2012 BAFTAs

The Orange BAFTA awards celebrate achievement in film. The BAFTA organization, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, has several awards shows each year honoring different areas of entertainment. The Orange or film awards have 24 categories. The same number as the Oscars though not all of the categories are the same. The nominees in several of the categories were very similar to those of the Oscar nominations.

While the award show aired in the US on BBC America at 5pm, the winners had been announced in London by that time. The Artist led the pack with 12 nominations and won seven including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep, Christopher Plummer, and Octavia Spencer took home the other acting prizes. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was nominated in 11 categories, winning two. While the most Oscar nominated movie of the year Hugo had nine BAFTA nominations, it won in two categories. The BAFTAs are often a good indicator of what films will win in the technical categories. On the red carpet George Clooney seemed to know that he would not be winning for Best Actor and the Oscar race in that category continues to be close. Jean Dujardin was in New York last night making an appearance on SNL and made it to the BAFTAs Sunday. Perhaps he and Kristen Wiig were on the same flight. She and Annie Mumolo were nominated for the Bridesmaids screenplay, as they are for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars.

Jean Dujardin, producer Thomas Langmann and director and screenwriter Michel Hazanavicius with three of the Artist's seven awards.

Stephen Fry hosted the ceremony, if you watch Bones you may recognize him. There was a lovely movie montage of the year's films, though I am a sucker for a movie montage or package as Fry announced it. Martin Scorsese was honored with the Academy Fellowship and John Hurt was awarded with Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema (I share a birthday with Hurt). I actually spotted a seat filler while watching the awards show.

No dresses were real standouts on the red carpet but there were no real misses either. There were many comments about how cold it was. Of note, Michelle Williams' black and white dress was H and M!

Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis and Michelle Williams

The winners:
Best Film The Artist
Best Director Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Actor Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Actress Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Supporting Actor Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Original Screenplay Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Adapted Screenplay Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best British Film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best Film Not in the English Language The Skin I Live In
Best Animated Film Rango

Best Documentary Senna
Best Editing Senna
Best Costume Design The Artist
Best Cinematography The Artist
Best Original Music The Artist
Best Make-Up and Hair The Iron Lady
Best Visual Effects Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Best Production Design Hugo
Best Sound Hugo
Best British Debut Tyrannosaur
Orange Rising Star Award Adam Deacon
Best Animated Short A Morning Stroll
Best Live-Action Short Pitch Black Heist