Atonement named best British film at Empire Film Awards
Story by Jack Foley
ATONEMENT has been crowned best British film at the Empire Awards in London (Sunday, March 9, 2008), while its stars James McAvoy and Keira Knightley were named best actor and actress at the ceremony.
The film, directed by Joe Wright and adapted from the novel by Ian McEwan, tells of a doomed World War Two romance and was also named best film at the Baftas earlier this year. It was the night’s biggest winner with three prizes.
But another British hit, Control, a biopic of tragic Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, won two awards, including best newcomer for its star, Sam Riley (who missed out on the Orange Rising Star Award at the Baftas to Shia LaBeouf).
The film, which was shot entirely in black and white, also went home with the award for best soundtrack.
Indeed, it was a great night for British talent as a whole at the Empire awards, which also saw acclaimed action thriller The Bourne Ultimatum pick up best film and David Yates, the maker of the latest Harry Potter outing The Order of The Phoenix, take best director.
Another British filmmaker, Shane Meadows, was honoured with the outstanding contribution to British film award (no doubt bolstered by last year’s critical hit This Is England), while popular Scottish film star Ewan McGregor received an icon award to mark his career on the big screen.
28 Weeks Later, a sequel to 28 Days Later, was named best horror film, Hot Fuzz took best comedy and Stardust was named best sci-fi film to complete a memorable night for British talent – as all the winners had significant British input in some way.
The awards ceremony took place at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.