Argo crowned best film at BAFTA awards

Ben Affleck’sArgocreates history again as theIran hostage crisis dramawon the best film prize at Britain's BAFTA awards on Sunday. It has been a huge boost to the film ahead of the Oscars later this month. Affleck also won the best director award for the same filmat the celebrity-packed ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London. Daniel Day-Lewis was the winner for best actor for his outstanding performance in Steven Spielberg'sLincolnand it heightened his status as the Oscar favourite in the same category. The 85-year-old French actress Emmanuelle Riva won best actress forAmour.Christoph Waltz won the best supporting actor for his role inDjango Unchainedwhile Anne Hathaway won the best supporting actress for her performance in the musicalLes Miserables.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards and the Oscars have always been in a consensus while selecting the best films, for the last four years consecutively.Les Miserablesemerged as the highest award-winner with four trophies followed byArgowith three. But stars are shining brightly onArgofor the upcoming Oscars as earlier it won the top Golden Globe awards beatingLincolnand also not to forget the best director award from the Directors Guild of America a week ago as well. Affleck, theArgodirector addressed the audience while accepting the award from British actor Ian McKellen, "I want to say this is a second act for me and you've given me that, this industry has given me that and I want to thank you and I'm so grateful and proud.”

Filmmaker Tarantino won the award for the best original screenplay forDjango Unchainedand David O. Russell picked up the best adapted screenplay award for the romantic comedySilver Linings Playbook.Skyfallwas named the best British film and the score won the best original music prize.Skyfallhas been recorded as Britain's highest grossing film ever. At the end of the BAFTAs ceremony a special fellowship was awarded to filmmaker Alan Parker, the director of movies likeMidnight Express,Birdy,Angel HeartandBugsy Malone. The prestigious BAFTAs have been grown more important over the years and are now seen as one of the key indicators of Oscar success.