Stephen Daldry landed directing honors for 'The Reader' at the Evening Standard Film Awards.
"Slumdog Millionaire" helmer Danny Boyle might have taken home top honors at Saturday's Directors Guild of America gala, but across the Pond, "The Reader's" Stephen Daldry scored one for the increasingly overmatched opposition.
The Evening Standard British Film Awards feted Daldry with its top film director prize and "In Bruges" with screenplay honors on Sunday. Even more surprising, "Slumdog" was overlooked in the best picture heat in favor of Steve McQueen's "Hunger," about IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
So, has the "Slumdog Millionaire" avalanche finally come to a standstill? Don't bet on it.
Even the contrarian Brits couldn't entirely resist the Mumbai-set drama. The Evening Standard folks tapped "Slumdog" production designer Mark Digby for top technical achievement honors.