Colin Firth King's Speech sweeps BIF Awards

London (ANI): Colin Firth's latest film The King's Speech swept the British Independent Film Awards by winning five gongs. The film, telling the story of George VI's battle to overcome his stammer, was named the 'Best Film", reports Sky News.

Firth was adjudged the 'Best Actor" while Helena Bonham Carter was named the 'Best Supporting Actress" for her role as Queen Elizabeth. Geoffrey Rush won the 'Best Supporting Actor" for his performance as the speech therapist Lionel Logue while the film also won the 'Best Screenplay" award.

Made on a shoestring budget, the movie is not even released in the UK until January. But the British government's cuts - specifically the recent abolition of the UK Film Council, which provided backing for 'The King's Speech" - were on the actor's mind. “There's a sound economy in film and I think the dismembering of the body that facilitates that economically means we'll end up paying for it," said Firth.

Carey Mulligan, who won best actress last year, repeated her success with her role in Never Let Me Go. Monsters, a budget film about Aliens, scooped three awards, including best technical achievement for its visual effects.