Tilda's the leading lady at Standard film awards

Swinton won best actress for her title role in the film Julia, in which she plays an alcoholic who carries out a kidnapping.

"It's a film I really loved that I know not many people will have seen so to get recognition of this kind is a dream situation," she said. "It might mean that people will look out for films like this more."

The former muse of Derek Jarman who has gone on to forge a hugely successful career in Hollywood, was joined at the prize ceremony at the Ivy by a string of directors bringing an equally diverse range of films to the public.

Former Turner Prize winner Steve McQueen won the best film with Hunger, his movie debut about IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. He said: "It's great to be awarded this for work which often gets overlooked. It's great that a spotlight gets shone on the film."

Stephen Daldry, who made his debut in film with Billy Elliot after a career in theatre, was named best director for The Reader, the story of a former concentration camp guard played by Kate Winslet.

"I'm thrilled because I think the film is controversial and provocative and I love the debate that it generates," he said. "I feel very sentimental about this because the Evening Standard has been very supportive of me. The fact that the Standard has come through to celebrate this film I find moving."

Mike Leigh received the Alexander Walker Award - named after the late Evening Standard critic - for his role in nurturing young talent. His latest star, Sally Hawkins, also won the comedy award for her leading role in his quirky comedy Happy-Go-Lucky.

Leigh said he was "very honoured" but also fortunate in having the support of producers such as Film4, which backed Happy-Go-Lucky as well as Garage, Hunger and Slumdog Millionaire. He said he had enjoyed support to make films with "total freedom" but that was not a luxury young film-makers now usually enjoyed.

Joanna Hogg, a television director on shows from Casualty to London's Burning, won most promising newcomer at the age of 48 for Unrelated, her film debut. "I don't really feel it was a change of career because I've always been a film-maker. This was always what I intended to do," she said.

Pat Shortt, who played the lead in the low-budget film Garage, shared the best actor honour with Michael Sheen, who plays broadcaster David Frost in the film Frost/Nixon.

Shortt, 41, who is probably best known for appearing in Father Ted, said: "It's fantastic and very prestigious. I think it will do the film the power of good."

Mark Digby won the technical award for creating the distinctive look of Slumdog Millionaire which is now a hot favourite for the Oscars.

The Wimbledon-born production designer said he was "very proud and pleased" that the judges, headed by the Standard's Derek Malcolm, had recognised it was not just a question of using a foreign location.

Stephen Daldry paid tribute to Veronica Wadley, the outgoing editor of the Evening Standard, for having championed the arts.

EVENING STANDARD FILM AWARD WINNERS

Best Film

Hunger

Best Director

Stephen Daldry (The Reader)

Best Actor

Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon)

Pat Shortt (Garage)

Best Actress

Tilda Swinton (Julia)

Technical Achievement

Mark Digby (production designer of Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Screenplay

Martin McDonagh (In Bruges)

Most Promising Newcomer

Joanna Hogg (director, Unrelated)

Peter Sellers Award for Comedy

Sally Hawkins for her performance in Happy-Go-Lucky

Alexander Walker Special Award

Mike Leigh for his contribution to British film and for nurturing new talent