Paddy Considine's wrenching character study "Tyrannosaur" has been named the year's best at the Moet British Independent Film Awards, which took place on Sunday night in London.
The film topped a field that also included Steve McQueen's sexually explicit drama "Shame" and Tomas Alfredson's subtle espionage thriller "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."
The three films had tied for the most nominations, with seven.
Other movies nominated for the top award were the documentary "Senna" and Lynne Ramsay's "We Need to Talk About Kevin."
Ramsay won the award for Best Director.
"Tyrannosaur" won three awards, more than any other film. The film's Olivia Colman was named Best Actress, and actor-turned-director Considine won the award for the best debut by a British director.
The other lead acting award went to Michael Fassbender for "Shame." Vanessa Redgrave won the Supporting Actress award for "Coriolanus," while Michael Smiley was named Best Supporting Actor for "Kill List."
The Most Promising Newcomer award went to Tom Cullen for "Weekend."
As it has at most awards announced this year, the Iranian film "A Separation" was named Best Foreign Independent Film. "Senna" won for Best Documentary.
Honorary awards went to actor/directors Kenneth Branagh and Ralph Fiennes and financier Graham Easton.
The awards were spread out among a varied and almost uniformly strong group of nominees, none of whom are considered Oscar favorites but many of whom — including Fassbender, Colman and Redgrave — are at least in the running.
The show took place at Old Billingsgate in London. It was hosted by Irish actor/comedian Chris O'Dowd ("Bridesmaids"), who appeared to be thoroughly drunk by about the halfway point.
The winners were selected by a jury that was chaired by producer Andrew Eaton ("The Killer Inside Me") and also included actress Gemma Arterton ("Tamara Drewe"), actor David Thewlis ("War Horse," "The Lady"), casting director Lucy Bevan ("An Education") and producer Tracey Seaward ("The Queen").
Past BIFA winners include Oscar Best Picture champs "The King's Speech" and "Slumdog Millionaire," as well as "Moon," "Control," "This Is England," "The Constant Gardener" and "Vera Drake."
Best British Independent Film: "Tyrannosaur"
Best Director: Lynne Ramsay, "We Need to Talk About Kevin"
Best Actor: Michael Fassbender, "Shame"
Best Actress: Olivia Colman, "Tyrannosaur"
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Smiley, "Kill List"
Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave, "Coriolanus"
Best Screenplay: Richard Ayoade, "Submarine"
Best Achievement in Production: "Weekend"
Best Technical Achievement: Maria Djurkovic (production design), "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"
Best Foreign Independent Film: "A Separation"
Best Documentary: "Senna"
The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director): Paddy Considine, "Tyrannosaur"
Most Promising Newcomer: Tom Cullen, "Weekend"
The Raindance Award: "Leaving Baghdad"
Best British Short: "Chalk"
Richard Harris Award: Ralph Fiennes
Variety Award: Kenneth Branagh
Special Jury Prize: Graham Easton
