stars, James McAvoy and Imogen Poots, triumphed at the 16th British Independent Film Awards last night.

McAvoy beat off the competition to be named Best Actor while Poots, in a silver dress, was named Best Supporting Actress for her role in Paul Raymond biopic The Look of Love.

They were joined on the red carpet by some of Britain's finest film stars at the glamorous awards, held at London’s Old Billingsgate Market.

We caught sight of Tom Hardy, who was nominated for Best Actor for intense thriller, Locke, Dominic Cooper and (scream) Sting! Oh, the glamour.

A lavish reception, complete with a pyramid of Moet, was followed by three course dinner before host, James Nesbitt, entertained the crowd of industry big-wigs (including uber-producer Harvey Weinstein) with his cheeky commentary, describing the BIFAs as ‘better than BAFTA, more arty than the Oscars, and less Nazi than the GQ awards.’

Winners included Lindsay Duncan for Best Actress (Le Week-End), beating fellow nominees, Saoirse Ronan, (How I Live Now) who wore a colourful dress and Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, and Felicity Jones, (The Invisible Woman) who wore black .

A host of glamorous presenters, including Fresh Meat’s, Zawe Ashton, and Downton’s, Joanne Froggatt, handed out striking Swarovski trophies to Julie Walters, who was honoured with an award for outstanding achievement, and Most Promising Newcomer, to Scottish actress Chloe Pirrie (Shell) who looked genuinely shocked to have won.

Controversy could have been the theme of the night’s other winners, with the award for Best International Independent film going to and Best Documentary to Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer.

The UK’s Foreign Language Oscar entry, Metro Manila, had the biggest haul at the awards, nabbing three prizes including Best Film, and Director for Sean Ellis, who gave an emotional dedication to his mother while collecting the prize.

Peach Bellini’s got the after-party going, where the ever-handsome Douglas Booth spent the night hanging out with Britain’s rising stars, Hannah Murray, Luke Newberry, Sam Reid and Freddie Fox, proving once again that the Brits always win in the cool stakes.