Director: Andrea Arnold
Cast: Kaya Scodelario, James Howson, Oliver Milburn, Nichola Burley, Steve Evets
Certificate: 15

"You should treat him like a brother." "He's no brother of mine. He's a nigger." That's the sound of a fresh voice taking on Wuthering Heights. The shouts of swearing. The noise of wind. Andrea Arnold's natural adaptation of Emily Bronte's familiar novel sounds completely, breathtakingly modern.

Mike Leigh has described Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's decision to abolish the UK Film Council as "totally out of order". The announcement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sports came yesterday, shocking both the public and the UK film industry.

"It's very shocking indeed," the Vera Drake director told the BBC. "It's from left of field in a very sudden and devastating way." Leigh's not the only one against the decision, which will see the organisation, established by Labour to to develop and promote British films, completely disbanded. 

The coalition government are putting the move forward as a way of cutting costs. The Culture Secretary said that the aim was to form a "direct and less bureaucratic relationship with the British Film Institute" - the DCMS have stated that the funding of British films will continue, but have released no further details on who would be distributing the money (which is why they invented the UKFC in the first place).

Oh, what a night for British film! The BAFTAs got handed out to a gaggle of great talent tonight. Not only did Duncan Jones get his welcome reward for his Outstanding British Debut, but Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan waltzed off with the Best Actor prizes - a nice score for the home crowd, with both of them fully deserving the win.

Meanwhile, An Education got beaten to Costume and Make-Up by the equally English Young Victoria, spreading the national love around a bit - Fish Tank got a nice surprise as Outstanding British Film, again trumping Lone Scherfig's favourite. Other obvious victories came for Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique as Supporting Actors, with Up bagging both Best Score and Best Animation.

But it was The Hurt Locker which emerged at the top of the heap. Capitalising on its 8 nominations, it wiped the board with rival flick Avatar, nicking the well earned technical awards for Editing and Cinematography, alongside Sound and Original Screenplay (Adapted went to the lovely Up in the Air).

Avatar got Visual Effects and Production Design, but that was it for Cameron's blue box office horse. And rightly so. The Hurt Locker, which won Best Director with ease, ended the night crowned Best Film. There wasn't a single person in the room who could argue with that one.

Kristen Stewart, naturally, won the Rising Star Award - mostly thanks to the frantic support of her fans, all of whom were able to have their say in the public's vote.

Now the attention goes to the Oscars, where tonight's results may foreshadow (but not influence) the outcome across the Atlantic. For America's Academy, Jeff Bridges may be a better fit than Colin Firth and Sandra Bullock has a high chance of winning for The Blind Side. And, even more crucially, Cameron's financial success may well earn Avatar's producers Best Film (although Bigelow's Best Director is pretty much guaranteed now).

But before we get carried away, it's worth reading on for the full list of all our glorious British winners. Or even checking out the (semi-)live tweeting that we were bored enough to bring you. And then you can wonder about who'll win the Oscar. It certainly won't be Kristen Stewart.

Ok, so it's a little late in the day for this - in fact, the awards are already actually happening - but I'm avoiding any live feeds and sticking with the BBC coverage like the rest of the public (I wasn't allowed into the ceremony this year after I assaulted James McAvoy two years ago).

But with the Writers Guild awards giving the goods to The Hurt Locker and Up in the Air, James Cameron's hold on the evening is looking a little less firm. Will Avatar take home the big awards? I really hope not. And I don't think it will so far from its home shores; this is Britain's Academy and I like to think it's a little less swayed by box office takings.

On that naive note, here's a brief rundown of my predictions for tonight. Best Film and Director will hopefully go to The Hurt Locker and Kathryn Bigelow, with Cameron picking up the visual effects award - Hurt Locker will take all the technical visuals, because it's such an impressive piece of art. Avatar just has blue people in it.

Outstanding Debut will obviously go to Duncan Jones for the incredible Moon, which doesn't get much of a look in otherwise. Best British Film will head to An Education (but Fish Tank is the film that should really win it). As for writing awards, it's all about Up in the Air and The Hurt Locker (but I'd love it if A Serious Man and In The Loop won instead). I want Let the Right One In to get Best Foreign Film, but it will most likely go to A Prophet - Haneke triumphed in Cannes, but us Brits prefer prison flicks that are gritty and stylish. With Up scooping Best Animated and Best Score, the only other place where an upset might happen is Best Actor; could Colin Firth unsettle the near-certain Jeff Bridges? Not in America, but on his home turf? It's quite possible. As for Carey Mulligan? Well, she's clearly the Best Actress around (a special thank you to Sandra Bullock for not being nominated).

And finally, the Orange Rising Star? Well, I want Carey Mulligan to carry as many masks home as possible, but with all the fans of Twilight taking over the country, I can imagine that Kristen Stewart is a tiny bit of a favourite. Did you know Robert Pattinson will be there too? Commence screaming now. Then read on for the full predictions (in italics).

It's been a good year for the Moon - it had its 40th birthday, and it got to star alongside Sam Rockwell in a brilliant British film. Now, it's year just got even better, because Duncan Jones' sci-fi won Best British Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) last night.

Jones also nabbed himself the Douglas Hiccox Award for Best Debut Director. But another helmer wasn't far behind - unsurprisingly, Andrea Arnold's phenomenal Fish Tank scooped up Best Director, along with Most Promising Newcomer for lead teen Katie Jarvis.

In a result predicted by everyone, the wonderful Carey Mulligan took home Best Actress for her schoolgirl in An Education, and Tom Hardy (every way her polar opposite) walked off with Best Actor for Bronson. But the most deserved of the night? Perhaps the sweary screenplay from In the Loop, Armando Ianucci's inspired political comedy, which was one of the best films of this year - expect that, at the very least, to be up for an Oscar. Maybe some of the others too. Like Let the Right One In, which won Best Foreign Film; easily earnt by the sweet Swedish fang-fest. 

For more on the BIFAs, head over to their website, or read on for the full list of results. 

Yes, the line-up for the British Independent Film Awards has been announced. And Fish Tank and Moon are kicking independent butt. Andrea Arnold's incredible feature has got itself 8 nods, with Duncan Jones' Moon clocking in with 7.

Other noms of note go to Jane Campion for Bright Star, Armando Ianucci's In the Loop and Lone Scherfig's An Education. The awards take place on Sunday 6th December, hosted by James Nesbitt and judged by such talent as Liam Cunningham and Eddie Marsan. If you can pick between these brilliant Brits, you're a better man than me.

Read on for the full list of nominees.

Director: Andrea Arnold
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Kierston Wareing, Katie Jarvis, Charlotte Collins
Certificate: 15

If it's one thing British cinema is good at, it's kitchen sink dramas. But as our auteurs age with time, who in this modern society can take up the mantle? Step forward, Andrea Arnold, Oscar-winning Brit with a taste for the grit - if you want the kitchen sink, you bet your life she'll throw one at the camera.