National Film Awards 2016: Tom Hiddleston, Helen Mirren, John Boyega and friends honour Brit talent

Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, Taron Egerton, Nathalie Emmanuel and John Boyega were among the winners announced at the second annual National Film Awards on Thursday night. The prestigious ceremony, held at London’s Porchester Hall, celebrated the best of established and emerging talent in the UK film industry.

The first celebration of the night was Dame Helen Mirren’s Lifetime Achievement Award, presented for her multitude of contributions to cinema. Accepting her prize from New York, Mirren commented: “I feel truly honoured to be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from by the National Film Academy.”

Films such as Rise of the Footsoldier II, Kingsman (The Secret Service), London Road, Chasing Robert Barker, Reason to Leave, and Man UP all received a gong at the massive event. Man Up, starring Simon Pegg, won Best Comedy, beating some tough competition. The award for Best Director was won by Stephen Fingleton for his science-fiction thriller The Survivalist.

The nominees for Global Contribution to Motion Pictures included a stellar list of stars who have all excelled in their craft. Hugh Grant, Meryl Streep, Harrison Ford, Samuel L Jackson, Michael Caine, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kevin Spacey were amongst the list of nominees for this category. Samuel L Jackson was ultimately voted as champion and enthused “this is just perfect. I am incredibly honoured and thankful for this award from the National Film Academy and all the movie fans who voted for me”.

A crowd of new breakthrough talent also made the National Film Awards 2016 shortlist. Battling it out on the Best Newcomer category were Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Agyness Deyn (Sunset Song), Bel Powley (A Royal Night Out), Milo Parker (Mr Holmes), John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Abigail Hardingham (Nina Forever), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Slow West), Sonoya Mizuno (Ex-Machina), Karidja Touré (Girlhood) and Hermione Corfield (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation). Taron Egerton saw off the competition in this category for his comedic performance in Kingsman, whilst John Boyega was voted the winner of Best Breakthrough Performance in a Film. It was Never Let Go that won the Best Independent Feature award.

The night ended with an incredibly heartfelt video tribute to the late, great Alan Rickman who was honoured with a National Film Academy fellowship award.

Over 2.9 million movie fans nationwide voted for this year’s second annual National Film Awards. The third annual National Film Awards are scheduled to be held on 31^st March 2017 and public nominations will begin in October.

Laura Ewing

For further information about the National Film Awards visit here.

For a full list of 2016 winners visit here.