The miners' strike drama Pride has won Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards. The film collected three awards in total, with Andrew Scott and Imelda Staunton winning best supporting actor and actress, respectively.

PridePride won best film at the British Independent Film Awards

The movie told the true story of a group of gay activists who work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

Accepting the top award, Pride director Matthew Warchus said: "We're getting reports from up and down the country of audiences standing up and applauding. That doesn't really happen in British cinemas. It's just extraordinary. It's a real tribute to the source material."

More: read our full review of Pride

Writer Stephen Beresford said, "When I was first told the story I was blown away by it - people ask 'is that really true? It took 20 years to convince anyone that a film about vegan lesbian activists was a sure-fire hit."

CalvaryBrendan Gleeson [L] beat Benedict Cumberbatch to the award for Best Actor, with Calvary

Elsewhere on the night, Brendan Gleeson was named best actor for Calvary (beating Benedict Cumberbatch), while Gugu Mbatha-Raw won best actress for Belle.

The Nothern Ireland thriller 71' picked up only one award despite being nominated in nine categories, while the Frank Sidebottom-inspired movie Frank won best screenplay and best music.

More: read our full review of Calvary

Richard Linklater's Boyhood - the current favourite to win Best Picture at the Oscars - won best international film, while Ian Forsyth and Jane Pollard won best debut directors for the Nick Cave movie 20,000 Days on Earth. 

The Oscar-winner Emma Thompson was presented with a tribute for outstanding contribution to British film. Jokingly, Thompson confessed: "I have taken small roles in big studio films for money, and I am sorry."

20,000 Days on EarthThe Nick Cave movie 20,000 Days on Earth won best screenplay