This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/8526670.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Education aims to top Bafta class Education aims to top Bafta class
(about 17 hours later)
British film An Education takes on Hollywood movies Avatar and The Hurt Locker later for the highest honours in UK cinema - the Baftas. The Bafta Awards are under way at London's Royal Opera House after stars of the big screen braved the rain on the red carpet.
The three films are each up for eight British Academy Film Awards, being held at London's Royal Opera House. British film An Education is up for eight honours along with Hollywood movies Avatar and The Hurt Locker.
Avatar director James Cameron competes against his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow, who made The Hurt Locker. Christoph Waltz has won best supporting actor for his role in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.
An Education's Carey Mulligan is up against rivals including Meryl Streep for the best actress prize. Newcomer Mo'Nique won best supporting actress for playing an abusive mother in gritty tale Precious.
District 9 has seven nominations, while Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and Up in the Air each have six nominations. And Fish Tank - the story of a girl from Essex who finds her life turned inside out when her mother brings home a new boyfriend - won best British film.
Baftas 2010: The shortlist Oscars promise open field
Kathryn Bigelow's drama The Hurt Locker, meanwhile, about bomb disposal experts in Iraq, won best original screenplay while comedy Up in the Air took best adapted screenplay.
The rising star award, voted for the public, was awarded to Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who beat actors including A Single Man star Nicholas Hoult and An Education's Carey Mulligan.
Disney Pixar's Up beat competition from Fantastic Mr Fox and Coraline for best animated film while French crime A Prophet was best film in a foreign language.
The first winner of the night was Moon director Duncan Jones who scooped the outstanding debut by a UK film-maker.
Accepting his award, Jones, the son of David Bowie, said of his low-budget sci-fi movie: "Finally, I think I've found what I love doing."
At the start of the ceremony, Prince William was announced as the new president of Bafta.
In his inaugural speech in the new role, he joked that predecessor Richard Attenborough had told him to "keep this brief" otherwise Wrestler actor Mickey Rourke "might wrestle me off the stage".
'Really amazed'
An Education's Mulligan is up against rivals including Meryl Streep for the best actress prize.
Speaking on the red carpet before the awards, Mulligan - who was nominated for best actress and lost out in the Bafta rising star category - told BBC News: "I honestly have no expectations.
I think the Baftas are special because it's our Oscars and it's a celebration of the British film industry Supporting actor nominee Alfred Molina Send us your comments
"I'm really amazed, not only at the company I'm in for best actress, but also the actors and actresses I'm up against for rising star - they're all brilliant."
Tarantino, nominated for best director for Inglourious Basterds, said he "couldn't be more thrilled" to be at the Baftas.
"I had this movie in my mind for 10 years so to get to this place - and for it do so well and to still have this heartbeat 10 months after I premiered it in Cannes - is pretty gratifying."
Of his chances of winning best director he said: "We will see, I'm looking forward to it."
The Bafta nominees on red carpet
British actor Christian McKay, who lost out in the best supporting actor category, said Me and Orson Welles was "my first film and the first real life character I've played".
He said he "became a little obsessive" about playing Welles and "listened to hours and hours of recordings of his wonderful voice".
"I was cast against all the odds so it seems like a succession of wonderful experiences, a rollercoaster and I've loved every minute of it."
Fellow Briton and supporting actor nominee, Alfred Molina - up for An Education - said: "I think the Baftas are special because it's our Oscars and it's a celebration of the British film industry."
Hard-hitting tale
Elsewhere, District 9 has seven nominations, while Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and Up in the Air each have six nominations.
Precious, the hard-hitting tale of a high school student coping with issues including teenage pregnancy and sexual abuse, is in the running for best film among its four nominations.Precious, the hard-hitting tale of a high school student coping with issues including teenage pregnancy and sexual abuse, is in the running for best film among its four nominations.
In the best actor category, nominees include British actors Colin Firth, for A Single Man, and Andy Serkis, shortlisted for his performance as Ian Dury in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.In the best actor category, nominees include British actors Colin Firth, for A Single Man, and Andy Serkis, shortlisted for his performance as Ian Dury in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.
At last month's Golden Globes in the US, sci-fi epic Avatar triumphed over The Hurt Locker in both the best film and best director categories.At last month's Golden Globes in the US, sci-fi epic Avatar triumphed over The Hurt Locker in both the best film and best director categories.