The 2009 Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)
On Sunday 8 February — a freezing cold, rainy evening at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London — the stars braved the weather and came out and shone in great numbers for the Orange British Academy Film Awards 2009.
World-renowned actors, actresses and film-makers including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Micky Rourke, Sharon Stone, Robert Downey Jnr, Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto, Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, and Marisa Tomei among many others graced the red carpet for the biggest event in the UK film calendar.
The big winner of the night was the film Slumdog Millionaire, which won 7 Bafta Awards including BEST FILM, and BEST DIRECTOR for Danny Boyle, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Music, Best Cinematography and Best Editing and Best Sound. It had been nominated for 11 awards in all.
British Actress Kate Winslett was awarded the BAFTA for Leading Actress in The Reader. Winslet had received two nominations in the same category for her films and The Reader.
Mickey Rourke won the BAFTA for Leading Actor in The Wrestler and spoke about how pleased he was that he had made a comeback in his career and how The Wrestler was the most physically demanding film he had ever made.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button won three BAFTAs for Production Design, Make Up and Hair and Best Special Visual Effects. Brad Pitt came to London with his wife Angelina Jolie for the Awards, Pitt was nominated as Leading Actor for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and as best Supporting Actor in Burn After Reading. Angelina Jolie was nominated in the Leading Actress for her role in Changeling.
The Supporting Actress BAFTA went to Penélope Cruz for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The Supporting Actor award was presented posthumously to Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.
In a very good night for British film, 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.
Two awards were announced earlier this week: the Academy Fellowship was awarded to Terry Gilliam who received a standing ovation when his award was announced.
The Orange Rising Star Award was presented to Noel Clarke, writer, 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 Mary Selway, the highly respected casting director, who died in 2004.
The only Award voted for by the public, the Orange Rising Star Award is presented to a young actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and ambition and who has captured the imagination of the British public as a film star in the making. Former winners of the Orange Rising Star Award are Shia LaBeouf (2008), Eva Green (2007) and James McAvoy (2006).
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