It's bananas but it works for Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh says the secret to his success as a director is bananas.

He advised actors to be on time, producers to preface advice to the director with "You're a genius" and directors to eat a banana at 11am and 4pm.

"It will stop you being cranky," he said, while accepting the Variety award at the British Independent Film Awards for having focused the world spotlight on the British film industry. The actor and director, who has just played Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn, said he was "absolutely thrilled" to be honoured at the event.

The night's big winner was Paddy Considine's directorial debut,

Tyrannosaur, which was made in four weeks for £700,000. It beat major productions including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and We Need To Talk About Kevin to be named best film. Its star, Olivia Colman, best known for comedies such as Rev, in which she plays Tom Hollander's wife, triumphed as best actress.

She said the part of a kindly charity shop worker was the best she had ever read. Considine wrote it for her after they met on the film Hot Fuzz.

"Someone like Paddy comes along and changes the trajectory of what you do and sees something in you that no one else does. And that's rare and beautiful," she said.

Michael Fassbender was named best actor for his portrayal of a sex addict in Shame.