We're coming to the end of the year so it's awards time.British film people thought that too and organised the the 8th Annual British Film Independent Awards,
on Nov 30th, at the Hammersmith Palais. The top honours went to the Brazilian Fernando Meirelles' " The Constant Gardener" , a tale of romance and politics,
which took three top-awards:BEST ACTOR-Ralph Fiennes, BEST ACTRESS-Rachel Weiss and BEST FILM .
Neil Marshall received the BEST DIRECTOR award for his leaner-budgeted claustrophobic horror The Descent , which has become b box-office success at home and
abroad.Marshall's film also took the BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT award for the film editor Jon Harris.BEST FOREIGN INDEPENDENT FILM award went to German Oliver
Hirschbiegel's " Downfall " drama , about Adolf Hitler's final days in his Berlin bunker as told by his secretary." The Liberance of Baghdad " by Sean
McAllister received the prize for the BEST DOCUMENTARY,it tells the story of Samir Peter,Iraq's most famous pianist, as he waits for his visa that could grant
him a new life in America. The MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER award went to Emily Barclay, for her role in the movie-drama In My Father's Den , while Annie Griffin
took the DOUGLAS HICKOX (debut director)award for her black comedy "Festival". Keira Knightley has been named Variety UK Personality of The Year and the
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE went to the producer Sandy Lieberson. Other Awards : BEST SCREENPLAY - Frank Cottrell, "Millions", BEST SHORT FILM - Six Shooter
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS/ACTOR - Elizabeth Maline , " The Libertine " .
