(Cover) - EN Movies - Ben Affleck was the toast of tonight’s British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards.
The Argo filmmaker took home top honours for best film and best director at the prestigious ceremony held at London’s Royal Opera House.
Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Zero Dark Thirty and Lincoln were also up for best film.
Ben was competing against Michael Haneke (Amour) Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained) Ang Lee (Life of Pi) and Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) in the director category.
The honours mark the latest triumph for Ben, whose CIA drama won at the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Golden Globes, the Producers Guild Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards despite his snub in the director category at the Oscars later this month.
Argo producer George Clooney took the stage to congratulate Ben as they accepted the statuette for best film.
"You are remarkable at what you do. You're smart and you know what you want but more importantly you love what you're doing," he said.
Argo also won best editing.
Daniel Day-Lewis took home best leading actor for his role as the 16th President of the United States in Stephen Spielberg’s Lincoln. The method actor faced competition from Ben Affleck (Argo), Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables) and Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) for the honour. It was the only BAFTA for Lincoln despite its ten nominations.
Daniel, known for staying in character throughout filming, gave a wink to his unorthodox methods while accepting the prize.
"Just on the chance that I might one day have to speak on an evening such as this, I've actually stayed in character as myself for the last 55 years," he mused.
“Every time I rise from a chair it spontaneously unleashes a soundtrack of thunderous applause, with a few boos and some drunken hecklers," he laughed.
Eighty-five-year-old actress Emmanuelle Riva took home best leading actress for her part in Amour. It was a surprise win in the category with names like Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Helen Mirren (Hitchcock), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) and Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone).
Christoph Waltz and Anne Hathaway were victors in the best supporting actor and actress categories for their respective roles in Django Unchained and Les Miserables.
The Tom Hooper movie musical took home a total of four BAFTAs on Sunday evening.
Skyfall managed to beat Les Mis for the best British film prize. The latest installment of the James Bond franchise also won best original music. British singing sensation Adele co-wrote and recorded the film’s title track.
Life of Pi took home two BAFTAs, for best cinematography and best visual effects.
Winners of the 2013 British Academy of Film & Television Arts Awards:
Best Film: Argo
Leading Actor: Daniel Day Lewis, Lincoln
Leading Actress: Emmanuel Riva, Amour
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Director: Ben Affleck, Argo
Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
Adapted Screenplay: David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Film Not in the English Language: Amour
Animated Film: Brave
Outstanding British Film: Skyfall
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer: Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis, The Imposter
Cinematography: Claudio Miranda, Life of Pi
Editing: William Goldenberg, Argo
Production Design: Eve Stewart, Les Miserables
Costume Design: Jacqueline Durran, Anna Karenina
Sound: Les Misérables
Special Visual Effects: Life of Pi
Makeup & Hair: Lisa Westcott, Les Misérables
Short Film: Swimmer
The Orange Rising Star Award: Juno Temple
Short Animation: The Making of Long Bird
Documentary: Searching for Sugar Man
Original Score: Thomas Newman, Skyfall
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema: Tessa Ross
