Sherlock stars Andrew Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch were both championed at the Moet British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
Scott—famous for playing the Sherlock’s nemesis Moriarty—was awarded the Best Supporting Actor gong for his role in “Pride,” the heart-warming true story of how a group of gay and lesbian activists raised money to help support the families of striking Welsh miners in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, Cumberbatch—whose film roles this year have varied from playing codebreaker Alan Turing in “The Imitation Game” to voicing a wolf in animation Penguins of “Madgascar”—was honoured with the Variety Award at the star-studded ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London.
Cumberbatch missed out on the Best Actor accolade for his turn as Turing to Harry Potter star Brendan Gleeson for his performance as a troubled Catholic priest in “Calvary.
“Pride” won the most awards of the night, also scooping Best British Independent Film and Imelda Staunton taking home Best Supporting Actress for her role as a Welsh union activist in the comedy.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw was named Best Actress for her title role in Belle, the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral, raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield who as Lord Chief Justice helped end slavery in England. Emma Thompson was presented with the Richard Harris award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film.
And the Special Jury Prize honoured 81-year-old director John Boorman, whose films include “Deliverance,” “Point Blank,” “Excalibur” and “Hope and Glory.”
The Best International Independent Film award went to Richard Linklater’s Boyhood.
