Bedlam ProductionsAnother weekend, another award show. This time, it's the British Film and Television Arts Awards, which is the British equivalent of the Oscars. It's also one of the last important stops before the Academy Awards.
And just like every award show before the Oscars, the results serve as a potential predictor for the big show. Once again, all eyes were on The King's Speech, which could be cemented as the Best Picture front-runner with another big victory at the BAFTAs.
So, what can we expect at the Oscars, according to the BAFTA crystal ball?
Nothing all that surprising. The King's Speech took home the top honor of Best Picture, bringing its BAFTA win total to seven. Colin Firth won Best Actor for the second consecutive year (last year for A Single Man) making him the first to get back-to-back BAFTA wins since Rod Steiger in 1968. The King's Speech swept almost all the major categories, including Best Original Screenplay.
The Social Network did get some BAFTA love, with Best Director going to David Fincher and Best Adapted Screenplay awarded to Aaron Sorkin. Natalie Portman continued her Black Swan domination with another Best Actress win, but wasn't at the ceremony to collect the award. The reason was bluntly stated by Darren Aronofsky as he accepted it on her behalf: "She's knocked up."
Inception was not forgotten at the BAFTAs, winning three awards: Sound, Special Visual Effects and Production Design.
For the wizard fans out there, you'll be happy to know that the Harry Potter Films were presented with an award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Here's the complete list of winners:
• Best Film: The King's Speech
• Leading Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
• Leading Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
• Supporting Actor: Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech
• Supporting Actress: Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech
• Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
• Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King's Speech
• Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
• Film Not in the English Language: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Animated Film: Toy Story 3
• Outstanding British Film: The King's Speech
• Outstanding Debut By a British Writer, Director or Producer: Chris Morris, Four Lions
• Music: The King's Speech
• Cinematography: True Grit
• Editing: The Social Network
• Production Design: Inception
• Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland
• Sound: Inception
• Special Visual Effects: Inception
• Makeup & Hair: Alice in Wonderland
• Short Film: Until the River Runs Red
• The Orange Rising Star Award: Tom Hardy
• Academy Fellowship: Christopher Lee