Dirty Pretty Things was a hit at last year's London International Film Festival

Dirty Pretty Things, the Stephen Frears' thriller, dominated the awards, taking four prizes, including best British film and best director.

It also won best screenplay and best actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Michael Winterbottom's refugee drama In This World won best production and best technical achievement.

Frears' Dirty Pretty Things starred at last year's London International Film Festival and drew praise from critics. The film also starred Amelie actress Audrey Tatou.

It beat horror 28 Days Later and dramas Buffalo Soldiers, The Magdalene Sisters and Young Adam to take best picture.

Seven of the feature film awards went to films backed by BBC Films.

Harris tribute

Other winners at the sixth annual awards included Harry Eden (Pure) as best newcomer, and Richard Jobson as debut director for his film 16 Years of Alcohol.

The Brazilian film City of God won the prize for best foreign film.

The Richard Harris Award - a tribute to Irish actor Richard Harris who died last year - was won by veteran actor John Hurt.

Irish drama The Magdalene Sisters won the jury award, while Sir Ian McKellen - to be seen next month in the last Lord of the Rings film The Return of the King - won personality of the year.

BIFA founder Elliot Grove said: "This year has been unprecedented. As always the pre-selection process is incredibly hard because of the extraordinarily high standard of work produced.

"But this year the quality seems to have been higher than ever and we had to extend the nominations in each category to really do it justice."