Benedict Cumberbatch and Timothy Spall go head to head for the best actor prize at the Moet British Independent Film Awards.

Cumberbatch is up for his role as codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, while Spall is nominated for his performance as artist JMW Turner in Mr Turner, with the pair also facing competition from Asa Butterfield (X+Y), Brendan Gleeson (Calvary) and Jack O'Connell ('71).

Model turned actress Cara Delevingne finds herself shortlisted for best newcomer at the awards, which are staged next month, for her role in The Face of An Angel.

Cumberbatch is also joined on the shortlist by his Sherlock co-star Andrew Scott - known to TV viewers for his portrayal of Moriarty in the detective drama - who is up for the best supporting actor prize for his role in Pride.

The film '71 has achieved the highest tally of nominations for this year's awards with nine, while Pride is shortlisted for seven.

Keira Knightley is a contender for best actress for her performance in The Imitation Game, against Alicia Vikander (Testament Of Youth), Cheng Pei Pei (Lilting), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) and and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed (Catch Me Daddy).

The winners will be announced at the ceremony on December 7 at Old Billingsgate in London.

The nominees are:

Best British Independent Film

'71

Calvary

Mr Turner

Pride

The Imitation Game

Best Director

John Michael McDonagh - Calvary

Lenny Abrahamson - Frank

Matthew Warchus - Pride

Mike Leigh - Mr Turner

Yann Demange - '71

Douglas Hickox Award (for best debut director)

Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe - Catch Me Daddy

Hong Khaou - Lilting

Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard - 20,000 Days on Earth

Morgan Matthews - X+Y

Yann Demange - '71

Best Screenplay

Graham Moore - The Imitation Game

Gregory Burke - '71

John Michael McDonagh - Calvary

Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan - Frank

Stephen Beresford - Pride

Best Actress

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Alicia Vikander - Testament of Youth

Cheng Pei Pei - Lilting

Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Belle

Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game

Sameena Jabeen Ahmed - Catch Me Daddy

Best Actor

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Asa Butterfield - X+Y

Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game

Brendan Gleeson - Calvary

Jack O'Connell - '71

Timothy Spall - Mr Turner

Best Supporting Actress

Dorothy Atkinson - Mr Turner

Imelda Staunton - Pride

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Frank

Sally Hawkins - X+Y

Sienna Guillory - The Goob

Best Supporting Actor

Andrew Scott - Pride

Ben Schnetzer - Pride

Michael Fassbender - Frank

Rafe Spall - X+Y

Sean Harris - '71

Most Promising Newcomer

Ben Schnetzer - Pride

Cara Delevingne - The Face of An Angel

Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Belle

Liam Walpole - The Goob

Sameena Jabeen Ahmed - Catch Me Daddy

Best Achievement In Production

'71

20,000 Days on Earth

Catch Me Daddy

Lilting

The Goob

Best Technical Achievement

Chris Wyatt - Editing - '71

Dick Pope - Cinematography - Mr Turner

Robbie Ryan - Cinematography - Catch Me Daddy

Stephen Rennicks - Music - Frank

Tat Radcliffe - Cinematography - '71

Best Documentary

20,000 Days on Earth

Next Goal Wins

Night Will Fall

The Possibilities Are Endless

Virunga

Best British Short

Crocodile

Emotional Fusebox

Keeping Up With The Joneses

Slap

The Karman Line

Best International Independent Film

Blue Ruin

Boyhood

Fruitvale Station

Ida

The Badadook

The Raindance Award (for filmmakers working against the odds)

Flim: The Movie...

Gregor

Luna

Keeping Rosy

The Beat Beneath My Feet