Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

Mike Leigh's film Vera Drake swept the board at the British Independent Film Awards.

The tale of a back-street abortionist in 1950s England won six prizes, including best film, best director and best actress (Imelda Staunton).

Meanwhile, a member of So Solid Crew, once jailed for possession of a loaded gun won the most promising newcomer award for his role in Bullet Boy. In a classic case of art imitating life, Ashley Walters - aka Asher D - plays a young man immersed in London's gun culture.

The young offenders' institution Ricky is shown leaving at the start of the film is the very one in which Walters served his real-life sentence.

Ex-Grange Hill actor Walters, 22, was sentenced to 18 months' detention in 2002 after police found a loaded pistol in his car. His award victory came at the award ceremony, held at the Hammersmith Palais in west London.

But the night belonged to Vera Drake, which also won best actor for Phil Davis, best supporting actor for Eddie Marsan and best production.

Leigh's film has already triumphed at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion and best actress prizes, and Staunton has been tipped for an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Vera.

Bob Hoskins received the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor over the course of his career. The Oscar-nominated star of The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa accepted his award from Will Young, who stars with him in the upcoming film Mrs Henderson Presents.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling won the Variety UK Personality Award for her contribution to the industry. Four of her books have so far been adapted for the big screen. Touching The Void, the true story of two climbers' mountaineering ordeal, won best British documentary and best technical achievement.

Horror comedy Shaun of the Dead won best screenplay for writers Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. Oldboy, from Korean director Chan-wook Park, beat Fahrenheit 9/11 for the best foreign film prize, while Irishman John Crowley won the debut director award for Intermission.