The 'Judy' star is named the best actress of the year at the BIFAs for her role as the late Hollywood icon Judy Garland in the Rupert Goold-directed indie biopic.
- Dec 2, 2019
AceShowbiz - Renee Zellweger's awards season run is off to a great start after winning the Best Actress prize at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) on Sunday, December 1.
The star claimed the honour for her lead role in Judy Garland biopic "Judy", but she was not present at the show, and the trophy was accepted on her behalf by the film's producer, David Livingstone.
Backstage at the London event, David told WENN that Renee had skipped the ceremony to look after her sick dog Chester back home in Los Angeles.
It was also a good night for Syrian civil war film "For Sama", which was named Best British Independent Film and Best Documentary, and earned Best Director for Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts.
"The Personal History of David Copperfield" was the night's top winner, earning five awards in total, including Best Screenplay for Armando Iannucci and Simon Blackwell, and Best Supporting Actor for Hugh Laurie.
Meanwhile, Kristin Scott Thomas was presented with the 2019 Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film.
The full list of winners is:
- Best British Independent Film: "For Sama"
- Best Director:Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts - For Sama"
- Best Screenplay:Armando Iannucci - The Personal History of David Copperfield"
- Best Actress: Renee Zellweger - "Judy"
- Best Supporting Actress: Ruthxjiah Bellenea - "The Last Tree"
- Best Actor: Josh O'Connor - "Only You"
- Best Supporting Actor: Hugh Laurie - "The Personal History of David Copperfield"
- Most Promising Newcomer: Sam Adewumni - "The Last Tree"
- The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director):Harry Wootliff - Only You"
- Debut Screenwriter:Emma Jane Unsworth - Animals"
- Breakthrough Producer:Kate Byers and Linn Waite - Bait"
- The Discovery Award: "Children of the Snow Land"
- Best Documentary: "For Sama"
- Best British Short Film: "Anna"
- Best International Independent Film: "Parasite"
- Best Casting: "The Personal History of David Copperfield"
- Best Cinematography: "Beats"
- Best Costume Design: "The Personal History of David Copperfield"
- Best Editing: "For Sama"
- Best Effects: "A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon"
- Best Make Up & Hair Design: "Judy"
- Best Music: "Wild Rose"
- Best Production Design: "The Personal History of David Copperfield"
- Best Sound: "Beats"
- The Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film: Kristin Scott Thomas
- The Special Jury Prize: Amanda Nevill
