Benedict on wedding: One thing at a time”

Benedict Cumberbatch on Saturday picked up the first of what’s expected to be a slew of awards for playing codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, and with a busy awards season ahead, that means his upcoming nuptials to theatre director Sophie Hunter are on the back burner.

“One thing at a time,” he said when we asked if he’s planning a wedding mid-award-season madness. “I’m playing Sherlock now — just about to start — so my main focus is going to be on that.”

The actor was accompanied to the gala by Hunter, who he proposed to late last year.

The gala, on the second day of the festival, presented Cumberbatch with the ensemble performance award for The Imitation Game, which releases in the UAE on January 8.

“I’ve been chosen to speak,” said Cumberbatch, with co-star Allan Leech, “which is alarming.”

Other awards included the Icon Award for Robert Duvall; while Michael Keaton presented Alejandro G. Iñárritu with the Director of the Year Award for Birdman. Other awardees include Richard Linklater, Julianne Moore, David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Eddie Redmayne, J.K. Simmons and Reese Witherspoon, who got the Chairman’s Award. The festival runs until January 12.