Slumdog sweeps up seven Baftas   (Events)

Tonight's Orange British Academy Film Awards (Bafta) saw Slumdog Millionaire win Best Film at London’s Royal Opera House along with a clutch of other awards.                     Abigail Parkin (8 Feb '09 10.05 pm)                    

"I'd like to share this award with the people of Mumbai," announced jubilant producer, Christian Colson. Slumdog Millionaire also won six other awards: Director for Danny Boyle, Adapted Screenplay, Music, Cinematography, Editing and Sound.

Brad Pitt didn't pick up Lead Actor for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button but the film did amass three Baftas; for Production Design, Make Up & Hair and Special Visual Effects.

                                        (Above) Slumdog's Freida Pinto, Danny Boyle & Dev Patel

An emotionally controlled Kate Winslet (right) was awarded the Bafta for Leading Actress for The Reader while the Supporting Actress Bafta went to Penélope Cruz for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Mickey Rourke won the Leading Actor award for The Wrestler and the Supporting Actor award was presented posthumously to Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.

Jonathan Ross presented the Baftas and was relatively subdued after his recent absence from the screen. British films performed strongly and In Bruges won the Bafta for Original Screenplay and The Duchess won the Bafta for Costume Design.

Director/writer Steve McQueen received The Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer for their First Feature Film for Hunger.

The Bafta for Outstanding British Film went to the documentary Man on Wire.

I’ve Loved You So Long took away the Film Not in the English Language BAFTA and the award for Animated Film went to Wall•E.

Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death won the Short Animation award and the Short Film award was presented to September.

Two awards were announced earlier this week: the Academy Fellowship was awarded to Terry Gilliam and the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema was presented to Pinewood and Shepperton Studios.

The Orange Rising Star Award was presented to Noel Clarke, director and star of Adulthood. This award recognises an international actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and has begun to be recognised as a film star in the making. This award, now in its fourth year, was created in honour of the venerable casting director Mary Selway, who died in 2004.

Click image for after party coverage ...

RK  _________________________________________