Double Oh Oh: Skyfall takes top two honours at the Evening Standard British Film Awards

 
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The record-breaking James Bond blockbuster Skyfall was a double winner at the London Evening Standard British Film Awards.

In a glittering night recognising the best of British cinema, the 23rd outing for 007 was named film of the year by the critics — and the public agreed in the only category voted for by fans.

Andrea Riseborough and Toby Jones were hailed best actor and actress for two of the more challenging films of the year, Shadow Dancer and Berberian Sound Studio.

Sacha Baron Cohen sent a filmed thank you from Los Angeles for his special editor’s award for extraordinary achievement, in a year when he showed his singing prowess in Les Misérables.

Newcomers were also honoured at the London Film Museum celebration hosted by Stephen Mangan, where guests included screen stars Terence Stamp, Eddie Redmayne, Rafe Spall, Damian Lewis, Rob Brydon and Hayley Atwell.

Michael G Wilson said he and fellow James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli were “really delighted” to have won, and overwhelmed by the success of Skyfall. Wilson said: “It’s incredible how the film was received. It has certainly secured the future of Bond.”

They hope to lure back director Sam Mendes for the next instalment, Broccoli revealed. “I hope he will but it’s too early to tell,” she said. “We’re still basking in the wonderful glory of this wonderful experience.”

Baron Cohen, 41, said it was “an absolutely immense honour” to be part of the awards. “The Standard is an integral part of London life, providing a vital news and entertainment service for millions of Londoners as they wait outside Tube stations for their drug dealers.”

Riseborough, 31, honoured for her role as an IRA activist in Shadow Dancer, the screenwriting debut of ITN journalist Tom Bradby, said: “It’s almost unbelievable. Thank you for noticing, thank you for taking the time with films that might not slip down like a sugary soda but are challenging and imaginative.”

Stamp, 74, said Riseborough had “the ability to tether her performances to the best of herself”. The actress said: “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me, or my work.”

Toby Jones said it was a tribute even to be compared to Daniel Day-Lewis, whose towering performance in Lincoln he trumped with his own appearance as a sound designer in the Italian horror film, Berberian Sound Studio.

Jones, 46, praised Film4 for “taking risks” by backing not only his movie — directed by Peter Strickland, the Standard’s most promising newcomer in 2009 — but also Sightseers, winner of the comedy award, and best documentary in The Imposter by Bart Layton, 37, of Herne Hill.

Sightseers, a caravanning black comedy, was directed by the 2010 promising newcomer Ben Wheatley and written by its stars Steve Oram and Alice Lowe, who was also shortlisted for best actress.

Most promising newcomer was Sally El Hosaini, 36, the writer and director of gang drama My Brother the Devil, set and shot in Hackney, where she lives. She promised to share it with her star and award rival, James Floyd. Jack Reynor, just signed to Transformers 4, presented the screenplay prize to Malcolm Campbell for What Richard Did — in which he starred.

The 40th Evening Standard British Film Awards were held in association with the London Film Museum, supported by Chopard and Moet and Chandon

The Arts Editor of the Evening Standard, Fiona Hughes, joined the judging panel, which included film critics David Sexton, Derek Malcolm and Charlotte O’Sullivan (all from the Standard), Kate Muir from The Times, the Independent’s Anthony Quinn and Tim Robey (Daily Telegraph)

THE WINNERS

FILM OF THE YEAR

Skyfall (Directed by Sam Mendes)

BEST ACTOR

Toby Jones (Berberian Sound Studio)

BEST ACTRESS

Andrea Riseborough (Shadow Dancer)

BEST SCREENPLAY

Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did)

LONDON FILM MUSEUM AWARD FOR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Jacqueline Durran (Costume design), Sarah Greenwood (Production design), Seamus McGarvey (Cinematography) jointly for Anna Karenina

PETER SELLERS AWARD FOR COMEDY

Sightseers (Director Ben Wheatley)

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

Sally El Hosaini (Writer/director My Brother the Devil)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Imposter (Bart Layton)

EDITOR’S AWARD

Sacha Baron Cohen for making every film an event

The 40th Evening Standard British Film Awards are presented:

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