Ramsay ‘best director’ at independent film awards

LYNNE Ramsay has been awarded best director award at the British Independent Film Awards for We Need to Talk About Kevin.

The thriller was also nominated for the best film award but lost out to Tyrannosaur – which also picked up awards for best debut director for Paddy Considine and best actress for Olivia Coleman.

Veteran actress Vanessa Redgrave picked up a best supporting actress award for her role in Coriolanus while Michael Fassbender picked up the best actor award for Shame.

Ralph Fiennes was awarded the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film while Kenneth Branagh was given the Variety Award. Senna won the award for best documentary.

Branagh flew in from Sweden to collect the award, saying he had just done a film with Emma Watson, whom he also worked with on the Harry Potter films. “Lovely to be part of that because it’s such a big bit of the British film industry,” he said.

Joint directors of the Bifas Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson said: “Those walking away with awards tonight are representative of the outstanding talent we have in this country.”