Despite critical success it has struggled to gain recognition in international awards circles, but We Need To Talk About Kevin took top prize tonight at the Evening Standard British Film Awards, held in association with the London Film Museum. The Best Actor award went to Michael Fassbender for two roles, in Shame and Jane Eyre, whilst Olivia Colman took the Best Actress prize for her performance as a charity shop worker with a secret in Tyrannosaur.
It was a good night for new talent, with Andrew Haigh winning Best Screenplay for Weekend, and Tom Kingsley and Will Sharpe winning Best Newcomers for dark comedy Black Pond. Robbie Ryan won a special award for his cinematography in Wuthering Heights and Asif Kapadia took home the Best Documentary award for the highly acclaimed Senna. Meanwhile, the Peter Sellers award for comedy went to The Guard. Writer and director John Michael McDonagh sent a message in response: "I'm shocked... I thought Tyrannosaur would win it".
John Hurt was presented with an award for his lifetime contribution to cinema by Stephen Frears.
