Pride triumphs at British Independent Film Awards

Pride was named best British film at the BIFA Awards

Pride took home the top prize at the British Independent Film Awards in London last night (view the gallery here.

Stephen Beresford and Matthew Warchus' film about solidarity between striking miners and gay rights activists in the 80s also won both supporting acting prizes - for Imelda Staunton and Andrew Scott.

Writer Beresford said that the film had one "simple, compelling message - unite".

He added: "When I was first told the story I was blown away by it - people ask 'is that really true?'

"It took 20 years to convince anyone that a film about vegan lesbian activists was a sure-fire hit."

The Imitation Game star Benedict Cumberbatch tries out his champagne pouring skills at the 2014 British Independent Film Awards, where he received the Variety Award. Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Yann Demange was named best director for his Northern Irish Troubles thriller '71 - which had the most nominations on the night.

The award for best actor went to Brendan Gleeson for his portrayal of a priest in rural Ireland who is threatened with death, while the best actress award when to Gugu Mbatha-Raw for her lead role in costume drama Belle.

Sameena Jabeen Ahmed was named most promising newcomer for her portayal of a teenager trying to escape her family in Catch Me Daddy.

Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan took home the best screenplay honours for their comedy drama Frank - which also won best technical achievement while Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard shared the best debut director award for their documentary about Nick Cave, 20,000 Days On Earth.

Sports film Next Goal Wins - directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison was named best documentary and the honours for best international film went to Richard Linklater's Boyhood. Oscar Sharp's The Kármán Line was named best British short and the Raindance award went to Dave McKean for Luna.

The full list of nominees and winners is below:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

• '71
• Calvary
• Mr Turner
• Winner: Pride
• The Imitation Game

BEST DIRECTOR

• John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
• Lenny Abrahamson – Frank
• Matthew Warchus – Pride
• Mike Leigh – Mr Turner
• Winner: Yann Demange – '71

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]

• Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe – Catch Me Daddy
• Hong Khaou – Lilting
• Winner: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – 20,000 Days On Earth
• Morgan Matthews – X+Y
• Yann Demange – '71

BEST SCREENPLAY

• Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
• Gregory Burke – '71
• John Michael McDonagh – Calvary
• Winner: Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – Frank
• Stephen Beresford – Pride

BEST ACTRESS

• Alicia Vikander – Testament Of Youth
• Cheng Pei Pei – Lilting
• Winner: Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
• Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
• Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy

BEST ACTOR

• Asa Butterfield – X+Y
• Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
• Winner: Brendan Gleeson – Calvary
• Jack O'Connell – '71
• Timothy Spall – Mr Turner

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Dorothy Atkinson – Mr Turner
• Winner: Imelda Staunton – Pride
• Maggie Gyllenhaal – Frank
• Sally Hawkins – X+Y
• Sienna Guillory – The Goob

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Winner: Andrew Scott – Pride
• Ben Schnetzer – Pride
• Michael Fassbender – Frank
• Rafe Spall – X+Y
• Sean Harris – ‘71

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

• Ben Schnetzer – Pride
• Cara Delevingne – The Face of An Angel
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle
• Liam Walpole – The Goob
• Winner: Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

• '71
• 20,000 Days on Earth
• Catch Me Daddy
• Lilting
• Winner: The Goob

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

• Chris Wyatt - Editing - '71
• Dick Pope - Cinematography - Mr Turner
• Robbie Ryan - Cinematography - Catch Me Daddy
• Winner:Stephen Rennicks - Music – Frank
• Tat Radcliffe - Cinematography - '71

BEST DOCUMENTARY

• 20,000 Days on Earth
• Winner: Next Goal Wins
• Night Will Fall
• The Possibilities Are Endless
• Virunga

BEST BRITISH SHORT

• Crocodile
• Emotional Fusebox
• Keeping Up With The Joneses
• Slap
• Winner: The Kármán Line

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM

• Blue Ruin
• Winner: Boyhood
• Fruitvale Station
• Ida
• The Babadook

THE RAINDANCE AWARD

Flim: The Movie... Gregor Winner: Luna Keeping Rosy The Beat Beneath My Feet

THE VARIETY AWARD

Benedict Cumberbatch

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)

Emma Thompson

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

John Boorman

Read related interviews on:

• Calvary
• Belle
• 20,000 Days On Earth