Cumberbatch And Spall Up For Indie Film Award

They have both starred in biopics this year and now Benedict Cumberbatch and Timothy Spall have been nominated for a British Independent Film award.

The pair will go head to head in the best actor category for their roles in The Imitation Game, about code-breaker Alan Turing, and Mr Turner, about artist JMW Turner.

The film '71 has received the most nominations this year with nine, including a best actor nomination for Jack O'Connell and supporting actor for Sean Harris.

Asa Butterfield (X+Y) and Brendan Gleeson (Calvary) complete the best actor shortlist.

Keira Knightley has been recognised for her role alongside Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game.

She will compete against Alicia Vikander (Testament Of Youth); Cheng Pei Pei (Lilting); Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle); and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed (Catch Me Daddy).

Calvary, '71, Mr Turner, Pride and The Imitation Game are the five films named in the best independent film category.

Pride has received seven nominations in total.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Fassbender are both nominated for their supporting roles in Frank.

Model Cara Delevingne has been shortlisted for most promising newcomer following her role in the Amanda Knox drama The Face Of An Angel.

Director Tom Hooper, whose film The King's Speech picked up five awards in 2010, will chair the jury.

He said: "I am honoured to preside over the Moët BIFA jury this year. It has been an extremely strong year for filmmaking here in Britain and I am looking forward to helping the very best of this year's independent films, get the recognition they deserve."

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 7 December.