Press Releases

18 December 2008

British talent grabbed the spotlight from Hollywood today (18 December) with a thrilling line-up of nominations announced by the London Film Critics' Circle. 

British drama 'Slumdog Millionaire' leads the list of nominees with six nominations, including The Attenborough Award for British Film of the Year, Director of the Year for Danny Boyle and British Actor of the Year for Dev Patel. British films 'Hunger' by debut director Steve McQueen and Mike Leigh's 'Happy-Go-Lucky' follow closely behind with five nominations, as does 'Frost/Nixon'.

The 29th London Critics' Circle Film Awards, sponsored by first direct, in aid of the NSPCC will take place on 04 February 2009.

The highlight of the night will be the Critics' Circle's presentation of the Dilys Powell Award for outstanding contribution to cinema to British icon Dame Judi Dench.

The awards underline a magnificent year for Kate Winslet, who received nominations as both British Actress of the Year and Actress of the Year for her outstanding work in two films, 'The Reader' and 'Revolutionary Road'.

Vying for British Actress of the Year are Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long), Tilda Swinton (Julia), Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky) and Kate Winslet (The Reader, Revolutionary Road).

The contest for British Actor of the Year will be between Ralph Fiennes (The Duchess), Ben Kingsley (Elegy), Michael Fassbender (Hunger), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) and Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon).

'Slumdog Millionaire' faces tough competition for British Film of the Year from 'Happy-Go-Lucky', 'Hunger', 'In Bruges', and 'Man on Wire'. Animated blockbuster 'Wall-E' will need to see off 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', 'Frost/Nixon', 'Milk' and 'The Wrestler' to be crowned Film of the Year.

Hollywood star nominees include Mickey Rourke for 'The Wrestler' and the late Heath Ledger for 'The Dark Knight' in the Actor of the Year category, and Meryl Streep for 'Doubt' and Angelina Jolie for 'Changeling' in the Actress of the Year category.

In the director's corner, Director of the Year will be contested by Clint Eastwood (Changeling), Gus Van Sant (Milk), Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler) and David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

For the first time, an NSPCC award for Young British Performer of the Year has been added. The award will be contested between Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Georgia Groome (Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging), Bill Milner (Son of Rambow), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Will Poulter (Son of Rambow) and Thomas Turgoose (Somers Town, Eden Lake).

London Film Critics' Circle Chairman Jason Solomons said: "I am thrilled by this exciting set of nominations which acknowledge the best in film making from around the world. I am particularly delighted that the Critics' Circle have been able to introduce a new award - the NSPCC Award for Young British Performer of the Year - and that we have been able to choose from such a dazzling pool of young stars, emphasising the strength and depth of young talent in Britain."

The awards will be hosted by broadcasters Mariella Frostrup and Paul Gambaccini at London's Grosvenor House Hotel and are sponsored by first direct, the UK's leading direct bank.

Nominees for the 29th London Critics' Circle Film Awards

FILM OF THE YEAR
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Warner)
Frost/Nixon (Universal)
Milk (Momentum)
Wall-E (Disney)
The Wrestler (Optimum)

THE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD: BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR
Happy-Go-Lucky (Momentum)
Hunger (Pathe)
In Bruges (Universal)
Man on Wire (Icon)
Slumdog Millionaire (Pathe)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Gomorrah (Optimum)
I've Loved You So Long (Lionsgate)
The Orphanage (Optimum)
Persepolis (Optimum)
Waltz With Bashir (Artificial Eye)

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler (Optimum)
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire (Pathe)
Clint Eastwood - Changeling (Universal)
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Warner)
Gus Van Sant - Milk (Momentum)

BRITISH DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire (Pathe)
Terence Davies - Of Time and the City (BFI)
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky (Momentum)
Steve McQueen - Hunger (Pathe)
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight (Warner)

ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Josh Brolin - W. (Lionsgate)
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon (Universal)
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight (Warner)
Sean Penn - Milk (Momentum)
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler (Optimum)

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Optimum)
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married (Sony)
Angelina Jolie - Changeling (Universal)
Meryl Streep - Doubt (Miramax)
Kate Winslet - The Reader (Entertainment) and Revolutionary Road (Paramount)

BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Michael Fassbender - Hunger (Pathe)
Ralph Fiennes - The Duchess (Pathe)
Ben Kingsley - Elegy (Entertainment)
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire (Pathe)
Michael Sheen - Frost/Nixon (Universal)

BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Rebecca Hall - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Optimum)
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky (Momentum)
Kristin Scott Thomas - I've Loved You So Long (Lionsgate)
Tilda Swinton - Julia (Chelsea)
Kate Winslet - The Reader (Entertainment) and Revolutionary Road (Paramount)

BRITISH ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Liam Cunningham - Hunger (Pathe)
Toby Jones - Frost/Nixon (Universal) and W. (Lionsgate)
Eddie Marsan - Happy-Go-Lucky (Momentum)
Peter O'Toole - Dean Spanley (Icon)
Mark Strong - Body of Lies (Warner)

BRITISH ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Hayley Atwell - The Duchess (Pathe)
Kristin Scott Thomas - Easy Virtue (Pathe)
Tilda Swinton - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Warner)
Emma Thompson - Brideshead Revisited (Miramax)
Alexis Zegerman - Happy-Go-Lucky (Momentum)

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire (Pathe)
David Hare - The Reader (Entertainment)
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges (Universal)
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon (Universal)
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Warner)

THE NSPCC AWARD: YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Asa Butterfield - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Miramax)
Georgia Groome - Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (Paramount)
Bill Milner - Son of Rambow (Optimum)
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire (Pathe)
Will Poulter - Son of Rambow (Optimum)
Thomas Turgoose - Somers Town (Optimum) and Eden Lake (Optimum)

BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER
Joanna Hogg - writer-director: Unrelated (New Wave)
Martin McDonagh - writer-director: In Bruges (Universal)
Steve McQueen - writer-director: Hunger (Pathe)
James Watkins - writer-director: Eden Lake (Optimum)
Rupert Wyatt - writer-director: The Escapist (Vertigo)

DILYS POWELL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA
Dame Judi Dench

Ends

For more information and to find out how to attend, please contact the media office on 020 7825 2514 / 2516

Notes to Editors

Irish performers and film-makers are eligible in British categories of the London Critics' Circle Film Awards.

About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK's leading children charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC's purpose is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. Its vision is of a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. The NSPCC runs 180 projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people. The NSPCC helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.

About the Critics' Film Circle
The London Critics' Circle, the film section of the Critics' Circle, has over 100 members who write for newspapers and magazines published all over the United Kingdom. Many of whom also appear on national and local radio and television.