Slumdog Millionaire in seventh heaven at Baftas

Published on Sunday 8 February 2009 23:07

SLUMDOG Millionaire was the big winner at last night's Bafta awards, taking seven prizes including best film.

The story of a boy from the slums of Mumbai who goes on to win India's version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? also won Danny Boyle the prize for best director.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, had, like Slumdog Millionaire, been up for 11 Baftas, but had to settle for only three.

There was more British success as Kate Winslet took the best actress award for her role as a former Nazi concentration camp guard in The Reader.

Ahead of the ceremony at London's Royal Opera House, the red carpet was teeming with stars on a rainy evening. Fans bayed for autographs while the paparazzi jostled for snaps of Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Winslet, Mickey Rourke, Robert Downey Jr, Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn and a host of other Hollywood and British film stars.

The event was hosted by the controversial presenter Jonathan Ross, recently suspended from the BBC for his part in obscene prank calls made to actor Andrew Sachs.

Ross did not disappoint fans of his off-the-cuff humour, making fun of his own speech impediment and regaling the audience with jokes pegged to the films up for awards.

The English writer and director Steve McQueen brought a Scottish flavour to the evening by collecting an award for his feature film Hunger wearing a red and black kilt of the McQueen tartan.

Later, Rourke gave an expletive-filled acceptance speech as he picked up his award for leading actor for his portrayal of a lonely, washed-up professional athlete in The Wrestler trying to make his sporting comeback.

He said: "Thank you to Bafta, to Optimum Pictures to Fox Searchlight, Darren Aronofsky, he gave me a second chance after f*****g up my career for 15 years. It's such a pleasure to be back here out of the darkness."

Danny Boyle gave a restrained acceptance speech, but earlier defended his film on the red carpet against criticism in India to the movie's name, which some slum dwellers find offensive, its depiction of the lives of impoverished Indians and the treatment of the cast.

He said children in the film had been paid well and that the makers of the movie went to great lengths to make sure they would be well cared for after the film was forgotten.

He said: "We also put in place an educational plan for the children which we are sticking to and we will be there for them long after the fuss has died down."

Speaking before she received her award, Winslet said: "I want to thank my mum and dad, who I won't look at otherwise I will burst into tears."

Producer Christian Colson, who accepted the Bafta for Best Film for Slumdog Millionaire, said he would like to share it with the people of Mumbai.

"Thanks Bafta for taking our troubled fairytale of a film very much to heart," he said.

Who won what on big night for films

Best film: Slumdog Millionaire

Leading actor: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Leading actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Supporting actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Supporting actress: Penlope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Outstanding British film: Man On Wire

The Carl Foreman Award: Steve McQueen director/writer – Hunger

Adapted screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Music: AR Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

Cinematography: Antony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire

Editing: Chris Dickens, Slumdog Millionaire

Film not in the English language: I've Loved You So Long, Yves Marmion/Philippe Claudel

Animated film: Wall•E, Andrew Stanton

Academy fellowship: Terry Gilliam

Original screenplay: Martin McDonagh, In Bruges

Production design: Donald Graham Burt/Victor J Zolfo, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Costume design: Michael O'Connor, The Duchess

Make-up and hair: Jean Black/Colleen Callaghan, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Sound: Glenn Freemantle/Resul Pookutty/Richard Pryke/Tom Sayers/Ian Tapp, Slumdog Millionaire

Special visual effects: Eric Barba/Craig Barron/Nathan McGuinness/Edson Williams, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Short animation: Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf And Death, Steve Pegram/Nick Park/Bob Baker

Short film: September, Stewart le Marechal/Esther May Campbell

Outstanding British contribution to cinema: Pinewood Studios/Shepperton Studios

The Orange Rising Star Award: Noel Clarke

• Ross delivers on Bafta promise to Twitter fans