Imelda Staunton has won plaudits for Vera Drake

The movie, set in the 1950s, won prizes including best director and best actress for Imelda Staunton.

Bafta-winning documentary Touching the Void, about a disastrous mountain expedition, won two awards.

And comedy zombie movie Shaun of the Dead won best screenplay for writers Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright.

Leigh described the awards as "a surprise and an honour", while Phil Davis, who won best actor for the movie, described it as an "enormously moving film".

Shaun of the Dead was a box office hit

Ashley Walters, a member of garage music collective So Solid Crew, won best newcomer for his portrayal in Bullet Boy of an 18-year-old who leaves custody and is desperate to stay out of trouble.

Korean film Oldboy beat Fahrenheit 9/11 and Motorcycle Diaries to win best foreign film.

Oldboy, directed by Chan-wook Park, tells the tale of a man imprisoned in a hotel room for 15 years with no explanation as to why.

The Raindance Award went to The Barn, directed by Ruaridh Webster, which focuses on two injured US brothers locked in a barn following a run-in with some comedy East End gangsters.

Film producer Norma Heyman won the special jury prize. Her previous work includes Dangerous Liaisons, The Honorary Consul and Buster.

So Solid Crew's Ashley Walters won most promising newcomer

She is currently working on Mrs Henderson Presents, starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.

Hoskins, who has starred in films including Mona Lisa and The Long Good Friday, won the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor.

And Harry Potter author JK Rowling won the Variety UK personality award for her contribution to the film industry. Four of her books have been adapted so far for the big screen, and her award was picked up by Potter producer David Heyman.

Leigh has also been been named as the first non-US recipient of a lifetime achievement award at New York's annual Gotham Awards. It will be presented at a ceremony in the city on Wednesday.

Here is a list of the winners in full:

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Best British independent film

Vera Drake

Also nominated:
Dead Man's Shoes
Touching the Void
Shaun of the Dead
My Summer of Love

Best foreign independent film

Oldboy

Also nominated:
Motorcycle Diaries
Fahrenheit 9/11
Hero
Pieces of April

Best performance by an actor

Phil Davis - Vera Drake

Also nominated:
Paddy Considine - Dead Man's Shoes
Geoffrey Rush - The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
Daniel Craig - Enduring Love
Ian Hart - Blind Flight

Best performance by an actress

Imelda Staunton - Vera Drake

Also nominated:
Natalie Press - My Summer of Love
Eva Birthistle - Ae Fond Kiss�
Anne Reid - The Mother
Scarlett Johansson - Girl With A Pearl Earring

Best performance by a supporting actor/actress

Eddie Marsan - Vera Drake

Also nominated:
Paddy Considine - My Summer of Love
Gary Stretch - Dead Man's Shoes
Romola Garai - Inside I'm Dancing
Samantha Morton - Enduring Love

Best director

Mike Leigh - Vera Drake

Also nominated:
Kevin Macdonald - Touching the Void
Shane Meadows - Dead Man's Shoes
Pawel Pawlikowsky - My Summer of Love
Roger Michell - Enduring Love

The Douglas Hickox award for best directorial debut

John Crowley - Intermission

Also nominated:
Peter Webber - Girl With A Pearl Earring
Matthew Vaughn - Layer Cake
Saul Dibb - Bullet Boy
Emily Young - Kiss Of Life

Best Screenplay

Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright - Shaun Of The Dead

Also nominated:
Shane Meadows and Paddy Considine - Dead Man's Shoes
Paul Laverty - Ae Fond Kiss�
Mike Leigh - Vera Drake
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely - The Life and Death Of Peter Sellers

Most promising newcomer

Ashley Walters - Bullet Boy

Also nominated:
Toby Kebbell - Dead Man's Shoes
Emily Blunt - My Summer of Love
Nick Frost - Shaun Of the Dead
Atta Yaqub - Ae Fond Kiss

Best British feature documentary

Touching the Void

Also nominated:
Aileen
Trollywood
Drowned Out
Peace One Day

Best achievement in production

Vera Drake

Also nominated:
Dead Man's Shoes
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Code 46
Bride and Prejudice

Best technical achievement

Cinematography - Touching the Void - Mike Eley

Also nominated:
Wardrobe - Bride and Prejudice - Eduardo Castro and Ralph Holes
Cinematography - Enduring Love - Haris Zambarloukos
Editing - Dead Man's Shoes - Lucas Roche and Chris Wyatt
Production Design - Code 46 - Mark Tildesley

Best British Short (Nokia supported by The British Council)

School of Life

The Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film

Bob Hoskins

The Special Jury Prize (Supported by the UK Film Council)

Norma Heyman

The Variety UK entertainment personality award

J K Rowling