Andy Serkis, told us that while public consensus may be that British film has ‘had it’, events like the BIFAs raise the profile of British talent and prove to the world that it’s a youthful, enthusiastic and dynamic. He is joined by both Jason Isaacs and Noel Clarke in his sentiment, that awards like the BIFA’s are vital to promoting British talent, in an increasingly difficult market.

We also caught up with the evenings winners, including Fish Tank’s break out star, Katie Jarvis and Sam Taylor Wood and her fiance Aaron Johnson.

We went behind the scenes at this year’s BIFA to meet the award winners including Sir Michael Caine and Anne Marie-Duff, as well as inside the ceremony to watch the acceptance speeches from the likes of Daniel Day Lewis and even the after party, where we caught up guests including Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint.

Hosted by James Nesbitt, the event was crammed full with British cinema’s most established stars and most promising newcomers, proving to the world and beyond that British film is coming out fighting against the recession.

Richard Harris, perhaps most recently known for his role as Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter is widely regarded as a genuine and timeless star of cinema, and Daniel Day Lewis seemed suitably humbled and honoured  to be chosen for the award. The Richard Harris Award will seek to recognise those whose careers have contributed widely to cinema, and who embody the festival’s independent spirit, and with a career which includes There Will Be Blood and the recent release Nine, we couldn’t agree more with the BIFA jury’s decision.

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Anne told us how she never imagined she would win her category, which included Rosamund Pike for her role in An Education, Kerry Fox for Bright Star, Kierston Wareing for Fish Tank and fellow Nowhere Boy star Kristen Scott Thomas.

Talking about her time on the film, Anne describes how generous Sam Taylor – Wood was a director, making a huge effort to connect with the actors and the characters. Anne also explains how from the moment she read the screenplay, she was desperate to get invovled with Nowhere Boy – and we (as well as the BIFA jury) are very pleased she did.

Talking to us at the close of ceremony, the team told us how proud they were to see their British Sci-film film that no one can believe is British win such a prestifious award. Not only that, but the team also explained how difficult it was to coordinate a shooting schedule with the schedule of their leading man, Sam Rockwell who they describe as having ‘ a certain price’!

Telling the story of a football obsessed postman, John played opposite the man himself Eric Cantona, as the character Meatballs, and told us how he was ‘incredibly happy’ as he didn’t think he would win his category, which also included Alfred Molina for An Education, Michael Fassbender for Fish Tank, Tom Hollander for In The Loop and Jim Broadbent for the other football film of the year, The Damned United.

John also defends Eric Cantona, who has a reputation for being aloof, saying he was true pleasure to work with – and only lost his temper once, when he spotted John’s Manchester City cufflinks.

Praising BIFA for it’s work in tirelessly promoting British film which would otherwise be swallowed up by big budget Hollywood films, Jason also points out the differences between Hollywood cinema, which tends to be more escapist, and the realism and empathy of British independent films. And while he admits this is a bit of a generalisation, we are inclined to agree.

Having worked on both indie films and big studio numbers, Jason describes British cinema as the ‘meat and potatoes of his career’.

Praise indeed!

Rosamund explains how she finds there is less cynicism in independent cinema, and that when she watches big studio productions, she often finds that the characters get lost – as the sets get bigger and the budget gets larger, they seem to be developed less, which is the antithesis of the ethos behind independent film.

She also explains how she has recently completed another independent film in Canada – demonstrating her dedication to the promotion and support of art house films across the world!

Katie tells us how the award ‘means everything’ and that it will ‘give her the boost’ to carry on acting and achieve her dreams. She also, rather humbly, tells us that she never thought she would win her category, which saw her up against Hilda Peter for Katalin Varga, Christian McKay for Me and Orson Welles, George McKay for The Boys are Back and Edward Hogg for White Lightnin’.