“The Hurt Locker” reigns over the BAFTAs

Like every other award show leading up to the Oscars, the BAFTAs are seen as a predictor for th March 7 telecast. The winners were announced tonight in London.

The Hurt Locker, Avatar, and An Education each received eight nominations. But it was ultimtely The Hurt Locker‘s night. The Iraq War thriller received six prizes: picture, director, original screenplay, editing, cinematography and sound.

Upon accepting her directing prize, Kathryn Bigelow said:

“What an honour. Especially to be in this room filled with so many incredibly talented people that I have admired and been inspired by for decades. I think the secret of directing is collaboration, and I was so, so lucky to have a wonderful cast and crew. Jeremy Renner is so incredibly talented, and a cinematographer who is a visual poet, and my incredible editors. This is really amazing and humbling and deeply moving, and I think we all felt a real responsibility to honour the men and women in the field and to honour a screenplay and a screenwriter who risked his life to capture the chaos and tragedy of war. I would like to dedicate this to never abandoning the resolution to find peace.”

Meanwhile, Fish Tank, a film that is one of my absolute favorites was named the Best British Film. Director Andrea Arnold said:

“This is really a great honour. Thank you to BAFTA and the jury; it really means a lot to be supported by your homies. I had this weird dream last night that I was on a campsite and trying to put a tent, and every time I found a nice place somebody else came and put up their tent and it felt really significant but I’m not sure why. Thank you to all the people who worked hard on this, and, er, God save the Queen and thank you.”

Also surprisingly, Jacques Audiard “A Prophet” beat out Michael Haneke’s “The White Ribbon” for the “Best Film Not in the English Language.

Audiard said in his acceptance speech: “I’m going to try to say this quickly. This is the second time that BAFTA has awarded me this prize. I’m afraid that you’ll think I’m tired of it. I don’t want that to be the case; I’d like you to keep giving it to me regularly. I want to thank Optimum; if I have another son I will call him Optimum. If I have a daughter, I’ll call her BAFTA.”

Christophe Waltz and Mo’Nique continued their winning streaks in the supporting actor and actress categories. While Carey Mulligan and Colin Firth won Best Actress and Actor respectively. Are Mulligan’s and Firth’s wins a surpise over the other favorites? Maybe. This is the BAFTAs so they were more likely to win here than at any American award show.

And uh, Bella Swan Kristen Stewart won something. She beat out former Skins star Nicholas Hoult so I’m not taking this one well.

In other BAFTA news, Prince William has been named its new president, continuing a long royal tradition.

Best Film
The Hurt Locker

Outstanding British Film
Fish Tank

Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Leading Actor
Colin Firth, A Single Man

Leading Actress
Carey Mulligan, An Education

Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, Precious

Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer
Duncan Jones, Director of Moon

Original Screenplay
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker

Adapted Screenplay
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

Film Not In The English Language
A Prophet

Animated Film
Up

Music
Michael Giacchino, Up

Cinematography
Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt Locker

Editing
Bob Murawski & Chris Innis, The Hurt Locker

Production Design
Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg & Kim Sinclair, Avatar

Costume Design
Sandy Powell, The Young Victoria

Sound
Ray Beckett & Paul N. J. Ottosson, The Hurt Locker

Special Visual Effects
Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham & Andrew R. Jones, Avatar

Make Up & Hair
Jenny Shircore, The Young Victoria

Short Animation
Sally Arthur & Emma Lazenby, Mother Of Many

Short Film
James Bolton & Martina Amati, I Do Air

The Orange Rising Star Award (Voted For By The Public)
Kristen Stewart