13th British Independent Film Awards Winners

The waiting is over and the winners have been announced for the 2010 British Independent Film Awards and The King's Speech graces the top of the awards with 5 wins: Best Independent British Film, Best Screenwriting (David Seidler), plus three acting awards including best performance actor (Colin Firth) and both supporting categories for actress (Helena Bonham Carter) and actor (Geoffrey Rush); the fourth acting award goes to Carey Mulligan for Never Let Me Go. I was really impressed to see Monsters be recognized several times over winning 3 awards, and 2 of the 3 awards for the film going to Gareth Edwards for both Best Director and Best Technical Achievement and it also won Best Achievement in Production. One of the only big surprizes I found to be the Exit Through the Gift Shop did not win best documentary, although I've not seen all of the nominees including the film that did win: Enemies of the People.

2010 BIFA Winners

Best British Independent Film
The King's Speech

Best Director of a British Independent Film
Gareth Edwards for Monsters

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director)
Clio Barnard for The Arbor

Best Screenplay
David Seidler for The King's Speech

Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film
Carey Mulligan for Never Let Me Go

Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film
Colin Firth for The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress
Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actor
Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech

Most Promising Newcomer
Joanne Froggatt for In Our Name

Best Achievement In Production
Monsters

The Raindance Award
for "honours exceptional achievement for filmmakers working against the odds, often with little or no industry support."
Son of Babylon

Best Technical Achievement
Gareth Edwards for Monsters

Best British Documentary
Enemies of the People

Best British Short Film
Baby

Best Foreign Independent Film
A Prophet

The BIFAs were created in 1998 to "set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public."

See list of all the nominees and award eligibility here.