Editor

The recipient of The Variety Award was announced today by Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson, joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards.

Benedict Cumberbatch will receive The Variety Award at the ceremony on Sunday 7th December at Old Billingsgate.

The Variety Award recognises a director, actor, writer or producer who has helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK.  The Variety Award was bestowed upon Paul Greengrass last year and has previously been awarded to Jude Law, Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson, Sir Michael Caine, Daniel Craig, Dame Helen Mirren and Richard Curtis to name a few.

The news coincides with the release of his latest film, THE IMITATION GAME which is nominated for four Moët British Independent Film Awards: Best British Independent Film, Best Screenplay for Graham Moore; Best Actress for Keira Knightley and Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch.

Cumberbatch commented: “I am delighted to receive this prestigious award and would like to thank Variety and The Moët British Independent Film Awards for this incredible honour. It is made even more special by the recognition of THE IMITATION GAME in this year’s nominations, a film I am very proud to be a part of.”

Cumberbatch is best known for playing the title role of “Sherlock Holmes” in Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ stunning adaption of the Conan Doyle books. It is a role that has earned him international acclaim and several awards including an Emmy as Best Actor in 2014.

Benedict has recently portrayed Major Stewart in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of WAR HORSE and the part of Peter Guillam alongside Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth in Tomas Alfredson’s TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY.

In 2011 Benedict returned to The National Theatre, alternating the roles of creature and Dr. Frankenstein in Danny Boyle’s production of FRANKENSTEIN, earning him a Laurence Olivier Award and an Evening Standard Award for Best Actor.

Cumberbatch’s incredibly powerful portrayal of Stephen Hawking, the Cambridge Cosmologist in the BBC’s highly acclaimed drama HAWKING bought him to the attention of an international audience and earned him his first BAFTA nomination. His second BAFTA nomination came in 2010 for his portrayal of Bernard in the BBC adaptation of SMALL ISLAND.

His film work includes STARTER FOR TEN, AMAZING GRACE, THIRD STAR, WRECKERS, STUART: A LIFE BACKWARDS, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL and the role of the dastardly Herburt Marshall In Joe Wright’s Oscar-nominated ATONEMENT

Cumberbatch studied Drama at Manchester University before training at The London Academy of Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Early TV roles included TIPPING THE VELVET, SILENT WITNESS, NATHAN BARLEY, SPOOKS, DUNKIRK, TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH and THE LAST ENEMY. On stage there have been two seasons in Regents Park with The New Shakespeare Co., Linsrand in Trevor Nunn’s production of LADY FROM THE SEA; George in Tennessee Williams’ PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT; Teesman in Richard Eyre’s stunning West End ensemble production of HEDDA GABLER, for which he received Olivier and Ian Charleston Award nominations; Berenger in Ionesco’s RHINOCERUS; plus THE ARSONISTS and THE CITY at the Royal Court. In 2010 he took the role of David Scott Fowler in Thea Sharrock’s, National Theatre, award-winning Rattigan revival AFTER THE DANCE.

Recently Benedict starred in the BBC/HBO drama PARADES END earning himself an Emmy nomination for Best Actor. Last year he played the role of the dragon Smaug in Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT, Khan in JJ Abrams’ huge blockbuster STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, Julian Assange in THE FIFTH ESTATE, Charles Aiiken in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and in Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning 12 YEARS A SLAVE. A third series of SHERLOCK aired earlier this year to record-breaking audiences.

During the summer Benedict has been filming BLACK MASS - playing Bill Bulger alongside Johnny Depp - and Shere Khan in Andy Serkis’ JUNGLE BOOK. He will be seen later this year in the DreamWorks animation PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR.

Benedict is currently filming THE HOLLOW CROWN II for BBC and Neal Street Productions, in which he plays the legendary Richard III for director Dominic Cooper and alongside Dame Judi Dench.

Next he will shoot LOST CITY OF Z based on David Grann’s novel for director James Gray, where he will play British explorer Percy Fawcett who set out to discover the City of Z in the Amazon in the 1920s.

In 2015 as well as filming a new Christmas special of SHERLOCK he will take to the London stage in the sold out West End production of HAMLET to be directed by Lyndsey Turner at the Barbican Theatre.

This year’s nominations were announced on 3rd November at St Martins Lane, London. The nominees for Best British Independent Film were ’71; CALVARY; MR TURNER; PRIDE and THE IMITATION GAME. Leading the charge this year is ’71 with nine nominations; PRIDE with seven nominations and CATCH ME DADDY; FRANK and MR TURNER with five nominations each.

For the full list of nominations visit http://www.bifa.org.uk/nominations/2014

This year’s Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 7th December at Old Billingsgate.

Now in its 17th year, the Awards were created by Raindance in 1998 and set out to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking, to honour new talent, and to promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.

Previous winners of the prestigious Best British Independent Film Award include METRO MANILA, TYRANNOSAUR, THE KING’S SPEECH, MOON, CONTROL, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, THE CONSTANT GARDENER and THIS IS ENGLAND.

Proud supporters and patrons of The Moët British Independent Film Awards include Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Samantha Morton, James Nesbitt, Michael Sheen, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, David Thewlis, Ray Winstone and Michael Winterbottom.

The Moët British Independent Film Awards would like to thank all its supporters, especially: Moët & Chandon, 3 Mills Studios, BBC Films, M.A.C Cosmetics, Movado, Raindance, St Martins Lane, Soho House, Swarovski, Variety, AllCity, Intermission.