The Act of Killing wins top prize at first Guardian Film Awards
The Act of Killing has taken the top prize at the inaugural Guardian Film Awards.
Joshua Oppenheimer's surreal study of the Indonesian death squads of the 1960s was nominated in three fields – best director, biggest game-changer and best film.
It triumphed in best film over the Oscar winners 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, as well as two other foreign language films, The Great Beauty and Blue is the Warmest Colour.
Oppenheimer said of the recognition: "Artistically, it's a far more meaningful award to me than an Oscar."
The film – voted best film of 2013 by Guardian critics, and seventh best of the year by Guardian readers – was also strongly championed by the two external judges, Claudia Winkleman and Adam Curtis; the former calling it "one of the best films I've ever seen".
The Guardian Film Awards were conceived as an antidote to the already crowded awards calendar, aiming to reflect Guardian values in the inclusivity of the categories and reader involvement. More than 5,000 votes were cast online, which whittled the longlists down to shortlists and counted for a casting vote during the judging.
The public voted for 12 Years a Slave in almost every eligible category, but in the end the film converted just one shortlist place into a win: best director for Steve McQueen.
The Guardian editor-in-chief, Alan Rusbridger, who served on the jury, praised McQueen's "stunning assurance of eye, of direction and of storytelling", as well as his bravery in tackling such charged subject matter.
Best actor went to Cate Blanchett for her role in Blue Jasmine, while 84-year-old June Squibb beat off stiff competition from Slave's Michael Fassbender to take best supporting actor for her part in Nebraska. Biggest game-changer was given to Gravity, while Philomena's marketing campaign – which saw the real-life Philomena Lee travelling with Steve Coogan to meet the Pope – secured it victory in that category.
Liberace's quip: "What a story – you got everything but a fire in the orphanage" took best line of dialogue for Behind the Candelabra, while best scene went to the opening party in The Great Beauty. The judges also awarded two special awards – lifetime achievement to the Philomena star Judi Dench and outstanding contribution to the veteran producer Jeremy Thomas.
Two categories were solely down to reader vote: best cinema, which was given to the popcorn-free Rex in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, and best so-bad-it's-good film. This went to Nicolas Winding Refn's operatic revenge drama Only God Forgives starring Ryan Gosling. The film split the critics, but the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave it five stars at its Cannes premiere last May.
Cannes took the top prize in the best film festival category. It was also the readers' pick – despite Cannes being the only one of the 10 longlisted not open to the public.
Full list of winners
Best film: The Act of Killing (director: Joshua Oppenheimer)
Best director: Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)
Best actor: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Best supporting actor: June Squibb, Nebraska
Best scene: the opening party, The Great Beauty
Best line of dialogue: "What a story – you got everything but a fire in the orphanage." (Liberace, Behind the Candelabra – screenplay by Richard LaGravenese)
Biggest game-changer: Gravity (director: Alfonso Cuarón)
Best marketing campaign: Philomena (Pathé, The Weinstein Company, Premier PR)
Best film festival: Cannes
Best so-bad-it's-good film: Only God Forgives (director: Nicolas Winding Refn)
Outstanding contribution: Jeremy Thomas
Lifetime achievement: Judi Dench
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