Bafta awards: Joy of six as The Hurt Locker beats Avatar

Published on Sunday 21 February 2010 22:03

IRAQ war drama The Hurt Locker stole the show at last night's British Film Awards (Baftas) after winning six awards, including the most prestigious title – best film – and triumphing over blockbuster Avatar.

• Best Actress winner Carey Mulligan on the red carpet

Kathryn Bigelow took the best director prize for the film, beating nominees that included her former husband, Avatar director James Cameron.

Bigelow is the first woman to win a best director Bafta.

The Hurt Locker also won prizes for original screenplay, cinematography, editing and sound while Avatar picked up awards for production design and visual effects.

The big British winner on the night was Colin Firth who won best actor for his role in A Single Man, while Irishwoman Carey Mulligan took the best actress award following her part in An Education.

The Hurt Locker, whose budget was dwarfed by that of Avatar as were its box office takings, follows a bomb disposal unit in Iraq, and captures the tension and danger as they try to defuse explosives.

"I think we all sensed an amazing responsibility to honour the people in the film and honour a scriptwriter who risked his life to capture the tragedy and chaos of war," Bigelow said.

"I would like to dedicate this to never abandoning the need to find a resolution for peace."

Firth, who was named best actor for his portrayal of a gay academic battling grief in A Single Man, revealed that he almost turned the part down, in an e-mail to director Tom Ford.

He said: "What Tom Ford doesn't know is I have the e-mail in my outbox telling him I could not possibly do this.

"I was about to send this when a man came to repair my fridge … I don't know what's best for me, so I would like to thank the fridge guy.

"All I know is don't ever press 'send' until you have had your fridge repaired."

Asked why he had originally wanted to turn down A Single Man, he said: "It was self doubt really … I didn't know if I was in the right frame of mind, if my imagination was firing enough".

Shaking with emotion, Carey Mulligan said after winning best actress: "I really didn't expect this at all so I didn't think of anything to say.

"Thank you so much Bafta. I was here a year ago and I didn't imagine in a million years that this would happen. I wish I could do a speech like Colin Firth and talk about fridges but I can't."

Earlier she said she was going to keep the Bafta at her parents' house.

"I didn't think I'd get one," she said. "It's mad. I'll leave it at my parents' house, my parents' living room, that's the safest place for it.

"I lose things. Not that I would ever lose a Bafta."

She also said that she had forgotten to thank the film's director. "I was so unbelievably nervous my brain was going so fast. I got halfway through the speech and thought I'd been talking for ten minutes so I've got to get off stage."

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer was won by David Bowie's son Duncan Jones, who directed low-budget film Moon.

Jones, who welled up with emotion, said: "It's taken me an awful long time to know what I wanted to do with my life.

"Finally, I think I've found what I love doing."

Austrian actor Christoph Waltz, already a hot Oscar favourite, won the supporting actor prize for his turn as a chilling, charming Nazi colonel in Inglourious Basterds.

The supporting actress award went to Mo'nique for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.

After winning Outstanding British film for Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold said backstage: "It's a really British film. Fish Tank has been described as not a pretty vision of Britain so the fact that people are giving us this Bafta means a hell of a lot.

"It's not really an easy ride this film, so I appreciate being supported by my homies."

She said it was always a "surprise" when a short film received a cinema release, and added: "All I wanted was for people to see the film."

Arnold said the advent of new technology would open up film making to people of all backgrounds, as well as more women.

"There's no reason why you can't make a film," she said. "You don't need an awful lot of money anymore. I think that means all sorts of people will have access to making films."

US Twilight actress Kristen Stewart, who beat her British counterparts to the Rising Star award, said: "I'm sat right behind Kate Winslet and every time she turns around I feel I wish I didn't exist. I love her."

Earlier, Kate Winslet, Audrey Tautou, Quentin Tarantino and Vanessa Redgrave all walked the red carpet before the ceremony at London's Royal Opera House, with Prince William on hand to add real royalty to showbiz aristocracy.

The British awards are considered an important indicator of likely Oscar success.

Last year, Danny Boyle's underdog picture Slumdog Millionaire won seven Baftas, including best film, and it went on to win eight Oscars.

OTHER WINNERS

BEST FILM The Hurt Locker

FOREIGN FILM A Prophet

ANIMATED FILM Up

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Up in the Air

PRODUCTION DESIGN Avatar

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker

SUPPORTING ACTRESS Mo'Nique, Precious

MAKE UP & HAIR The Young Victoria

COSTUME DESIGN The Young Victoria

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS Avatar

CINEMATOGRAPHY The Hurt Locker

EDITING The Hurt Locker

SOUND The Hurt Locker

MUSIC Up

SHORT ANIMATION Mother of Many

SHORT FILM I Do Air

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY BRITISH WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Duncan Jones, director of Moon

ROYAL ROLE

PRINCE William is to follow in his grandfather's footsteps by becoming the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' fifth president.

This latest high-profile public role for the prince, succeeding the legendary film director Lord Attenborough, was announced at last night's awards ceremony.

In his first formal act as president, William presented veteran actress Vanessa Redgrave with the Academy fellowship, the highest accolade the British Academy bestows on someone for "outstanding and exceptional" contribution to film.

Taking to the stage to cheers, the prince described the role as a "very great honour" and said he wished Lord Attenborough had been well enough to be at the ceremony tonight.

He added: "The visual arts are such a vital part of what makes up the fabric of this nation. I am so grateful to Lord Attenborough for inviting me to take over from him.