Idris Elba bags Best Actor at Evening Standard Awards
David Farnor | On 08, Feb 2016
Idris Elba bagged the Best Actor prize for his role in Beasts of No Nation at the London Evening Standard British Film Awards.
The awards, which took place in the UK capital last night, put Netflix’s first original feature film in the spotlight, with the Luther star beating both Tom Courtenay and Michael Fassbender to win the acting gong.
Elba’s success marks a rare win for Cary Fukunaga’s groundbreaking flick, which has been surrounded with awards buzz ever since its release on Netflix last year. Since then, Elba has attracted a Golden Globe and BAFTA nomination for his overpowering turn, but was snubbed by the Oscars in a year when the lack of diversity among Academy Award contenders (and members) has become more prominent than ever.
Brooklyn took home the Evening Standard’s highest prize of Best Film, as the newspaper’s awards shared the love around its nominees: Maggie Smith won Best Actress for The Lady in the Van, while Amy took home the prize for Best Documentary, Star Wars: The Force Awakens snapped up Blockbuster of the Year and Emma Donaghue’s script for Room was crowned Best Screenplay.
Game of Thrones fans will be delighted to see Maisie Williams win Rising Star for her performance in Carol Morley’s superb The Falling, while unexpected awards season darling Ex Machina was honoured for its Technical Achievement. Both are already available on subscription VOD services in the UK, marking the 2016 Evening Standard Awards as something of a digital affair. Indeed, the Editor’s Award was presented to 45 Years, which last year became the first day-and-date release to take over £1 million at the theatrical box office.
Here’s the full list of winners – and where you can watch them online.
Best Film
Brooklyn
Not currently available on VOD
Best Actor
Idris Elba – Beasts of No Nation
Watch on Netflix UK
Best Actress
Dame Maggie Smith – The Lady in the Van
Not currently available on VOD
Best Documentary
Amy
Watch Amy online
Blockbuster of the Year
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Not currently available on VOD
Best Screenplay
Emma Donaghue – Room
Not currently available on VOD
Rising Star
Maisie Williams – The Falling
Watch The Falling online (available on Amazon Prime Video)
Comedy Award
Emma Thompson – The Legend of Barney Thomson
Watch Barney Thomson online
Technical Achievement
Mark Digby – production designer, Ex Machina
Watch Ex Machina online (available on NOW)
Editor’s Award
45 Years
Watch 45 Years online
Outstanding Contribution
Alan Bennett