danny Boyle and Steve McQueen scoop top gongs at BIFAs.

by Amber Wilkinson

Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire won the top gong

Slumdog Millionaire has won the top prize at the 11th British Independent Film Awards.

The film about an Indian street kid who ends up winning Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, also won awards for director Danny Boyle and star Dev Patel, who was named best newcomer.

Steve McQueen's Hunger - about the last days of hunger striker Bobby Sands - also won three gongs - best debut director, best actor (Michael Fassbinder) and best cinematography (Sean Bobbitt).

The awards, presented in London, are given to British films that are made independently for less than £10 million.

Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson, BIFA co-directors said: "It's been another stellar year for independent film in Britain. The diverse range of films nominated showcases an astounding lineup of talent both new and established that demands to be celebrated."

It was a night for newcomers, with big names Keira Knightly and Ralph Fiennes, failing to win awards. Vera Farmiga won the best actress award for her role in The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, while her co-star in the film David Thewlis - who plays a Nazi camp commandant - was given a prize for his outstanding contribution to British cinema.

Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky - about an eternally optimistic schoolteacher - scooped both best supporting actor gongs, for Eddie Marsan and Alexis Zegerman.

Best foreign film award went to recent UK release Waltz With Bashir - an animation about the 1982 Lebanon War.

In the equally hotly contested short film category Simon Ellis's Soft continued to cut a swathe through the competition that has seen it win a host of awards this year.

John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, the major funding partner of the BIFAs says: "This year's BIFA nominations and award winners really highlight the range of talent working in the UK with powerful, ground-breaking and imaginative films coming from filmmakers with diverse voices.

"Over the years these awards have developed a great knack for discovering exciting new talent and promoting them to a wider film world, consequently championing British independent film excellence and originality."

The nominees and winners are below:







Mark Herman –
Steve McQueen –
Danny Boyle –
Shane Meadows –
Garth Jennings –


James Watkins –
Rupert Wyatt –
Steve McQueen –
Martin McDonagh –
Eran Creevy –


Enda Walsh, Steve McQueen –
Martin McDonagh –
Simon Beaufoy –
Paul Fraser –
Garth Jennings –


Vera Farmiga –
Samantha Morton –
Keira Knightley –
Kelly Reilly –
Sally Hawkins –


Michael Fassbender –
Colin Farrell –
Brendan Gleeson –
Riz Ahmed –
Thomas Turgoose –


Emma Thompson –
Hayley Atwell –
Kristin Scott Thomas –
Sienna Miller –
Alexis Zegerman –


Ralph Fiennes –
Eddie Marsan –
Liam Cunningham –
Ralph Fiennes –
Daniel Mays –


Asa Butterfield –
Dev Patel –
Ayush Mahesh Khedekar –
Bill Milne –
Will Poulter –











Wardrobe – Michael O'Connor –
Cinematography – Sean Bobbitt –
Editing – Jon Gregory –
Music – Harry Escott, Molly Nyman –
Cinematography – Anthony Dod Mantle –


















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