Garfield beats Firth to actor award
Andrew Garfield beat Oscar favourite Colin Firth to the best actor gong at last night's Evening Standard British Film Awards and said it would "provide more fuel for my fire".
The star of 'The Social Network' and 'Never Let Me Go' was recognised at a ceremony at the London Film Museum in County Hall on the banks of the River Thames.
Accepting his award in a filmed message, he said: "I really, really appreciate it and intend to let this spur me and provide more fuel for my fire".
There was more disappointment for 'The King's Speech', which stars Firth as the stammering monarch George VI, when it did not even make the shortlist for Best Film.
That prize went to Peter Mullan's 'Neds', a coming-of-age drama about teenage gangs in 1970s Glasgow.
Mullan said: "It's nice. It gives you a wee bit of a push and it gives the cast and crew a great buzz.
"The best award though is an audience and I'm glad that Neds seem to have got an audience and maybe this award will give it a wee bit more."
Evening Standard film critic Derek Malcolm said: "Despite our admiration for The King's Speech, which has deservedly become one of the most successful British films for some time and has already won many awards, the jury felt that Peter Mullan's 'Neds' deserved our prize this year. An original drama of great skill, power and human sympathy, the film reflects directly on the present as well as the past in which it is set."
Kristin Scott Thomas picked up the Best Actress Award for her performance of a housewife caught up in an illicit affair in the French film 'Leaving'.
She said she felt really proud, adding in her filmed message: "I've always felt a bit guilty about going off and making French films and getting this tonight makes me feel you're not too cross with me".
Most Promising Newcomer prize went to Ben Wheatley, the co-writer and director of Down Terrace about a family of small-time criminals.
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan, the man behind films including 'Memento' and 'Inception', won the Alexander Walker Special Award for his contribution to film.
