Teenage killer thriller We Need To Talk About Kevin has scooped the best movie gong at the 55th BFI London Film Festival awards.

Directed by Lynne Ramsay, the film stars Tilda Swinton as the mother of a boy who carries out a high school killing spree.

John Madden, chairman of the British Film Institute (BFI) jury, said: “We were simply bowled over by one film, a sublime, uncompromising tale of the torment that can stand in the place of love.

“We Need To Talk About Kevin is made with the kind of singular vision that links great directors across all the traditions of cinema.”

Ralph Fiennes was also honoured, receiving the BFI Fellowship, alongside David Cronenberg.

Mr Fiennes, who made his directing debut at the festival with Coriolanus, and Canadian director Mr Cronenberg won the awards for their “outstanding contribution” to film over the years. Candese Reid won the best British newcomer award for her portrayal of a young homeless woman in Junkhearts.

Pablo Giorgelli picked up the Sutherland award from Terry Gilliam for his directorial debut Las Acacias, while celebrated director Werner Herzog won best documentary for Into The Abyss. The star-studded awards ceremony saw the likes of Michael Fassbender, Liam Neeson, Gillian Anderson and Sam Taylor-Wood walk down the red carpet at LSO St Luke’s in central London.