True grit: Sweet Sixteen named best of the independents.

(From The Guardian)

Byline: FIACHRA GIBBONS ARTS CORRESPONDENT

Two of the grittiest films of the year took top prizes last night at the British Independent Film Awards.

Ken Loach's film Sweet Sixteen, set on a rundown council scheme in Greenock where a teenager tries to find the money for a home when his mother gets out of prison, won best film, and its young star, Martin Compston, was named most promising actor.

There was also double delight for Paul Greengrass's Bloody Sunday. The film, which has already been given the Golden Bear for best film at the Berlin film festival, won him best director.

Cold Feet star James Nesbitt was …