The British Oscar entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category, the Philippines-set “Metro Manila,” was named the best independent film of 2013 at the British Independent Film Awards on Sunday.
Other winners included actors Lindsay Duncan (“Le Week-end”), James McAvoy (“Filth”), Imogen Poots (“The Look of Love”) and Ben Mendelssohn (“Starred Up”).
Mendelssohn’s award was the only win for the prison drama “Starred Up,” which led all films with eight nominations.
“Metro Manila” won three awards, including one for director Sean Ellis and another for best achievement in production.
Also read: 2013 Critics’ Awards Winners: The Complete List – NY, LA, Boston
“Blue is the Warmest Color” was named the best international film over a field that included two American films, Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” and Noah Baumbach’s “Frances Ha.” The Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer” was named best documentary.
While films like “The King’s Speech” and “Slumdog Millionaire” have won both the BIFAs and the Oscars in the past, this year BIFA was short on films that figure into the Oscar race. “Philomena” received four nominations, including one for Best Actress Judi Dench, while Ralph Fiennes‘ “The Invisible Woman” received two, including one for lead actress Felicity Jones.
The winners were chosen by a jury chaired by director Penny Woolcock, and the ceremony took place at the Old Billingsgate in London.
BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
“Metro Manila”
BEST DIRECTOR
Sean Ellis – “Metro Manila”
THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]
Paul Wright – “For Those in Peril”
BEST SCREENPLAY
Steven Knight – “Locke”
BEST ACTRESS
Lindsay Duncan – “Le Week-end”
BEST ACTOR
James McAvoy – “Filth”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Imogen Poots – “The Look Of Love”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ben Mendelsohn – “Starred Up”
MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Chloe Pirrie – “Shell”
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
“Metro Manila”
BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Amy Hubbard – Casting – “The Selfish Giant”
BEST DOCUMENTARY
“Pussy Riot – “A Punk Prayer”
BEST BRITISH SHORT
“Z1”
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
“Blue is the Warmest Colour”
THE RAINDANCE AWARD
“The Machine”