Wednesday, December 3-------The British Independent Film Awards, referred to as the "Brit indie Oscars" were announced this past weekend in London. A groovy event held this year at the Old Billingsgate Market, the BIFAs have become the cool alternative to the BAFTA Awards, which will be given out in January 2009.

The big winner of the evening, further consolidating its international box office performance is SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, the crowd-pleaser from Danny Boyle.  The film won awards as Best British Independent Film, for its director Danny Boyle, and lead actor Dov Patel as Most Promising Newcomer.

Also winning three prizes was the Cannes Camera d'Or winner HUNGER by video artist-turned-filmmaker Steve McQueen, who won the Best Debut Director award, and the film's Michael Fassbender receiving well deserved kudos as Best Actor for his gut-wrenching and extremely physical performance as 1970s Irish activist Bobby Sands. Also winning for the film's exquisite cinematography was Sean Bobbitt.

Hats off to BIFA for acknowledging some of the best (if decidely offbeat) performances in film this year, including Eddie Marsden's hilarious and hurting performance as the driving instructor and Alexis Zegerman's turn as the kooky best friend in Mike Leigh's HAPPY GO LUCKY. A surprise choice was American indie actress Vera Farmiga's win as Best Actress in the Holocaust drama THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS. Hopefully these nods will help the films' chances of copping serious BAFTA, Oscar and Golden Globe consideration.

BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS
 

Best British Independent Film
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

The Douglas Hickox Award (best debut director)
Steve McQueen, Hunger

Best Screenplay
Martin McDonagh, In Bruges

Best Actress
Vera Farmiga, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Best Actor

Michael Fassbender, Hunger

Best Supporting Actress

Alexis Zegerman, Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actor
Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky

Most Promising Newcomer
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Achievement in Production
The Escapist

Raindance Award
Zebra Crossings

Best Technical Achievement
Sean Bobbitt, Hunger for cinematography

Best Documentary
Man on Wire

Best British Short
Soft

Best Foreign Film
Waltz with Bashir

The Richard Harris Award (for Outstanding Contribution to British Film)
David Thewlis

The Variety Award
Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon)

Special Jury Prize
Joe Dunton

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor