Cliff Curtis Wins 'Best Actor', Beating Sir Ian McKellen

Cliff Curtis has beaten Sir Ian McKellen and Jason Segel to take home the Best Actor gong at the Seattle International Film Festival.

He won the honour for his role as chess champion Genesis Potini in 'The Dark Horse'.

The movie was also named Best Film, beating Pixar’s “Inside Out” and the Sundance sensation “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.”

Four hundred and 50 films were screened over the 25-day festival - the largest and most well-attended film festival in North America.

More than 90-thousand votes were submitted by audience members.