The BAFTA awards, held in the Royal Opera House in central London`s Covent Garden district, is one of the key international film awards in the run-up to Hollywood`s Oscars.
"The Artist," with 12 nominations and seven wins, was the most lauded movie on the night. Jean Dujardin won Best Actor for his role in the movie, and its director Michel Hazanavicius triumphed in his category.
"I absolutely loved the process; it`s another form of expression," Hazanavicius told reporters afterwards. "I really loved this movie, I will wait for a good script and if I find it I will make another silent movie."
Hazanavicius revealed what he thought was the secret of the movie`s success. "I think the format is something special. The more the audience does, and the less the director does, because the audience makes its own movie."
American actress Meryl Streep won the Best Actress Award for her performance as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."
Streep said at the press conference after the win that playing Thatcher had given her a new skill, namely, how to carry out interviews better. "I learnt to say don`t interrupt me, don`t interrupt me -- one more thing."
The BAFTA Outstanding Achievement Award was given to British actor John Hurt, one of the stars with "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," for his career in feature films that began in the 1960s and has taken in hits such as "Alien" and "The Elephant Man."
American director Martin Scorsese was awarded the Fellowship Award. Scorsese`s films include "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," and "Good Fellas."
The Outstanding British Film award was won by heavily-nominated "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," trumping "Senna," "Shame," "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and "My Week With Marilyn."
Canadian veteran Christopher Plummer won the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in "Beginners," and Best Supporting Actress went to Octavia Spencer for her performance as a maid in "The Help."
Best Screenplay went to "The Artist," and Best Adapted Screenplay to "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."
"Senna," about Grand Prix racing driver Ayrton Senna, was named best documentary.
The Best British film category winner was "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," and the award of Outstanding Debut by a Best British Writer, and Director or Producer went to Paddy Considine for "Tyrannosaur."
(U.I027/M016)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
