"Moon" Leads British Indie Winners

A scene from Duncan Jones's "Moon." Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

Duncan Jones' "Moon" took top honors at the British Independent Film Awards, handed out tonight in London. The low budget sci-fi drama beat out the likes of "An Education," "Fish Tank" and "In The Loop" for the best British independent film prize, and also won an award for best debut director. Set in the near future, "Moon" stars Rockwell as Sam Bell, an astronaut assigned by 'Lunar Industries' to a three-year mission mining Helium 3 on the moon, the earth’s new energy source. As his contract comes to an end and Sam’s health starts to deteriorate, painful headaches, hallucinations and a lack of focus lead to an almost fatal accident. While recuperating, Sam meets a younger, angrier version of himself, who claims to be there to fulfill the same three- year contract Sam started all those years ago.

"It's an indie sci-fi film, and there are not a huge number of those made," Jones told indieWIRE this past Spring. "Namely because sci-fi by its very nature tends to be expensive. We had to approach it as a puzzle; how do we create something that will appeal to Sam Rockwell as an actor, be inventive and dynamic enough for an audience, use those special effects we know will give us the most bang for our buck and do it for less than $5 million."

The aforementioned films "Moon" beat out for the top prize did not go home empty handed. "Fish Tank" won for Andrea Arnold's direction and for most promising newcomer in actress Katie Jarvis, "An Education" took best actress honors for Carey Mulligan, and "In The Loop" won best screenplay for Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche.

Last year, "Slumdog Millionaire" swept these awards en route to winning 8 Academy Awards. That same fate is very likely not in the cards for "Moon," but this marks an admirable feat nonetheless.

The complete list of winners is below.

Best British independent film
Moon

Best Director
Andrea Arnold, Fish Tank

The Douglas Hickox Award (best debut director)
Duncan Jones, Moon

Best Screenplay
In the Loop, by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan, An Education

Best Actor
Tom Hardy, Bronson

Best Supporting Actress
Anne-Marie Duff, Nowhere Boy

Best Supporting Actor
John Henshaw, Looking for Eric

Most Promising Newcomer
Katie Jarvis, Fish Tank

Best Achievement in Production
Bunny and the Bull

Raindance Award
Down Terrace

Best Technical Achievement
Bright Star — Cinematography, Greig Fraser

Best Documentary
Mugabe and the White African

Best British Short
Love You More

Best Foreign Film
Let the Right One In

The Richard Harris Award (for outstanding contribution to British film)
Daniel Day-Lewis

The Variety Award
Sir Michael Caine

The Special Jury Prize
Baz Bamigboye