The Evening Standard British Film Awards were established in 1973 by London's Evening Standard newspaper. The Standard Awards is the only ceremony "dedicated to British and Irish talent", judged by a panel of "top UK critics". Each ceremony honours films from the previous year.
1973–1980 Winners
1973 Winners Best Actor : Keith Michell – Henry VIII and His Six Wives Best Actress : Glenda Jackson – Mary, Queen of Scots Best Comedy : The National Health – Jack Gold Best Film : Ryan's Daughter – David Lean Best Newcomer – Actor : Simon Ward Best Newcomer – Actress : Lynne Frederick
1974 Winners Best Actor : Michael Caine – Sleuth Best Actress : Glenda Jackson – A Touch of Class Best Comedy : The Three Musketeers – Richard Lester Best Film : Live and Let Die – Guy Hamilton Best Newcomer – Actor : Edward Fox Best Newcomer – Actress : Heather Wright
1975 Winners Best Actor : Albert Finney – Murder on the Orient Express Best Actress : Wendy Hiller – Murder on the Orient Express Best Comedy : The Four Musketeers – Richard Lester Best Film : Murder on the Orient Express – Sidney Lumet Best Newcomer – Actor : Robin Askwith Best Newcomer – Actress : Jill Townsend
1976 Winners Best Actor : Peter Sellers – The Return of the Pink Panther Best Actress : Annette Crosbie – The Slipper and the Rose Best Comedy : The Return of the Pink Panther – Blake Edwards Best Film : Aces High – Jack Gold Best Newcomer – Actor : Peter Firth Best Newcomer – Actress : Gemma Craven
1977 Winners Best Actor : John Thaw – Sweeney! Best Actress : Billie Whitelaw – The Omen Best Comedy : The Pink Panther Strikes Again – Blake Edwards Best Film : A Bridge Too Far – Richard Attenborough Best Newcomer – Actor : Dennis Waterman Best Newcomer – Actress : Lesley-Anne Down
1978 Winners Best Actor : Alec Guinness – Star Wars Best Actress : Nanette Newman – International Velvet Best Comedy : Revenge of the Pink Panther – Blake Edwards Best Film : Star Wars – George Lucas Best Newcomer – Actor : Michael J. Jackson Best Newcomer – Actress : Lea Brodie
1979 Winners Best Actor : Peter Ustinov – Death on the Nile Best Actress : Maggie Smith – California Suite Best Comedy : Porridge – Dick Clement Best Film : Death on the Nile – John Guillermin Best Newcomer – Actor : Simon MacCorkindale Best Newcomer – Actress : Karen Dotrice
1980 Winners Best Actor : Denholm Elliott – Bad Timing, Rising Damp, Zulu Dawn Best Actress : Frances de la Tour – Rising Damp Best Comedy : Rising Damp – Joseph McGrath Best Film : Yanks – John Schlesinger Best Newcomer – Actor : Jonathan Pryce Best Newcomer – Actress : Wendy Morgan Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Leonard Rossiter
1981–1990 Winners
1981 Winners Best Actor : Bob Hoskins – The Long Good Friday Best Actress : Maggie Smith – Quartet Best Film : The French Lieutenant's Woman – Karel Reisz Best Screenplay : Colin Welland – Chariots of Fire Most Promising Filmmaker : Franco Rosso Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Bill Forsyth
1982 Winners Best Actor : Trevor Howard – Light Years Away Best Actress : Jennifer Kendal – 36 Chowringhee Lane Best Film : Moonlighting – Jerzy Skolimowski Best Screenplay : John Krish – Friend or Foe Most Promising Newcomer : Cassie McFarlane Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Michael Blakemore
1983 Winners Best Actor : Ben Kingsley – Gandhi, Betrayal Best Actress : Phyllis Logan – Another Time, Another Place Best Film : The Ploughman's Lunch – Richard Eyre Best Screenplay : Ian McEwan – The Ploughman's Lunch Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Chris Menges Most Promising Newcomer : Neil Jordan Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Bill Forsyth Special Award : Richard Attenborough
1984 Winners Best Actor : John Hurt – 1984, Champions, The Hit Best Actress : Helen Mirren – Cal Best Film : 1984 – Michael Radford Best Screenplay : Bernard MacLaverty – Cal Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : John Alcott Most Promising Newcomer : Tim Roth Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Denholm Elliott
1985 Winners Best Actor : Victor Banerjee – A Passage to India Best Actress : Miranda Richardson – Dance with a Stranger Best Film : My Beautiful Laundrette – Stephen Frears Best Screenplay : Malcolm Mowbray, Alan Bennett – A Private Function Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Norman Garwood Most Promising Newcomer : Margi Clarke, Alexandra Pigg Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Michael Palin Special Award : George Harrison, Denis O'Brien
1986 Winners Best Actor : Ray McAnally – The Mission, No Surrender Best Actress : Coral Browne – Dreamchild Best Film : A Room with a View Best Screenplay : Robert Bolt – The Mission Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Tony Pierce-Roberts – A Room with a View Most Promising Newcomer : Gary Oldman – Sid and Nancy Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Clockwise – John Cleese Special Award : Jake Eberts
1987 Winners Best Actor : Derek Jacobi – Little Dorrit Best Actress : Emily Lloyd – Wish You Were Here Best Film : Hope and Glory – John Boorman Best Screenplay : Alan Bennett – Prick Up Your Ears Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Anthony Pratt – Hope and Glory Most Promising Newcomer : Harry Hook – The Kitchen Toto Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Personal Services, Wish You Were Here – David Leland
1988 Winners Best Actor : Bob Hoskins – Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne Best Actress : Billie Whitelaw – The Dressmaker, Maggie Smith – The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne Best Film : A Fish Called Wanda – Charles Crichton Best Screenplay : Bruce Robinson – Withnail and I Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : William Diver, Patrick Duval – Distant Voices, Still Lives Most Promising Newcomer : Kristin Scott Thomas – A Handful of Dust, Jodhi May – A World Apart Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : A Fish Called Wanda – Charles Crichton Special Award : Richard Williams
1989 Winners Best Actor : Daniel Day-Lewis – My Left Foot Best Actress : Pauline Collins – Shirley Valentine Best Film : Henry V – Kenneth Branagh Best Screenplay : Willy Russell – Shirley Valentine Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Anton Furst – Batman Most Promising Newcomer : Andi Engel– Melancholia Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : High Hopes – Mike Leigh Special Award : Peter Greenaway
1990 Winners Best Actor : Iain Glen – Mountains of the Moon, Fools of Fortune, Silent Scream Best Actress : Natasha Richardson – The Comfort of Strangers, The Handmaid's Tale Best Film : The Krays – Peter Medak Best Screenplay : Michael Eaton – Fellow Traveller Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : David Watkin – Memphis Belle Most Promising Newcomer : Philip Ridley – The Krays Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Robbie Coltrane
1991–2000 Winners
1991 Winners Best Actor : Alan Rickman – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Close My Eyes, Truly Madly Deeply Best Actress : Juliet Stevenson – Truly, Madly, Deeply Best Film : Close My Eyes – Stephen Poliakoff Best Screenplay : Neil Jordan – The Miracle Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Sandy Powell – Edward II, The Miracle, The Pope Must Die Most Promising Newcomer : Anthony Minghella – Truly, Madly, Deeply Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : The Commitments – Dick Clement, Roddy Doyle, Ian La Frenais
1992 Winners Best Actor : Daniel Day-Lewis – The Last of the Mohicans Best Actress : Emma Thompson – Howards End, Peter's Friends Best Film : Howards End – James Ivory Best Screenplay : Terence Davies – The Long Day Closes Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Sue Gibson – Hear My Song, Secret Friends Most Promising Newcomer : Peter Chelsom – Hear My Song Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Peter's Friends
1993 Winners Best Actor : David Thewlis – Naked Best Actress : Emma Thompson – The Remains of the Day, Much Ado About Nothing Best Film : Raining Stones – Ken Loach Best Screenplay : Jim Allen – Raining Stones Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Sandy Powell – Orlando, Stuart Craig – The Secret Garden Most Promising Newcomer : Vadim Jean, Gary Sinyor – Leon the Pig Farmer Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Les Blair – Bad Behaviour Special Award : Anthony Hopkins
1994 Winners Best Actor : Ben Kingsley – Schindler's List Best Actress : Kristin Scott Thomas – Four Weddings and a Funeral Best Film : In the Name of the Father – Jim Sheridan Best Screenplay : Richard Curtis – Four Weddings and a Funeral Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Dave Borthwick, Richard 'Hutch' Hutchinson – The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb Most Promising Newcomer : Ian Hart – Backbeat, Gurinder Chadha – Bhaji on the Beach Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Hugh Grant – Four Weddings and a Funeral Special Award : Alec Guinness
1995 Winners Best Actor : Jonathan Pryce – Carrington Best Actress : Kristin Scott Thomas – Angels & Insects Best Film : The Madness of King George – Nicholas Hytner Best Screenplay : Alan Bennett – The Madness of King George Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Andrew Dunn – The Madness of King George Most Promising Newcomer : Danny Boyle – Shallow Grave Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Peter Chelsom – Funny Bones Special Award : Lewis Gilbert
1996 Winners Best Actor : Liam Neeson – Michael Collins Best Actress : Kate Winslet – Sense and Sensibility, Jude Best Film : Richard III – Ian McKellen Best Screenplay : Emma Thompson – Sense and Sensibility, John Hodge – Trainspotting Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Tony Burrough – Richard III Most Promising Newcomer : Emily Watson – Breaking the Waves Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Mark Herman – Brassed Off Special Award : Leslie Phillips
1997 Winners Best Actor : Robert Carlyle – The Full Monty, Carla's Song, Face Best Actress : Katrin Cartlidge – Career Girls Best Film : The Full Monty – Peter Cattaneo Best Screenplay : Jeremy Brock – Mrs Brown Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Maria Djurkovic – Wilde Most Promising Newcomer : Jude Law – Wilde Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Antony Sher – Mrs Brown Special Award : Ray Boulting, Kenneth Branagh – Hamlet
1998 Winners Best Actor : Derek Jacobi – Love Is the Devil Best Actress : Julie Christie – Afterglow Best Film : The General – John Boorman Best Screenplay : Eileen Atkins – Mrs Dalloway Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Ashley Rowe – The Woodlanders, The Governess, Still Crazy, Twenty Four Seven Most Promising Newcomer : Guy Ritchie – Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Bill Nighy – Still Crazy Special Award : Ken Loach, Michael Caine
1999 Winners Best Actor : Jeremy Northam – An Ideal Husband, The Winslow Boy Best Actress : Samantha Morton – Dreaming of Joseph Lees Best Film : East Is East – Damien O'Donnell Best Screenplay : Tom Stoppard – Shakespeare in Love Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : John de Borman – Hideous Kinky Most Promising Newcomer : Peter Mullan – Orphans Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Hugh Grant – Notting Hill Special Award : Freddie Francis
2000 Winners Best Actor : Jim Broadbent – Topsy-Turvy Best Actress : Julie Walters – Billy Elliot Best Film : Topsy-Turvy – Mike Leigh Best Screenplay : Neil Jordan – The End of the Affair Best Technical or Artistic Achievement : Andrew Sanders – The Golden Bowl Most Promising Newcomer : Jamie Bell – Billy Elliot Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Peter Lord, Nick Park – Chicken Run Special Award : Peter Yates
2001–2010 Winners
2001 Winners Best Film : Gosford Park Best Actor : Linus Roache – Pandaemonium Best Actress : Kate Winslet – Quills, Enigma, Iris Best Screenplay : Richard Curtis, Andrew Davies, Helen Fielding – Bridget Jones's Diary Most Promising Newcomer : Ben Hopkins – The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz Peter Sellers Award for Comedy : Hugh Grant – Bridget Jones's Diary Technical Achievement Award : Stuart Craig – Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Special Award : Christopher Lee
2002 Winners Best Film : Dirty Pretty Things Best Actor : Chiwetel Ejiofor – Dirty Pretty Things Best Actress : Catherine Zeta-Jones – Chicago